Postdoc in ancient environmental DNA analysis at the Globe Institute.
We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoctoral researcher to work on marine environmental DNA time series data, i.e. high-throughput sequencing metabarcoding and library preparation, sequence data processing,ecological analyses, for a 2-year position to commence around June 2023 or thereafter.
The successful candidate will be part of the Copenhagen group of the ERC Synergy project, SEACHANGE (https://seachange-erc.eu/), in which a cross-disciplinary approach is adopted to assess the impact of major cultural transitions on marine ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Apart from ancient environmental DNA analyses, the overall project includes classical zooarchaeology, stable isotope analyses, dating methods, marine historical ecology and ecosystem modelling.
A major focus of the role will be research into marine biodiversity changes across the European Mesolithic-Neolithic transition (from foraging to farming), specifically Southern Scandinavia (Work Package 1).
The successful candidate will undertake DNA extraction, metabarcoding, next-generation sequencing, bioinformatic and ecological analysis of ancient environmental DNA from collected marine sediments and midden samples provided by project partners. Through collaboration with project partners the candidate will analyse a cross-disciplinary dataset of marine biodiversity changes, human impact and paleoclimate.
Although material has already been collected, there are opportunities for further field collections from archaeological sites throughout Denmark.
The main partners will be Prof Oliver Craig and Dr Harry Robson, University of York. Beyond the main objective, there are opportunities for the successful candidate to develop the project according to their interests and contribute to other work packages within the project.
Additionally, there are opportunities to contribute to and lead novel methodological research to improve and develop laboratory and bioinformatic workflows for the analysis of ancient environmental DNA.
Advisors will be Associate Professor Kristine Bohmann, Associate Professor Shyam Gopalakrishnan, and Assistant Professor Mikkel Winther Pedersen, all from Globe Institute.
Find here further information and application:
