Doctoral student in microbial genomics - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

This position is located at Science for Life Laboratory.  See the homepage https://www.scilifelab.se/

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Biotechnology

Most bacteria play beneficial roles in the marine ecosystem, but some are pathogenic to fish and mammals. One such group of bacteria is Vibrio, and these have in recent years increased in abundance in the Baltic Sea as an effect of global warming, including several Vibrio species pathogenic to humans.  Future climate change is predicted to escalate this problem, posing a significant threat to human health and life quality. Recent data however indicate that some ‘ecosystem engineers’ (such as eelgrass) reduce the abundance of pathogenic Vibrio spp. in the surrounding waters. This opens up the option for nature-based solution (NbS) strategies to control pathogenic vibrios in the nearshore habitat where humans interact with the sea.

This international and multidisciplinary EU-project aims to comprehensively quantify Vibrio species in coastal regions of the Baltic Sea and determine how they are regulated by biotic and abiotic factors including 'ecosystem engineers’.  NbS strategies for mitigating the problem will also be assessed.

Here we seek a doctoral student that will work at SciLifeLab and conduct comparative genomics on a large collection of Vibrio isolates from the Baltic Sea in order to reveal the genetic diversity and pathogenic potential of these strains. The student will also work with metagenomics approaches for quantifying Vibrio spp. and other bacteria in water samples and finally develop models for how their abundance is regulated.

Supervision: By Anders Andersson with support from other members of the group and collaborators within the project.

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.Read more
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and the water.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.
• To work in a multidisciplinary project at an inspiring workplace; SciLifeLab, a world-leading center for high-throughput biology.

Eligibility

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a degree at advanced level,
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at advanced level, or
• in any other way acquired within or outside the country acquired essentially equivalent knowledge.
• Requirements for English equivalent to English B/6, read more here.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work,
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach,
• analyse and work with complex issues,
• have documented programming skills,
• have experience working with next-generation sequencing (NGS) data,
• have experience working with microbial genomics.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities and personal suitability.

Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Union representatives

You will find contact information for union representatives on KTH's website.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

You will find contact information for doctoral section on the section's website.

Application

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/entral European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process please read here.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.