Postdoc in Data driven strategies for prevention of vector borne viruses in Danish livestock

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen

A 30-months postdoc position is available in the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics group (https://ivh.ku.dk/bioinformatics), Center for non-coding RNA in Technology and Health (RTH), (http://rth.dk) at Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (IVH) (https://ivh.ku.dk/english), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at University of Copenhagen.

The timely data driven response to virus infections in livestock requires the maintenance and analyses of the continuously generated sequencing data from virus infection sites in a fast and reproducible manner. The national Danish swine and avian influenza surveillance data has reported increasing virus outbreaks over the last years. To strengthen the efforts several criteria needs to be met ranging from standardized and automated data analysis to analysis of biological and evolutionary processes of vector borne viruses. This will include the latest input to be used for both quick response at virus outbreaks, continuously updated vaccine candidates and understanding of relevant parts of the biology relevant in other virus contexts. The project will be jointly supervised by Associate Prof Stefan Seemann and Prof Jan Gorodkin and will be in close collaboration with the Veterinary and Zoonotic Virology group at the IVH department. The position is funded by the Veterinary contingency program of the UCPH.

Start date is 1 March 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Our research and research group
The bioinformatics group has a strong profile in data analysis, algorithm development and in building bioinformatic tools, many involving computational RNA biology also relevant for this position. We have excellent computational infrastructure and further access to supercomputing when needed. The IVH department is located on Frederiksberg Campus. Our research environment is highly dynamic and international and stimulating with a wide range of activities from seminars, workshops, summer schools and retreats.

The project
The project will develop a toolbox for the analysis of genomic sequencing data taking into account variance, phylogeny, viral transmission pathways, and generation of viral vaccine candidates. Furthermore, an analysis of host-virus interactions and genome-wide RNA virus structures will be conducted.

Your key tasks as a postdoc at SUND will be to:

• Develop the relevant bioinformatical methods from design to implementation.

• Collect and analyse viral genomic and host-virus transcriptomic data.

• Apply the computational tools within the framework of the national Danish swine and avian influenza surveillance data.

• Explore further possibilities for improving the computational methods and modelling.

• Teach and disseminate your knowledge.

Who are we looking for
We are looking for an excellent and enthusiastic candidate. You will be highly dedicated, work with great excitement and be a key person in the project essential for obtaining successful results. You will work in across-disciplinary environment and collaborate with other researchers internally in the group and with the collaborating group. You will be highly dedicated, work with great excitement and be a key person in the project essential for obtaining successful results.

Essential experience and skills:

• You have completed PhD degree in bioinformatics, computer science or in a similar area

• You are highly experienced in Python

• You have strong experience with the Linux/Unix environment, command lines and shell scripting

• You have proficient communication skills

• You have excellent English skills written and spoken

• You are emphatic and a strong and supportive team player

Desirable experience and skills:

• Knowledge in virology.

• Knowledge of RNA folding and RNA-RNA interaction algorithms.

• Knowledge of biological networks.

• You are well familiar with C++/C

Key selection criteria:

• Publications

• Professional qualifications relevant for the position

• Relevant work experience

• Language skills

• Creativity

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of
Copenhagen. Grønnegårdsvej 15, st. 2000 Frederiksberg

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 30 months. The starting date is March 1st, 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or another relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 40,615.31 DKK/approx. 5,445.70 EUR (April 2024 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund. Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years. The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information about the scientific content of the position please contact Professor Jan Gorodkin, email gorodkin@sund.ku.dk, phone +45 23375667 or for application procedure and formalities, please
contact HR Officer, email sund-hr-ivh@sund.ku.dk; www.sund.ku.dk

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your mapplication must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivation letter of application. In this letter you must briefly detail, one by one, how you meet the requirements for each item listed under “Essential experience and skills” and “Desirable experience and skills”.

2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.

3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.

4. List of publications.

5. Personal Recommendations. If none, please explain why it has not been possible to obtain.

Deadline for applications: 3 January 2025, 23.59pm CET
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.
You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ 

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the
Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates
to apply regardless of personal background