A postdoc position focusing on modeling quantitative and disease resistance traits in hybrid crops is available August 1, 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter at the Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG), Aarhus University.
The position
The postdoc will develop models and methods to optimize genetic improvement of hybrid crops with a current focus on maintaining yield while increasing disease resistance in potato in order to reduce the need for chemical treatment. Special focus will be on using genomic prediction for more efficient selection of new varieties and prediction on specific combining ability between line crosses used in production as three are considerable heterosis observed in both species.
This will involve estimation of variance components including both genotyped and non-genotyped individuals and optimum methods to handle genotype by environment interactions for traits recoded under different locations and weather conditions. Methods for evaluation and comparison of models should be developed and implemented in hybrid breeding schemes that involves three separate breeding populations. The position is for 2 years of employment and there are possibilities for extension up to a maximum of 4 years if the candidate is considered qualified and sufficient funding is available.
The position is related to collaborative project together with commercial breeding companies with the goal of developing methods and models that can be implemented in practical applications. The candidate will work on the analysis of data from ongoing experiments, and from ongoing commercial selection programs.
Results and hypothesis will be verified using complex stochastic simulation models and implemented in models for optimization of breeding programs. The position provides excellent possibilities for access to state-of-the-art tools for simulation and for the analysis of complex genomic large-scale datasets, writing publications, collaboration with industry partners as well as with other research groups.
Qualifications
- Ph.D. or equivalent in plant/animal breeding, quantitative genetics, quantitative genomics, statistics, or related fields.
- Strong interest in use of highly stochastic models for the analysis of phenotypic and genomic data.
- Proficiency in conducting large-scale computations.
- Good understanding of methods used in genomic prediction.
- General understanding of commercial breeding programs.
- Good skills in oral and written communication in English.
- Ability to work in a large and diverse group of researchers, and collaborate with national and international partners form research and industry.
Who we are:
Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG)
The institute like center, QGG, is a major center for research and education in quantitative genetics and quantitative genomics at Aarhus University. We perform basic and applied research within livestock and plant breeding as well as human applications in precision medicine. The research within QGG is characterized by a very close synergy between method development, basic analysis, and application of the developed methods on practical problems across species in collaboration with industry partners.
QGG is an international research Center with about 70 employees and visiting researchers from over 15 nations. QGG works in teams and strive for an excellent working environment. We therefore value self-leadership, open communication, respect for diversity and success in mentoring, supervision and teaching. The main work location will be the main campus close to Aarhus city center.
Place of Work
The place of work is C.F. Møllers Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.
Contact Information
If you have any questions about the positions, please contact Head of Center, Professor Just Jensen, +45 4082 1680, e-mail: just.jensen@qgg.au.dk or Secretary Louise Fischer Koue, +45 9352 2279 or email: lfkoue@hotmail.com.
Deadline
15 June 2022
Application procedure
Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation.
The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self. Once the recruitment process is completed a final letter of rejection is sent to the deselected applicants.
Letter of reference
If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.
Formalities and salary range
Technical Sciences refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities under the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any).
Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.
Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Finance and the Confederation of Professional Associations.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
Research activities will be evaluated in relation to actual research time. Thus, we encourage applicants to specify periods of leave without research activities, in order to be able to subtract these periods from the span of the scientific career during the evaluation of scientific productivity.
Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including relocation service and career counselling to expat partners.
Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU.
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system,
Aarhus University
Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,000 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 885 million.