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POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP (2 YEARS) – Microbial Heritage lab (UQAC) and Viral Discovery and Ecology lab (Université Laval)

We are recruiting a computational biologist to join our research project on the distinct and threatened core microbial genetic potential of the Arctic’s Last Ice Area.

The ‘Last Ice Area’ (LIA) is a region of the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic, and the LIA and its surrounding habitats (glaciers, ice-capped lakes, permafrost) are a refuge for unique microbial ice-dependent species. This area’s habitats and the microbes they harbor are heavily impacted by warming and increasingly threatened by climate change. It is therefore urgent to better understand these microbial communities and how they underpin ecosystem function in the North. Here, we propose to examine an existing dataset of 240 metagenomes, collected over the last 5 years in the LIA, from diverse habitats (marine, lacustrine, cryospheric, aerosol). This massive dataset includes diverse microorganisms that are poorly understood, whose genomes can help us better predict how Arctic ecosystems will respond to future change. Our goal is to provide an integrated, transdisciplinary analyses of the microbial ecology of this dynamic area of the Canadian Arctic.

We are searching for a postdoctoral fellow to join our group to conduct a meta-analysis of all our available data, to address three specific knowledge gaps: 1. the core microbial functions of the LIA; 2. the role of microbial bioaerosols in the warming Arctic; and 3. the risk of these unique polar microbes going extinct.

Ideal applicants for this position should have a background in computational biology and/or bioinformatics, specifically for the analysis of next-generation sequencing data. Applicants should have experience in data management, quality control, assemblage, and annotation of large microbial metagenomes, and strong programming skills in bash, R and python. Experience in viromics will be considered an asset. Remote work is possible for this position.

The postdoctoral position is for 2 years ($50,000/year including benefits).

Equity, diversity and inclusion are core values that allow us to produce research that is more innovative, with outcomes that have wider and greater benefits, therefore maximising financial investments in research. Diverse teams are also a better representation of society, providing models for future researchers. Our team is committed to making our field a more diverse and inclusive space, and we welcome applications from members of underrepresented groups in STEM, including women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and members of racialized minorities or from the LGBTQ2 community.

Submit your CV and cover letter before 31 Jan to: