Post-doctoral assistant department Biochemistry and Microbiology

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, and technical and social services on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With each of its 11 faculties and more than 100 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes that are grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its employees as well as its students.

YOUR TASKS

• At least 70% of your assignment will be spent on academic research in the area of the molecular basis of resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors in beekeeping

• You will assist in teaching activities at the Master’s level in insect physiology and parasitology
• You will counsel Bachelor’s and Master’s students in their exercises, work placement and Master’s dissertation within the biochemistry and biotechnology program and the biology program
• You will counsel doctoral students in their research in the field of pathogen detection, transcriptome analysis and genotyping, and you function as an expert for the supervision of research lines that require the construction and analysis of new DNA/RNA libraries

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a doctoral degree (Doctor of Science: Biochemistry and Biotechnology, or a subject relevant by the selection committee)
• The degree requirements need to be fulfilled at the start of your appointment. For diplomas awarded outside the European Union, a certificate of equivalence (NARIC) must be submitted
• You have experience with molecular biological research on honeybee, demonstrated by peer reviewed publications

• You have already conducted research within the field of genetic markers for hereditary characteristics in  honeybees and you are familiar with answering scientific questions using massively parallel DNA libraries
• You have experience with pathogen detection based on qRT-PCR, transcriptome analysis based on RNAseq and association studies using massively parallel sequence data analysis
• You have distinguished yourself as a promising researcher during your doctorate
• You have an interest and, where possible, experience in guiding/training beekeepers in selection work and beekeeping management

• You have a keen interest in coaching students in the Bachelor’s, Master’s and/or Advanced Master’s programmes
• You may present relevant scientific publications in (inter)national peer-reviewed academic journals that are widely disseminated
• You must master the language of instruction in which you will teach a course at CEFR-  level C1. You can demonstrate this by means of a language certificate or a diploma obtained from an institution in which that language is the language of instruction

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer you a temporary appointment of 3 years. A second appointment of up to 3 years can follow, subject to a favourable evaluation of the first term
• Even if you have already been appointed earlier (whether or not at another university and whether or not in the same field of discipline) in a first term of up to three years, you can apply
• The second appointment does not have to be immediately connected to a first term
• Your appointment will start on 1 September 2025 at the earliest.
• Your remuneration will be determined according to salary scale AAP5. More information about our salary scales
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of paid leave, bicycle commuting reimbursement, ecocheques, etc. A complete overview of all our fringe benefits

INTERESTED?

Apply online through the e-recruitment system before the application deadline (see above). We do not accept late applications or applications that are not sent through the online system.

Your application must include the following documents:

• In the field ‘Cv’: your cv and an overview of your relevant scientific publications incl. patent applications, and a brief description (max. 2 pages) ) of how your research background will enable you to engage in independently planned and executed research on the molecular mechanisms of resistance against biotic and abiotic stressors, making use of association studies applying massive-parallel DNA-library based technology (please merge CV, publications section and research background match section into one pdf file)
• In the field ‘Cover letter’: your application letter in pdf format
• In the field ‘Diploma’: a transcript of the required degree (if already in your possession). If you have a foreign diploma in a language other than our national languages (Dutch, French or German) or English, please add a translation in one of the mentioned languages
• In the field ‘Certificate of equivalence’: only for diplomas awarded outside the European Union a certificate of equivalence (NARIC) must be submitted (if already in your possession, if not, you need to be able to provide proof that you have applied for a certificate of equivalence at the start of your appointment). The certificate can be requested via www.naricvlaanderen.be/en. For diplomas awarded in the UK before January 31st of 2020, a certificate of equivalence is not required

Note that the maximum file size for each field is 10 MB.

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Dirk de Graaf (Dirk.deGraaf@UGent.be).

Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via selecties@ugent.be or +32 9 264 34 36