Postdoctoral position in marine population genomics

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Marine Sciences at the University of Gothenburg (https://www.gu.se/en/marina-vetenskaper) combines extensive scientific expertise with unique infrastructure to provide the most comprehensive environment for marine science research and education in Sweden. It is one of only a few such organizations in Europe. By integrating advanced research infrastructure with strong links to societal needs and challenges, the Department contributes new solutions to global ocean challenges.

Marine genomics is a field of research that investigates the evolutionary development of marine organisms and their adaptation to their environments. Using modern genetic methods, researchers analyze the mechanisms and processes that drive the evolution of new adaptations and the formation of new species.

Subject area

Marine population genomics

Subject area description

Rapid evolutionary adaptation often relies on standing genetic variation rather than newmutations. Large chromosomal inversions can preserve adaptive combinations of alleles and be important reservoirs of variation. Yet although many species experience environmentalheterogeneity, only some maintain large inversion polymorphisms. Why?

This project will investigate the ecological and genetic conditions maintaining inversion

polymorphisms using two closely related marine snails, Littorina saxatilis and L. fabalis, which differ in how their inversions are distributed across environments.

By disentangling intrinsic genetic costs from ecological selection, the project will provide a mechanistic understanding of how and when genomic architecture enables rapid adaptation to environmental change.

Duties

The postdoctoral researcher will primarily be responsible for data analyses and will also contribute to fieldwork, laboratory work, and other assignments in collaboration with other members of the research team.

The postdoctoral researcher is expected to independently perform bioinformatic analyses of WGS data aimed at identifying recombination rates, deleterious mutations, and loci which are targets of selection.

In addition, the postdoctoral researcher is expected to participate in relevant activities at the Department and within the research group, such as writing manuscripts, giving seminars, and supervising bachelor’s and master’s students.

Eligibility

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoctoral researcher, the applicant must hold a doctoral degree, or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled prior to the employment decision.

Priority will be given to applicants who have completed their doctoral degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period. Applicants who completed their degree more than three years before the application deadline may also be considered if special grounds exist. Special grounds include leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, assignments of trust within trade union organizations, service in the defence forces, or other comparable circumstances, as well as clinical service or other assignments relevant to the subject area.

Strong bioinformatic experiences and analytical skills are required, with experience of working with WGS data, including necessary programming skills in R, Python, Bash or similar. Laboratory skills including DNA extractions and quality assessments are required.

Assessment criteria

The assessment of applicants will place the greatest emphasis on competence and expertise within the relevant subject area, as well as the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within the project.

• Previous experience in bioinformatics with a focus on population genomics, including excellent proficiency in processing and analysing WGS data, is required.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.
• Previous experience in programming in R and Python (or similar) is required.
• Previous experience in working with large sets of sequencing data is required.

The successful applicant will be selected based on an overall assessment of skills and development potential within the subject area of the position and will be deemed to have the best capacity to independently carry out the assigned tasks, communicate and collaborate effectively with colleagues, and contribute positively to the development of the workplace. Great importance will be placed on personal suitability.

Employment

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, 36 months.
Extent:100 %, full time. 
Institution: Department of Marine Sciences,

Working place: Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, Strömstad
First day of employment: upon agreement.

Contact information for the post

For questions about the position, please contact Kerstin Johannesson (kerstin.johannesson@gu.se) 
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Helen Tholander, HR (helen.tholander@gu.se).

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply-for-a-position#collective-agreement-and-union-representatives

Application

To apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to create an account in our recruitment system. Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

Applications must be received by: 2026-12-01

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.