An exciting postdoctoral position to investigate Antarctic terrestrial plant 
phylogenomics is 
available at Stellenbosch University 
(http://academic.sun.ac.za/cib/team/academic/jleroux.asp) 
and the University of Johannesburg (http://www.molzoolab.co.za/), South Africa. 
The successful 
applicant will be based at Stellenbosch University, but will be expected to 
spend some time at 
the University of Johannesburg. The envisaged research will address a major 
question in modern 
biology: how has plant life evolved and spread around the Antarctic region, 
both in the past and 
currently? This research forms part of an international collaboration: "A 
Functional Biogeography 
of the Antarctic (AFBA, see http://antarcticbiogeography.org)" as part of the 
Antarctic 
Circumnavigation Expedition (ACE). ACE involves 22 projects, 55 researchers and 
19 countries 
and is the first project of the newly created Swiss Polar Institute.

The successful candidate will be responsible for plant phylogenomic research on 
selected taxa 
from the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Islands. Using the latest phylogenomic 
and analytical 
approaches, the research aims to shed light on the history of plant life in the 
region, how it will 
respond to environmental change, and what can be done to secure its future.

Only candidates with demonstrable (i.e. published) skills in next generation 
sequencing data 
analyses with an emphasis on phylogenomics will be considered. Preference will 
be given to 
candidates with previous postdoctoral research experience and an excellent 
academic track 
record (i.e. publications in international journals). Successful candidates 
will be fully funded for 1 
year, to be extended for an additional 1 to 2 years depending on satisfactory 
performance. An 
attractive annual bursary will be offered along with additional expenses for 
research, 
international travel and subsistence, and conference attendance. Individuals 
from all nationalities 
are eligible. 

To apply, please send a CV, contact details for at least two academic 
references, and a brief 
outline of research interests to Prof. Jaco Le Roux (jler...@sun.ac.za) and 
Prof. Bettine van 
Vuuren (bettin...@uj.ac.za) by 28 February 2017. Informal inquiries are 
welcome. Review of 
applications will begin immediately after the closing date, and short-listed 
candidates will be 
contacted to set up phone/Skype interviews. The envisaged start date for the 
project would be 
March/April 2017.

Reply via email to