Job description: Postdoc in ecology and evolution of plasmids in polar waters at HIFMB (f/d/m)

Background
Our group has extensive background in software development and marine microbial ecology, and is an expert of 'omics data types and strategies. We recently developed machine learning tools to recover plasmids from metagenomic assemblies and characterized their ecology and evolution in the human gut (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01610-3). The primary purpose of this project is to transfer our knowhow to study plasmids in marine systems, characterize their diversity and biogeography, and gain computational insights into their contribution to microbial metabolism and their role in microbial responses to environmental change.

We are looking for a motivated colleague who is inspired by microbial evolution and metabolism, excited to work intensely with a group of international scientists with high standards, and will benefit from an experience at the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), a young institution with diverse research programs located in Northern Germany with access to tremendous amount of expertise in marine microbiology through Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Sea (ICBM) at the University of Oldenburg, and Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology.

This is a purely computational work, but open to wet-lab translations for further experimentation, which our group is very keen on (e.g., https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(24)00107-7).

Your Tasks

• Create workflows to recover plasmids from marine metagenomes, and organize them into plasmid systems
• Compare plasmid genomes to those that are well-studied from marine systems and other biomes
• Identify auxiliary metabolic genes in plasmids and compare them to metabolic potential found in bacterial and archaeal chromosomes

Your Profile

• PhD in microbiology, microbial ecology, bioinformatics, or other relevant fields
• Track record of scientific productivity through publications in international journals

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Comprehensive understanding of plasmids and/or other mobile genetic elements, microbial evolution, and microbial ecology
• Experience with state-of-the-art 'omics data types and strategies
• Fluency in the UNIX terminal environment and working with large and complex datasets
• Commitment to open science principles and practices
• A strong desire to ‘give something back’ to society and the research community
• Very good English knowledge (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C1)

Further Information

The AWI is characterized by

• our scientific success - excellent research
• collaboration and cooperation - intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
• opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions
• an international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world
• flexible working hours
• health promotion and company fitness with Hansefit and Wellhub
• support services and a culture of reconciling work and family
• occupational pension provision (VBL)

AWI values diversity and actively promotes gender parity, as well as an open, inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities. We are convinced that diverse teams and a variety of perspectives enrich our work and our daily collaboration. In a continuous process of learning and reflection, we aim to ensure that all our employees can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from qualified people regardless of binary and non-binary genders, race and nationality, ethnic and social background, religion, age, physical abilities, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, and other identities.

Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.

AWI fosters work-family compatibility in various ways and has received several awards as a result of this commitment. And as a new international member of our team, you can be sure that we will help you settle in. Our Family Office and International Office will be glad to support you, even before you start at AWI.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.