Early Stage Researcher in Bioinformatics

11 May 2023
Job Information

Organisation/Company

University of Thessaly

Department

Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Research Field

Biological sciences » Other

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Greece

Application Deadline

19 May 2023 - 05:00 (Europe/Athens)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Offer Starting Date

30 Jun 2023

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

HE

Reference Number

Grant Agreement No. 101084163

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

University of Thessaly is offering a position in bioinformatics with expected commencement June 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is offered in the frame of the project RATION, an HORIZON Europe project (Risk Assessment Innovation of Low Risk Pesticides). It is a 4-year project which has stared at 1.11.2022.

 

Brief Project Description

Low risk pesticides (LRP) including (i) plant extracts (ii) semiochemicals like pheromones and allelochemicals, (iii) microbial pesticides, are gaining ground in the global market, as substitutes of synthetic pesticides. In addition, new microbial solutions (phages, protists, microbial consortia) and ds-RNA pesticides are emerging, low-risk solutions expect to reach the market in coming years. Despite ongoing regulatory efforts by the European Commission, we are still lacking a concrete risk assessment (RA) scheme relevant to LRPs, a point which blocks LRPs reaching the EU market. RATION timely comes to address these regulatory constraints and aims to develop a novel RA scheme, supported by the necessary guidance on methods and tools, tailored to the specific characteristics of established and emerging LRP solutions. This main goal will be achieved through a series of interrelated WPs aiming (i) to map the current status of LRPs in Europe and identify main regulatory constraints (WP1). In this quest it will be supported by a stakeholders forum composed of all relevant actors (industry, regulators, academics, famers, general public); (ii) to develop and validate, through a proof-of-concept exercise, innovative RA (and associated tools) for microbials (WP2), plant extracts, semiochemicals, pheromones (WP3) and, ds-RNA (WP4); and from there (iii) build a harmonized RA for all LRP and determine its socioeconomic impact (WP5), (iv) to effectively communicate and disseminate the new RA knowledge and its associated tools developed by RATION to relevant actors ensuring sustainability beyond project duration (WP6). RATION will benchmark EU regulatory science, uplift blockers holding back LRP uptake by the EU market and motivate research innovation in plant protection. To achieve these goals 22 partners from academia, industry and regulatory bodies, representing 10 member states and 2 non-EU member states, will join forces in a multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary effort.

 

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dimitrios Karpouzas, [email protected] , +30-2410565294

 

Collaborators: Dr Sotirios Vasileiadis [email protected] , +30-2410565223; Prof. Kalliope Papadopoulou [email protected] ,

 

 

Job description

The position is available for 36 months. The main working tasks of the successful candidate will be:

• To be able to use appropriate bioinformatic tools for assembly and functional annotation of whole genome sequence of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms destined to be used as biopesticides
• To help in the development of analytical pipelines for the detection of antibiotic resistance genes in whole genome sequence data from microorganisms and identify their localization and transposition potential using appropriate tools and databases
• To help in the development of analytical pipelines for the identification of biosynthetic pathways for secondary metabolites in whole genome sequence data from microorganisms using appropriate tools and databases
• To analyse the data using appropriate bioinformatic and ecological statistical tools
• To be able to collaborate with other researchers, understand biological scientific questions and provide analytical solutions to complex datasets
• To work closely with the PI, Postdocs and other researchers working on RATION
• To be able to right reports and scientific documents

Requirements

Research Field

Biological sciences » Biology

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

• First Degree in Biology or equivalent degree in Biosciences (e.g. Biotechnology, Biochemistry etc.)
• MSc Degree in Molecular Biology or Bioinformatics
• Experience in the use of programming languages (eg Python, Perl) and R
• Experience in the analysis of biological data using basic bioinformatic tools

Specific Requirements

• Previous experience in Machine Learning approaches
• Previous experience in the use of molecular biological tools (q-PCR, RT-q-PCR)
• Previous experience in the use of databases for the analysis of microbial genomes, genome assembly and annotation

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Biological sciences » Other

Additional Information
Benefits

Terms of employment

Recruitment and Terms of appointment will be done according to the national rules and regulations. The stipend of the fellow will be 1300 € including social and health security coverage (900 € net/monthly). The succesful candidate will be given all opportunities for training on the use of advanced tools in bioinformatics, either in house or through participation in external training events.

Selection process

Application Procedure

The application, must be submitted by mail to [email protected]

 

Please include

• Full CV including studies, research experience, work experience and publications (if available)
• 3 professional referees (Name, address, telephone & email)

 

The University of Thessaly wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of age, gender, race, religion or ethnic background.

 

The deadline for applications is 19.5.2023. Applications received later than this date will not be considered.

 

Recruitment Process:After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the project manager will provide all applications to the members of the recruitment committee which will evaluate all applications and select the best three candidates based on the quality of the candidates’ previous training, qualifications and skills (as listed above), CV. The best three candidates will be interviewed by the recruitment committee which will select the best applicant for the position. The applicants will be notified of the final selection by the Project Manager and will be given 7 days to accept or decline.

Additional comments

For specific information about the position, please contact Prof. Dimitrios Karpouzas ([email protected] Tel. +3024105652904)

Website for additional job details

https://www.ration-lrp.eu/news/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

University of Thessaly

Country

Greece

State/Province

Thessaly

City

Larissa

Postal Code

41500

Street

Viopolis Campus

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

City

Larissa

Website

http://www.bio.uth.gr/
http://plantenvlab.bio.uth.gr/
https://www.ration-lrp.eu/

Street

Biopolis

Postal Code

41500

E-Mail

[email protected]

Phone

+302410565294

Mobile Phone

+306944796664

STATUS: EXPIRED