Postdoctoral fellow in Molecular Evolution - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Description of the workplace
In our research group, various types of experimental, evolutionary, and translational cancer research take place that aim to understand the mechanisms behind cancer and multicellularity. The group is now looking for a skilled postdoc to advance our insights to mechanisms for increased heritable variation in the animal and cancer clades.

What we offer
Lund University is a public authority, which means that you will have special benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension. We also have a flexitime agreement that creates good conditions for work/life balance. Read more on the University’s website about being a Lund University employee, Work at Lund University

Work duties and areas of responsibility
Animal origins remains enigmatic, although it was one of the most successful evolutionary events in Earth history. Visible evidence of this event is a sudden appearance of animal fossil diversity in ~543 million years old rocks, of the so-called Cambrian explosion. The Cambrian explosion of animal diversity is often associated with an increase of free oxygen but was most likely also a result of preceding re-arrangements of biological capacities. The overall aim of this postdoc fellowship is to explore re-arrangements of biological capacities that could have occurred at this evolutionary transition when animals diversified as a function of increased heritable variation. To further elucidate the route to increased heritable variation and evolvability, the postdoc may also inquire the role of polyploidy for the evolvability of cancer cells.

The postdoc fellow will explore changes within hypoxic gene regulation, such as that of carbonic anhydrases, and differences in the capacities for tissue architecture in-between animals and between animals and fungi. Newly defined questions can be explored within cell- and molecular biology techniques (e.g. RNA-sequencing, cell culturing, immunohistochemistry), bioinformatics, and in vivo biological experiments. In addition, the explorations would involve broad literature studies, also of studies from the cancer field (tumor multicellularity) when relevant.
We seek a brave and ambitious postdoc willing to explore uncharted scientific terrain. Preferably a computational person with knowledge in biology and evolution, but any hybrid backgrounds are welcome. The tasks also include following:

• Define hypotheses.
• Perform literature scholarship, plan the outcome.
• Design experiments and make statistical evaluations of their rigor. Plan output.
• Acquire the necessary material and make contact with experts and potential collaborators.
• Perform experiments and analyze data.
• Discuss and present results to others, multiple times (internally and externally).
• Write the paper, in collaboration and discussion with the team.

Qualifications
The requirements for the position are that the applicant must:

• hold a PhD degree in the biological sciences with experience in transcription factor regulation, wet lab experiments, and hypoxia mechanisms.
• have expertise in the functions of carbonic anhydrases, mitotic regulation, and epigenetics.
• have expertise in the role of polyploidy in changes to heritable variation and for the polyaneuploid cell state (PAT).
• be used to defining and exploring research questions independently.
• have good communication skills as well as able to collaborate efficiently in a team.
• Excellent skills in English both spoken and written.

Additional qualifications for the position are that the applicant should preferably:

• have an interest in the evolution of life and broad experience in biology, developmental, or geobiological questions.
• have expertise in genetic evolution, cells stemness, or invertebrate animal physiology.
• have documented experience to work independently.
• a broad background, also from the industry, is desirable.

Further information
This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of at least 2 years and at most 3 years The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S and OFR/S, dated February 1, 2022.
First day of employment 2022-05-01 or according to agreement.

How to apply
You apply for the position via the University’s recruitment system. The application is to include a personal letter describing how you meet the qualification requirements and why you are interested in the position. The application is also to include a CV with a list of publications, a general description of previous research work, a copy of your doctoral degree and any other documents to which you wish to draw attention (copies of degree certificates, grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.)