Bioinformatician in Microbial Gene Context Analysis

Description of the workplace

Senior Lecturer Gemma Atkinson is the research group leader of the Protein Evolution group at the Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University. Her research group works with computational sequence and structural analysis of microbial genomes and proteins.

Project description

We have compiled hundreds of thousands of bacterial genomes containing prophages hidden within the genome. The challenge is to identify these prophages using computational methods and characterise the proteins they encode. The project will include activities such as identifying hotspots of genetic diversity, predicting new phage–phage defence mechanisms, and performing phylogenetic analyses of prophage proteins.

We offer

Lund University is a government agency, which means you receive special benefits, generous annual leave, and an advantageous occupational pension.

We also have a flexible working hours agreement that provides good conditions for balancing work and leisure time. Read more on the university’s website about being an employee at Lunds University, Work at Lund University | Lund University.

Work duties and areas of responsibility

The position is a fixed-term appointment for one year. A position as a bioinformatician is intended as an initial step in a career and as an opportunity to further deepen and broaden research competence. Your duties will include: bioinformatic mapping and classification of phages and anti-phage defenses encoded in bacterial genomes, development and maintenance of web-based portals, and collaboration with experimentalists who will test your predictions in the laboratory.

Qualifications

Requirements for the position:

• The successful applicant should hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in an engineering or natural science field, such as engineering education or bioinformatics/molecular biology.
• Expertise in the key approaches to be used in this interdisciplinary project: i) very strong programming skills in Python, ii) previous experience in phylogenetics and molecular evolution, and iii) very good knowledge of the Swedish national computing infrastructure.
• A publication record in international journals.
• Knowledge of phage biology, with a particular focus on anti-phage defense systems.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities. The tasks require you to be both well-organized and able to work independently.

Meritorious for the position:

• Familiarity with experimental techniques such as molecular cloning, phage isolation, and testing of anti-phage defenses.

Further information

The position is a fixed-term employment for one year, 100%, desired start date is 2026-06-22 or as agreed. 

How to Apply

The position is applied for via the university recruitment system. The application should include a cover letter explaining why you are interested in the position and how the position matches your qualifications. The application must also include a CV and a degree certificate.

More information regarding the Faculty of Medicine