Postdoc Po­s­i­tion on Phylo­ge­n­om­ics and Evol­u­tion of Mala­gasy Dung Beetles

The University of Helsinki (https://www.helsinki.fi/en ) is an international scientific community of 40,000 students and researchers. It is one of the key multidisciplinary research universities in Europe and ranks among the top 100 international universities in the world.
The Finnish Museum of Natural History (https://www.luomus.fi/en ), which is part of the University of Helsinki, is a leading unit of systematic and evolutionary biology in Finland and a host to a vibrant community of researchers.

Applications are invited for the two-year postdoc position at the Finnish Museum of Natural History.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate to join the research groups of Sergei Tarasov and a broad network of collaborators. The successful candidate will work on a project, funded by the Academy of Finland, that focuses on evolution of Malagasy dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) and general patterns of biodiversity dynamics.

The Malagasy Region that includes Madagascar and Mascarene Archipelago have a unique diversity of dung beetles that includes 300+ extant and 20+ subfossil species. The successful candidate will 1) strive to reconstruct a phylogenomic tree for the main lineages of Malagasy dung beetles; 2) elucidate the phylogenetic position of the peculiar subfossils using ancient DNA approaches; and 3) address questions on diversity dynamics and causes of dung beetle mass extinction. This interdisciplinary project is an exciting opportunity to work on taxonomy, statistical modeling and evolution. The successful candidate will work in tight collaboration with other Lab’s members whose work deals with various aspects of beetle evolution and comparative phylogenetics.

ABOUT YOU

Requirements:

The successful candidate should have a PhD in Biology (final phase of a PhD programme is acceptable) and a strong background/interest in phylogenetics. A good publication record in peer-reviewed journals is essential. Good written and oral communication skills in English are required. The experience of analyzing phylogenomic data is considered advantageous. We are searching for an experienced and independent researcher.

ABOUT US

You will work together with the project’s Principal Investigator and the collaborators. You will be responsible for the theoretical and applied research, data analysis and writing research articles. You will be encouraged to participate in academic conferences and a joint field trip to Madagascar.

The starting date is October-November 2021. This is a full-time position, available for 2 years (the starting date is negotiable). We offer a competitive salary of 3500€/month (before taxes). The University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and health insurance, sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development. The International Staff Services office (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/university/working-at-the-university ) assists employees from abroad with their transition to work and live in Finland.

Please leave your application in our recruitment system by clicking the ‘Apply for the position’ button below. If you are already working at the University of Helsinki, you can leave your application in SAP HR Portal. The applications should include the following:

• Cover letter describing motivation and research interests (max. 1 page)
• CV with publication list
• Contact details of two potential referees

Applications will be given full consideration if submitted by July 25, 2021, 23:59 (EET). Applications received after this date might be considered, if the position is not filled.

For more information about the position, please contact Sergei Tarasov, email: [email protected]

Lab Websites:
https://www.tarasovlab.com

Due date

25.07.2021 23:59 EEST