Oferta compartida por Cristina
Post-doc position at the Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Białowieża for the project:"Historical morphometrics of the European bison skulls and its association with species inbreeding increase”
The summary and objectives of the project:
European bison is a species of unique demographic history. It has been through an extremely
severe bottleneck in the 1920s. The whole contemporary population originates from a meager
group of founders. Just two of them turned out to be predominant, and their share in the
contemporary gene pool is above 80%. The effects are extremely low genetic variation (Wójcik
et al., 2009; Tokarska et al., 2009; Tokarska et al., 2011) and highly increased inbreeding level,
reaching 75% (Pertoldi et al., unpublished). Although increased inbreeding is regarded as an
important factor affecting the viability of a population, resulting in lowered genetic
differentiation and decreased fitness, its impact on the European bison seems milder than
might be expected. Long term fertility coefficients are stable and satisfactory (Krasińska i
Krasiński, 2017) and no indisputable inbreeding depression symptoms are observed (Tokarska
et al., 2011). The reported potential inbreeding depression symptoms are related to skeleton
conformation. Baranov et al. (1997) reported signs of developmental instability of skull
morphology in the European bison skulls and indicated developmental instability as essential
for characterizing the condition of the population. Analyses of fluctuating symmetry of the
European bison, associated with genetic diversity (Makowiecka, 1994) suggest that the
Białowieża line of the European bison had the lowest, unbeneficial, developmental instability
as the result of inbreeding. Until recently, the only method of estimating inbreeding level was
pedigree analysis – a rough and inaccurate method. The development of genomic techniques
enables precise calculation of inbreeding level using high density SNP (single nucleotide
polymorphism) set. This method has been successfully used in the European bison studies and
allowed for the first, accurate inbreeding calculations, using ROH (Runs of Homozygosity)
analyses (Iacolina et al., 2016, Pertoldi et al., unpublished).
This project enables the actual effect of extreme inbreeding on skull conformation in a
historical context to be estimated, by association of genomic and morphometric data in one
of the most inbred mammals known – the European bison.
We will use hundreds of 3D skull scans from European collections and museums and
juxtaposition them with their inbreeding level information based on SNP markers. The
objective of the project is to specify whether and in what extent inbreeding level shaped the
skull conformation of European bison individuals by answering three questions:
Has the morphometry of the skull fluctuated over time? Has the growing inbreeding of the
European bison influenced its skull morphometry? If yes, what morphometric skull features
have been affected by growing inbreeding?
The working environment
Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences
(MRIPAS) in Białowieża, funded in 1952, conducts research in
the field of ecology, ethology, morphology, population
genetics as well as population management and
conservation of mammals and other terrestrial vertebrates.
The mission of the Institute is to acquire, advance, and
disseminate knowledge of natural patterns and processes in
order to improve the scientific basis for effective nature
conservation activities and sustainable development. We
focus mainly on Białowieża Primeval Forest (UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site) as a study area,
but also on other regions of Poland and Europe. The Institute
employs 60 people, including researchers, PhD students, and
qualified technical and office staff.
We provide:
1. 4-years contract;
2. Work in a friendly research team, in a well-equipped and organized laboratory with
support and supervision of competent colleagues;
3. The possibility of effective scientific development through cooperation with the best
world research centres;
4. Participation in an interesting scientific project with travelling opportunities;
5. The possibility to apply for inexpensive accommodation in MRI PAS flats.
Post-doc tasks and duties within the project
1. Writing scientific papers and participating in relevant conferences and workshops.
2. Supervising PhD students.
3. Performing genome-wide association analysis based on the genomic data and
morphometrical measurements on European bison skulls, preferably using
GoldenHelix or Plink softwares.
4. Visualisation of the data, presenting results and preparing manuscripts.
Requirements:
1. PhD in bioinformatics or genomics.
2. Experience in bioinformatic research, experience in Plink or GoldenHelix applications.
3. Team cooperation skills.
4. Fluent spoken and written English.
5. Fun and excitement from performing science and presenting the results higly
welcome.
Required documents:
1. CV and motivation letter.
2. Copy of PhD diploma.
3. Full-text version (pdf/word file) of your PhD thesis.
4. Information on the candidate’s scientific experience (specialization, research
techniques, and achievements (including list of publications and reports) (max. 500
words).
5. An opinion from the academic tutor or/and previous scientific employer.
6. Declaration of consent for processing of personal data, attached below (only first
signed page should be scanned and delivered through e-mail).
Conditions of employment
1. Post-doc salary of 6200.00 złotych netto / month = approx. 1300 Euro netto. This is the
highest allowed salary for PhD in the NCN project. As living in Poland is cheaper that in
Western Europe, this ensures quite satisfactory standard of living.
2. Project will last 4 years, starting summer 2023 and finish summer 2027. Position is full
time, but can be realized partly remote.
The recruitment rules will follow NCN regulations. The selection will be based on the
qualifications of the candidates including scientific achievements, experience, awards,
internships, skills and competences. An interview will be part of the selection of candidates.
Recruitment is a two-stage process and includes: 1) evaluation of candidates’ documentation
and 2) an interview with selected candidates (you will be asked to shortly present your PhD
thesis).
Applications should be sent directly to Małgorzata Tokarska by letter or electronically by 31st
August 2023. The selected candidates will be invited to an online or stationary interview and
the decision will be announced by 10th September 2023.
Contact:
Małgorzata Tokarska PhD – project leader
Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences
ul. Stoczek 1, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland
e-mail: tokarska@ibs.bialowieza.pl; phone +48 85 682 77 61
Declaration of consent for processing of personal data within the framework
of the competition procedure for granting scientific scholarships in research
projects funded by the National Science Centre
I consent for my personal data to be processed by the Institute of Mammal Research Institute
Polish Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as IBS PAN) for the purposes necessary
for the recruitment process on the award of scientific scholarships in research projects funded
by the National Science Centre (in accordance with the Regulation of the European Parliament
and of the Council (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016, on the protection of natural persons with
regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and
repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Regulation on Data Protection ) (J.L. EU. 2016, No. 119,
p. 1) - hereinafter referred to as RODO, and national data protection regulations issued on its
basis.
...................................................... ...........................................
Place, date Signature
I consent for my personal data to be processed by the Mammal Research Institute Polish
Academy of Sciences in Białowieża (hereinafter referred to as IBS PAN) for the purposes of the
recruitment process for the award of scientific scholarships in research projects funded by the
National Science Centre (required if the data provided include special categories of data
referred to in Article 9(1) of the RODO).
...................................................... ...........................................
Place, date Signature
General Regulation on Data Protection (RODO) information clause
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Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on
the protection of natural persons in connection with the processing of personal data and on
the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC. (Official Journal of the EU
L 119, p. 1).
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your personal data after the recruitment process is based on the legitimate interest of the
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