PhD Position in Bioinformatics – Computational Pathogenomics and Bacterial Genome Evolution

The Archaeogenetics department at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany, is offering a bioinformatics PhD student position beginning in summer 2016.

The overarching research topic at the institute is the use of novel scientific approaches from high throughput sequencing of ancient DNA from human populations and their pathogens to explore research questions related to human history, gene-culture coevolution, and adaptation to infectious disease. The main foci are the relationship between humans and pathogens through time, population migrations and dynamics on a historical time-scale, and microbial evolution.

The primary focus of the position will be on the development and application of software tools in the fields of metagenomic screening, bacterial genomics and host-pathogen co-evolution.

Students holding a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Bioinformatics or Computer Science with profound skills in programming and software development using an object-oriented programming language (preferably Java) are encouraged to apply.
Experience with handling and analysis of next generation DNA sequencing data is of advantage.

Deadline for applications is the 10th of February 2016.

Please apply online and choose Topic 4 at https://s-lotus.gwdg.de/mpg/mjws/ag_phd_2016.nsf/registration
The Max Planck Institute is not a faculty, but is affiliated to, among others, the Eberhard-Karls University in Tübingen and the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany. Doctoral degrees will be granted by one of the affiliated universities.

Doctoral candidates enroll in a 3-year fully-funded and structured program that provides excellent research conditions. Graduate courses and all other degree requirements require proficiency in English only.

For detailed information on the application procedure please visit our website: http://www.shh.mpg.de/phd_archeogenetics