Job description: Postdoc in coral population genomics and conservation genetics (x/d/f/m)

Background
The Marine Conservation group of Dr. Iliana Baums (www.baumslab.org), Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), seeks a postdoc to study population genomics and conservation genetics of reef-building corals in the Caribbean. HIFMB is a cooperation between the University of Oldenburg (UOL) and the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and has strong ties to regional institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology (Bremen), MARUM (University of Bremen), and the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (Bremen). HIFMB is located in Oldenburg, Northern Germany, a hub for environmental and marine research. The institute brings together experts from 18 countries and provides state-of-the-art wet-lab and computational facilities.

Your Tasks

• Generate and analyze genomic data for reef-building corals, including eukaryotic genome assembly and annotation, population genomics, quantitative genetics, epigenetics, and gene expression analyses
• Use population genomic approaches to estimate population structure, history and introgression
• Use quantitative genetic approaches to estimate responses to selection model alternative conservation genetic strategies such as assisted gene flow and selective breeding
• Extract and sequence coral DNA and RNA
• Plan, execute, interpret, document, and troubleshoot independent research
• Collaborate effectively with computational and experimental team members
• Mentor junior lab members
• Contribute to manuscripts, grant proposals and reports, and communicate results to peers and the public through presentations, writing, and digital media
• Engage in professional development and acquire new skills as needed
• Conduct work in both laboratory and field settings

Your Profile

• PhD in marine biology, bioinformatics, genetics, molecular ecology, or a related field
• Strong background in population genetic theory
• Proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Python) and in R
• Willingness and ability to work in both lab and field environments
• Very good English knowledge (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C1)

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Experience with system administration
• Experience making code and data openly available via repositories/databases (e.g., GitHub, NCBI)

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, disabilities, 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. 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.