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Vacancy for a Post-doc position in microbiology/plant physiology (3 years) at the Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń (Poland)

Project: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as vectors of plant viruses (MYCOVIR)

Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University (Toruń, Poland) is offering a Post-doc position in the project MYCOVIR: ?Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as vectors of plant viruses? [NCN, UMO-2016/23/B/NZ9/03417] with expected commencement 15. November 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is available for a 3-year period.

Project description:

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are well known to transfer water and nutrients to their host plants. They can also connect different host plants with their hyphal network. This offers a direct pathway for exchange between different host plants. It might also allow transfer of plant virus particles. Therefore, the main objective of MYCOVIR is to test the potential of AMF to transmit plant viruses. Potato virus Y (PVY) is one of the most important plant viruses in potato cropping. Aphids are known to transmit PVY in a non-persistent matter. First indication of PVY particles in mycorrhizal fungi were found, however were potential for infection of new host plants is not known so far. Therefore, a model system will be established to connect PVY-positive and -negative host plants by a mycorrhizal network. Beside the infection potential in this combination, the plant physiological impact of AMF on virus-infected host plants will be evaluated. The methodological approach will involve e.g. real-time RT-PCR, microscopic techniques, ELISA and transcriptomics. The project will be implemented in cooperation with the University of Rostock, Chair of Soil Science (Germany) and the INOQ GmbH (Germany).

If you have any further questions about the position, please contact: hrynk@umk.pl

Responsibilities and tasks

• Participation in the research environment at Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection (Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland)
• Management and carry through your research project
• Writing of scientific articles
• Participate in congresses

Qualifications

Candidates for the postdoctoral position must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent). The successful candidate will have strong qualifications or experience within several of the following areas:

• Microbiology, virology, plant-microbe interactions at the molecular level
• Competences within microbiological, molecular and biochemical analyses
• Project management of interdisciplinary research projects
• The grade point average achieved
• Professional qualifications relevant to the project
• Relevant biological research experience within microbiology, plant-microbe interactions, molecular techniques
• Previous research publications
• Other professional activities
• Language skills: fluency in English

Terms of salary and employment

Scholarschip and terms of employment will be in accordance with the agreement of Nicolaus Copernicus University. Successful applicants will receive 60 000 PLN/year. The position is covered from the project.

Application Procedure

The application, in English, must be submitted by mail to: Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Torun (room No 127), Poland or on-line in pdf-format to: hrynk@umk.pl.

Please include

• Cover Letter detailing your motivation and background for applying for this project.
• Max 1-page proposal for research activities to pursue in the project
• CV
• Diploma and transcripts of records (PhD)
• 1-3 professional referees (Name, address, telephone & email)
• Documentation of English language qualifications
• Other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications

Deadline for applications is 31 October 2017. Applications received later than this will not be considered. The expected date of announcement of results is 6 November 2017.

Contact person

For specific information about the Post-doc scholarship, please contact coordinator of the project Associate Professor Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz (hrynk@umk.pl; Phone: +48(56)6112540 or +48-509-018-799), Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland.