Applications are being accepted for a two-year postdoctoral position in microbial community interactions at the Department of Food Science, Section of Microbiology, Gut Health, and Fermentation. The fellowship will investigate novel strategies for lowering plant loss through the use of bacterial communities to lengthen product shelf life.
Project Information
The purpose of this study is to understand better and harness the potential of multispecies bacterial communities to enhance crop resilience and plant protection. We will investigate the role that bacterial competition plays in crop resilience, including how it affects space colonisation, nutrient absorption, and the release of protective compounds. Our goal is to maximise positive microbial interactions and close the knowledge gap in multispecies protection, which will result in more sustainable agriculture methods and longer food product shelf lives. The first crop model we will deal with is potatoes.
The postdoc will take the lead in creating and refining multispecies bacterial communities to improve their biodefenses against plant diseases. Building and screening bacterial communities using plant isolates and UCPH-FOOD’s BioBank are among the responsibilities. Other tasks include confirming the communities’ ability to stop soft rot and adjusting species ratios and environmental factors for long-term protection. The role also involves introducing new strains to enhance bioprotective effects through experimental evolution and using metagenomics to assess the impact on native potato microbiomes. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to innovative solutions in sustainable agriculture and food protection.
Qualifications and Requirements
- A PhD in biology, bioinformatics, biotechnology, molecular biology, or microbiology, or an equivalent degree.
- Strong background in the genetic engineering of bacteria, fluorescence-based reporter systems, in vitro biofilm models, confocal microscopy study of bacterial communities, and bacterial community cultivation and analysis.
- Familiarity with bacterial genome and meta-genome bioinformatic analyses
- It helps to have prior experience with flow cytometry and evolution experiments.
- Familiarity with R or Python data analysis.
- Strong interpersonal abilities and background in teamwork with major international projects.
- Enthusiastic and driven by themselves
- Outstanding writing and speaking skills in English.
Deadline and Application
The deadline for the application is on 20 October 2024. For more details and application, visit the official website.
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