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Postdoctoral fellow in Bacterial Microbiology: Gothenburg, Sweden

Two-year full time position within the research group led by Professor Joakim Larsson, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The focus of the research group is on antibiotic resistance development, particularly the role of the external environment. The group consists of 1 professor, 1 associate professor, 6 postdoctoral fellows, 2 PhD students, 1 researcher/coordinator,1 technician, 2 clinical doctors, 1 amanuenses as well as master students. Larsson also leads the interdisciplinary Centre of Antibiotic Resistance Research at University of Gothenburg (CARe). The group has extensive collaboration with other universities, nationally and internationally. The research is interdisciplinary and has significant funding through e.g. the Swedish Research Councils VR and Formas.
More information about the research group can be found at: http://www.biomedicine.gu.se/ominst/avd/infektion/forskare/joakim_larsson/ and CARe at: http://www.care.gu.se. For more information, see also: http://sahlgrenska.gu.se.

Subject area
Bacterial Microbiology

Specific subject description
Most resistance genes found in pathogens today are thought to originate from harmless bacteria in and around us. The primary research focus of the group is to better understand the forces driving this development, particularly how low, environmental concentrations of antibiotics affect processes such as the mobilization of resistance genes, horizontal gene transfer, selection and transmission of resistance between environments. In addition to antibiotics, metals and antibacterial biocides are often able to select for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The increasing use of antibacterial substances in society, also in hospitals, requires an improved risk assessment. Crucial aspects include the development of assays to assess selective ability in complex communities, defining minimal selective concentrations and co-resistance patterns.

Job assignments
The fellow is expected to conduct studies within one or more of the projects funded to the group (please see Larsson´s website). The scopes of these projects include investigating how antibiotics, biocides and metals in the external environment affect the evolution and transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, understanding the role of different transmission routes in the environment, particularly via sewage, and characterization of the vast reservoir of unknown resistance factors present in the external environment, and surveillance of resistance in the human population through analyses of sewage. The work may involve aquaria-exposure experiments with bacterial biofilms in the lab, field studies, culturing of bacteria, phenotypic and genotypic characterization, experiments addressing mobility and mutation rates etc. The lab work may also be combined with bioinformatic analyses of DNA sequence data, although there are other members in the group with that competence. The fellow is also expected to author/co-author scientific papers.

Eligibility
An achieved doctoral degree is compulsory for a position as postdoctor at Göteborg University. The doctoral thesis shall be in a relevant area according to the specific position stated here. Since a position as postdoctor aims to give new holders of the doctorate the opportunity mainly to strengthen and develop their scholarly proficiency, we aim for those who have a doctoral degree not older than 3 years counting from last date of application.

The qualifications for academic postitions are given in Chapter 4, Section 3 – 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance.

Assessment
PhD in relevant area and good scientific output in relation to the time passed since completing PhD, experience of practical laboratory work with bacteria (particularly gram negative) on the aspect of antibiotic resistance, an in-depth knowledge of molecular biology techniques, excellent communicative skills particularly regarding scientific communication in English, a high degree of independence in the lab, a developed way of critical thinking, documented ability to work successfully in a group, and a competence profile that complements other group members. Experience of bioinformatics analyses, previous work on environmental pollution, combination effects and microbial communities, and a valid driver’s license are also merits.

Regulations for the evaluation of qualifications for academic positions are given in Chapter 4, Section 3 – 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance….

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Job details

Employer:University of Gothenburg (GU)

Website:http://www.gu.se/english

Location:Gothenburg, Sweden

Expires:August 05, 2016

Job type:Postdoctoral

Salary:Unspecified

Qualifications:Postgraduate - Doctorate/PhD

Employment type:Contract

Job hours:Full-time