Stilling:

Postdoctoral position – Across European red cattle breeds genomic predictions

Application deadline: 31st October 2018

NMBU has a special responsibility for research and education that ensures the basis of life for future generations.


Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we provide knowledge for life.

NMBU has 1700 employees and 5200 students and is organized in seven faculties. NMBU has a campus in Ås and in Oslo. In the autumn of 2020 we are co-located on Ås.

Further information on NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.

About BIOVIT

The Faculty of Biosciences is organized in two departments: Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences and Department of Plant Sciences. The main objective of the Faculty of Biosciences is to contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture and food production systems through basic and applied research on plants and animals including fish (aquaculture). The faculty houses Centre for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE) and the research center for Research-based Innovation (SFI) - Foods of Norway. The faculty employs approximately 240 scientists, technicians, and administrative personnel. Around 480 bachelor and master students and 90 PhD students are enrolled in educational programmes within the faculty, offering a stimulating and supportive learning environment.


The Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences provides fundamental, innovative research and practical solutions to improve productivity and sustainability across the agriculture and aquaculture sector. Currently, disciplines within the department include Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology, Ethology and Animal Environment, Breeding and Quantitative Genetics, and Genome Biology.

About the position

The Department of Animal- and Aquacultrual Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant 2 year postdoctoral position related to animal breeding.

The successful candidate will be working in the ERANET-SUSAN project “Biodiversity within and between European Red dairy breeds – conservation through utilization” (https://era-susan.eu/content/rediverse). The project is funded by BMEL, DAFA, VIAA, MoA ZUM, NWO, RCN, NCBR and FORMAS as a part of the ERA-Net Cofund SusAn (grantnr 696231) through a virtual common pot model with EU top-up.

The postdoc will participate in an international research team with collaborators in Germany, Denmark, The Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Norway.

The project is coordinated by Profs Dirk Hinrichs and Georg Thaller from Kiel University, Germany.

The candidate will be based at the Institute of Animal and Aquaculture Sciences, BIOVIT, NMBU at Ås in Norway (30 km south of Oslo). The daily supervision will be by Prof. Theo Meuwissen (IHA-NMBU).

The project aims to make best use of high density SNP-chip and/or whole genome sequence data in order to predict breeding values across the north-European red cattle breeds. Our hypothesis is that by combining high-density genomic data with novel genomic prediction methods, genomic predictions become more accurate. The project has components of both basic research and practical application in breeding.

Main tasks

In general, the candidate will develop innovative genomic prediction approaches to the use of high density SNPchip and whole genome sequence data, with special. emphasis on:

- Accurate across breed genomic predictions

- Use of dense genomic data

- Bioinformatics

- Handling of missing genotypes and ungenotyped individuals and correlated phenotypes

The successful applicant must:

  • hold a PhD degree in animal breeding and/or quantitative genetics. Experiences with the analysis of genomic data and/or making use of big data is beneficial. The applicant must also document expertise and interest in the research subject and document proficiency in both written and oral English.

Personal characteristics important for the position are:

  • Ability for independent work, initiative, and thinking
  • Ability to work in a research group
  • Analytic ability and academic approach to research

Remuneration and information

The position is placed in code 1352 Postdoctor on the government pay scale, pay grade 59-77 (currently NOK 515.200 – 731.400), depending on qualifications and seniority. Pay increases are according to seniority.

The position is placed in code 1352 Postdoctor on the government pay scale, pay grade 59-77 (currently NOK 515.200 – 731.400), depending on qualifications and seniority. Pay increases are according to seniority.

Information to applicants

Application

To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button above.

This will route you to the University's Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register an account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.

Application deadline: 31st October 2018

Up to ten publications selected by the applicant as most relevant must be attached to the application. If it is difficult to identify the contribution of the applicant in multiple-author publications, a short explanation about the applicant’s part of the work is suggested.

Printed material which cannot be sent electronically should be sent by surface mail to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Animal- and Aquacultrual Sciences P.O. Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, within 31st October 2018. Please quote reference number 18/05558.

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