PhD position in computational genomics for natural products discovery (f/m/d; E13 TV-L, 65%)
Would you like to participate in an exciting interdisciplinary European network of scientists to transform natural product discovery using computational omics approaches? Do you enjoy collaboration and teamwork while being at the cutting edge of scientific progress? We are looking for a PhD candidate (f/m/d; E13 TV-L, 65%) with expertise in computational genomics to pioneer new technologies for omics-based natural product discovery.
About the project
Microorganisms are an untapped resource for natural bioactive compounds that constitute a source of candidates for the development of pharmaceuticals and crop protection agents. Computational integration of different types of omics data, such as genomics and metabolomics profiles, constitutes a promising avenue to uncover this potential. Within the European network, a PhD position is available at the University Hospital Tübingen within the group Translational Natural Products Genome Mining.
In the project, the candidate will develop innovative computational approaches to chart the biosynthetic diversity found in microbial (meta)genomes. You will improve current software and workflows and develop phylogenetic methods of biosynthetic enzymes to enhance predictions of their metabolic products. Extensive international collaboration is foreseen, as these positions are part of a European training network and also will include a secondment at an international company.
Specifically, the Doctoral Network MAGic-MOLFUN aims to integrate Natural Products Genome Mining, computational metabolomics and state-of-the art metabolic engineering and pathway discovery to develop ground-breaking tools and approaches to improve natural products discovery and characterization in bacteria and fungi, two major sources of bioactive compounds for applications in medicine, agriculture, food and biotechnology.
The research is embedded within the Translational Genome Mining for Natural Products Group at the Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics (IBMI) and the Interfaculty Institute for Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT) led by Prof. Dr. Nadine Ziemert. We are a highly interdisciplinary and enthusiastic group at the interface of bioinformatics, molecular and environmental microbiology, and phylogenetics. We are currently developing bioinformatic tools for the discovery of natural products from microbial genomes, elucidating the evolutionary history of their biosynthetic gene clusters and tracing their distribution in the environment.
Your profile
We are looking for an enthusiastic and complementary team player with all or a subset of the following skills:
- a solid academic record (MSc) in bioinformatics, biology, chemistry or a related discipline
- experience in computational omics analysis and proficiency in programming (in, e.g., Python)
- at least basic to intermediate statistical and mathematical skills
- demonstrable experience in working with next-generation sequencing data
- affinity with microbiology, metabolism and/or biosynthetic pathways
- team player attitude, enjoying multidisciplinary science
- a very good level of oral and written English.
- to accept a position within the Marie-Curie training network, researchersmust not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies,etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary (i.e., Germany) formore than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitmentdate.
Our offer
We are offering you an exciting research position at a highly renowned university, in a welcoming, interdisciplinary and agile team which is well-connected across institutes internationally. Prof. Ziemert is committed to ensuring you the possibility to conduct research with a high amount of autonomy, a collegial work atmosphere and ongoing career mentoring. In addition to exciting research PhD project, you will receive a comprehensive transferable skill training that includes a personal career development plan that will equip you for todays’ demands of a successful career in industry and academia.
We provide remuneration in accordance with the TV-L (collective agreement for public employees of the German federal states) 65% as well as all corresponding benefits, e.g., extensive visa and onboarding assistance, 30 days/year of paid vacation, flexible working hours, discounted public transportation etc, for 3 years initially with the probability of elongation. International students will be supported by the Welcome Center before and during their stay at the University of Tuebingen or the University Hospital of Tuebingen. They can provide guidance and help with visa issues and can give advice about housing.
We value diversity in science, and particularly look forward to receiving applications from women, non-binary people, and researchers from underrepresented groups across cultures, genders, ethnicities, and lifestyles. We actively promote the compatibility of science, work, studies, family life and care work. In case of equal qualification and experience, physically challenged applicants are given preference.
Requirements
Research FieldComputer scienceEducation LevelBachelor Degree or equivalentResearch FieldBiological sciencesEducation LevelBachelor Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
- a solid academic record (MSc) in bioinformatics, biology, chemistry or a related discipline
- experience in computational omics analysis and proficiency in programming (in, e.g., Python)
- at least basic to intermediate statistical and mathematical skills
- demonstrable experience in working with next-generation sequencing data
- affinity with microbiology, metabolism and/or biosynthetic pathways
- team player attitude, enjoying multidisciplinary science
- a very good level of oral and written English.
- to accept a position within the Marie-Curie training network, researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary (i.e., Germany) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date.
Languages: ENGLISH, Level: Good
How to apply
Please send your application (including motivation letter, curriculum vitae, certificates, representative publications, academic references, and links to publicly available code examples (e.g., GitHub, OSF, etc.) as a single PDF to Prof. Dr. Nadine Ziemert: nadine.ziemert@uni-tuebingen.de.
Application deadline: January 15th, 2023.