Postdoctoral position in Legume crop trait development Full-time

Postdoctoral Position In Legume Crop Trait Development

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in the group of Dr Aleksandr Gavrin at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University.

Expected start date and duration of employment: This is a 20-month position with a mid-term progress assessment, at which a 'go/no-go' decision will be made regarding the continuation of it.

Job description: Our group investigates legume biology with a focus on molecular mechanisms underlying plant development, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and plant–microbe interactions. This position is part of the collaborative project (CicerNord), which aims to develop chickpea cultivars adapted to the Northern European climate by uncovering genetic determinants of early maturation, productivity, nutritional quality, and symbiotic efficiency.

As a key contributor to the project, the successful candidate will design, conduct, and analyse experiments focused on chickpea phenology, genomic variation, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The work will involve integrating field and laboratory data, performing genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and applying transcriptomic approaches to identify genes associated with key agronomic and nutritional traits. The postdoc will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team spanning genomics, agronomy, and food science, and will be expected to communicate scientific results through publications and presentations.

Your profile: We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:

• Strong background in quantitative genetics and statistics: deep understanding of polygenic traits, heritability, population structure, linkage disequilibrium, and genotype–phenotype associations. Experience interpreting complex trait variation in plants.
• Proficiency in GWAS tools and pipelines: hands on experience with GWAS software (e.g., GEMMA, EMMAX, GAPIT, FarmCPU, BLINK). Ability to run mixed linear models, handle covariates, correct for population structure/kinship, and perform quality filtering of SNP data.
• Genomics and transcriptomics experience: ability to integrate GWAS with transcriptomic data (TWAS) to prioritize candidate genes.

Desirable criteria: Experience designing, conducting, or evaluating phenotyping experiments in field or controlled environments.

Who we are and what we offer: The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Aarhus University is a vibrant and exciting interdisciplinary research environment. The department is located in a newly renovated laboratory complex with well-developed research infrastructure, laboratories and access to shared equipment. The section of plant molecular biology has state-of-the-art facilities for plant cultivation, extensive genetic resources and established plant systems for comparative studies of different plant-microbe interactions. The department provides a welcoming and collaborative atmosphere with close working relationships, professionalism, equality and a healthy work-life balance.

Place of work and area of employment: The place of work is Universitetsbyen 81, 8000 Aarhus C, and the area of employment is Aarhus University with related departments.

Contact information: For further information and scientific enquiries please contact Dr Aleksandr Gavrin at agav@mbg.au.dk.

Application procedure: Shortlisting is used. This means that after the deadline for applications – and with the assistance from the assessment committee chairman, and the appointment committee if necessary, – the head of department selects the candidates to be evaluated. All applicants will be notified whether or not their applications have been sent to an expert assessment committee for evaluation. The selected applicants will be informed about the composition of the committee, and each applicant is given the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that concerns him/her self.

Letter of reference: If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee's contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee's contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline. Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration. If you wish to add a referee after you have submitted your application, you must send this person's details (name, job title, place of work, and email address) as well as the name of the position you have applied for to: HR.Nattech@au.dk

Formalities and salary range: The application must be in English and include a curriculum vitae, degree certificate, a complete list of publications, a statement of future research plans and information about research activities, teaching portfolio and verified information on previous teaching experience (if any). Guidelines for applicants can be found here. Appointment shall be in accordance with the collective labour agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. Further information on qualification requirements and job content may be found in the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities. Salary depends on seniority as agreed between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and the Confederation of Professional Associations.