Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet (SLU)
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Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology
Join the Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) for a two-year postdoctoral position using population genomics to discover how rye adapts to different environments and what role its microbiota play. You will lead the genomic work in the Swedish Research Council-funded project ‘Eco-evolution of rye and its microbial allies’, and also carry out some field work and greenhouse studies.
About the position
Rye (Secale cereale L.) is cultivated where other cereals struggle, tolerating cold, drought and poor soils. Unlike its close relatives wheat and barley, rye is outcrossing, elabling it to maintain high genetic diversity. This makes rye a powerful system for understanding whether microbes help shape how plants adapt to their environment and how domestication has disrupted this. Landrace rye is also making a comeback on farms, so we can study living populations in the places that shaped them, rather than relying only on gene bank samples.
You will study rye populations ranging from wild and weedy relatives to landraces and inbred elite lines. Your main tasks will be to:
collect seeds from rye populations across northern Europe, grow them under standardised conditions in the greenhouse, and characterise their physiological and phenological traits and associated microbial communities analyse whole-genome sequencing data to describe the genetic diversity and population structure of the rye populations link genomic variation to plant traits, microbial communities and the environment to identify drivers of adaptation, for example through genome–environment association analyses and selection scans
You will work within the Soil Microbiology Group at the Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, whose focus is on understanding the role microorganisms play in biogeochemical processes. You will also be connected to a wider group of collaborators who support the genomic work, including evolutionary biologists at Uppsala University, Sweden, and crop genomic specialists at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
We are looking for a person with a PhD in biology with a focus on population genetics, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, ecology, agricultural science, or a related field, with documented capabilities of autonomous scientific research work and skills in writing scientific publications. The applicant should also be highly motivated, open-minded and team-oriented, and contribute positively to the development of the research environment.
experience of analysing high-throughput sequencing data for population genomics, from raw reads to population-level analysis experience of working from the command line on a computing cluster and of scripting, for example in bash, R or Pythongood
good written and spoken English, sufficient for scientific writing, reporting and participation in international project activities
experience of whole-genome sequencing data, especially from large genomes experience of associating genomic variation with traits or the environment knowledge of evolutionary and eco-evolutionary processes in plants experience of working with plants or microbial community data a driver’s licence
We do not expect you to have all of these advantages. If your genomics experience comes from another study system, you are very welcome to apply, and we will support you in learning the plant and microbial work.
A position as a postdoctoral researcher is intended for a researcher early in their career. We are therefore primarily looking for candidates who completed their doctoral degree no more than three years before the application deadline. If your degree is older because of parental leave, illness, union duties, military service or similar circumstances, please state this in your application. If you are close to finishing your PhD, you are welcome to apply, provided your degree is awarded before the employment decision.
The assessment will also take into account personal qualities, such as your ability to collaborate, work independently and communicate clearly.
The Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, SLU holds a top international position in research. We are dedicated to both fundamental and applied research, focusing on the vital interactions between plants, fungi, and other microorganisms in forest and agricultural systems. Our key research areas include Forest and Agricultural Plant Pathology, Plant-Soil-Microorganism Interactions, Microbial & Molecular Ecology, Comparative Genomics, and Biological Control. We tackle critical issues such as biodiversity loss, ecosystem function decline, and the impact of indigenous and invasive pests and diseases. Our work aims to develop sustainable agriculture and forestry practices, particularly in the face of climate change in order to minimize environmental impacts and economic losses.
For more information about the department or division visit: http://www.slu.se/mykopat
For more information about the project, see: https://www.slu.se/en/research/research-catalogue/projekt/e/eco-evolution-of-rye-and-its-microbial-allies/
Benefits include a salary supplement during parental leave, healthcare benefits and a wellness allowance. Read more about our benefits and working at SLU by visiting: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/
Uppsala
Fixed-term position, 24 months. If you take parental leave during the position, you will be offered an extension at least equal to the length of your leave.
100%
Spring 2027, or as agreed.
Please submit your application before deadline 7 January 2026. Applications cannot be submitted through the recruitment system on 20–22 November due to a system update. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.
Cover letter (maximum 1 page) describing your population genomics experience and what interests you about this project
CV (you are welcome to include links to public code or data)
Names and contact details of two referees
PhD degree certificate (if you have not yet defended, please give your expected defence date instead)
Interviews are planned for January 2027.
Pay is not stated in the ad.
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Source: Arbetsformedlingen Platsbanken · original listing ↗
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