PRR Project

Summary

An Assistant Researcher in Microbial Evolution dedicated to unravelling important drivers and mechanisms of bacterial evolution in the interface environment-humans, aligned with the CBQF mission of providing innovative and relevant knowledge underpinning biotechnology contributions in health and well-being and sustainable agri-food systems. The Assistant Researcher in Microbial Evolution will lead groundbreaking research initiatives aimed at advancing the understanding of the evolutionary processes promoted by human action (e.g. chemical pollution, engineering interventions) that shape bacterial evolution. These objectives meet the CBQF goals of being an international flagship biotechnology research centre and represent cutting edge knowledge areas in the field of microbiology and microbiome studies. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the field of evolutionary biology and guide research projects that explore the genetic, ecological, and adaptive mechanisms driving microbial evolution. Through the use of cutting-edge methodological approaches, it is expected to gain new insights from genomics and phylogenomics studies, as well as from the influence of possible environmental pressures and genome-function relationships, about the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive evolutionary processes at the strain, species, population, and community levels. Besides the integration and dynamization of fundamental research, it is expected an active collaboration with key stakeholders, including public health agencies and environmental organizations, and whenever possible, to translate research findings into practical applications. Mentoring junior researchers, attract competitive funding and contribute to the overall academic and research excellence of the organization are also part of the commitments expected for this position.Scientific profile:PhD in Microbial Evolution, Evolutionary Biology, or a related field.Proven track record of research, demonstrated through publications in reputable scientific journals.Expertise in evolutionary microbiology, including adaptative evolutionary studies and exploitation of evolutionary patterns.Expertise in multi-omics approaches, mainly in bacterial genomics and transcriptomics analysis, and bioinformatics.Strong background in environmental microbiology, with a focus on clinically relevant environmental bacteria.Experience in integrating research projects, including collaboration with international and multidisciplinary teams.Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex scientific concepts to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.