Miscarriage is the most common pregnancy complication, with over 23 million pregnancies ending in miscarriage every year. Chromosome abnormalities – aneuploidies – are observed in half of all miscarried fetuses, but not all fetuses with chromosome abnormalities miscarry, with some surviving until, or even after birth. This project aims to quantify the contribution of the fetal genome in miscarriage, particularly among fetuses with normal chromosome counts. The postdoc fellow will lead a project using large-scale genetic data from miscarriage fetuses and their mothers (including calling of aneuploidies) and contribute to ongoing efforts in this field (GWAS, meta-analyses, etc).
The person employed as a postdoc fellow will primarily conduct research. The job assignments include data quality control and analysis, dissemination of results (write research articles, presentations at conferences), and supervision of Master/ PhD students. We expect the postdoc fellow to conduct high-quality research. There are opportunities to expand the project's focus within the framework of the specified project and postdoctoral fellow's interests and specialization. The postdoc fellow is also expected to participate and assist in projects from other group members and colleagues, and to contribute to administrative tasks such as data acquisition and applications to the ethics committee, among others.
To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree in a relevant subject, or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made.
In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.
The applicant must have a PhD degree in a field equivalent or similar to molecular biology, statistical biology, biomedicine, epidemiology, genetics, statistics, mathematical, computer or biomedical sciences. Experience in statistical modeling, either in the context of genetics or epidemiology, as well as ability to work in R/ Python and a UNIX environment are required. Excellent oral and written English language skills are also required.
Other qualifications are proven ability to write coherent scientific text with at least one published or submitted manuscript where the applicant is the first author and wrote a major part of the text. The position requires collaboration with colleagues and other research groups, but ability to generate and pursue research ideas independently will be essential.
Merits are:
- Proven experience in calling copy number variants or abnormal chromosome counts
- Proven experience with population genetics (microarrays, GWAS, GxE studies)
- Experience with large data analysis or bioinformatics
- Clinical knowledge of physiology and biology of pregnancy
- Experience in molecular biology
- Experience in student supervision
- Experience with version control in Git and reproducible science (Snakemake, conda, etc)
Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability (collaborative, creative and structured).
Apply via the following link:
web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/1035/job?site=7&lang=UK&validator=9b89bead79bb7258ad55c8d75228e5b7&job_id=35562