Competition for a postdoctoral researcher position in the National Science Centre project ”Testing the Domestication Syndrome hypothesis in free-ranging domestic dogs”

Principal Investigator: dr hab. Małgorzata Pilot

Job title: postdoctoral researcher

Number of positions: 1

NCN call: CEUS-UNISONO

Project summary:

Domestic animals differ significantly from their wild ancestors in many morphological, physiological and behavioural traits. All species of domestic animals have limited aggression and limited fear of humans compared to their wild ancestors. Many species of domestic mammals also have characteristic morphological features, such as large variations in coat colour, floppy ears and curly tails. Different domesticated species have a similar set of modified phenotypic traits, called “Domestication Syndrome”. According to the hypothesis that explains the coexistence of these traits, they have a common origin during embryonic development, and therefore the selection pressure (natural or artificial) on one of these traits could lead to correlated changes in the whole set of traits. A growing number of studies suggest that domestication may have affected gene regulatory networks that control the rate of migration of neural crest cells. Neural crest cells are stem cells that develop at the edge of the neural tube during the vertebrate embryonic development, and migrate throughout the developing body to give rise to various tissue types and organs and influence a range of neurobiological and physiological functions. Therefore, changes in the migration rate of these cells may underlie the Domestication Syndrome. On the other hand, several recently published papers questioned the existence of the Domestication Syndrome, suggesting that individual traits characteristic of domestic animals could have arisen as a result of the independent action of natural selection on each of these traits.

In the planned project we will test the hypothesis that the phenotypic features characteristic of domestic mammals constitute a Syndrome and that they have an origin in the reduction of the migration rate of neural crest cells. We will conduct a comprehensive test of the "Domestication Syndrome" hypothesis, taking into account its behavioural, morphological and genetic aspects, using free-ranging domestic dogs as a model. The multidisciplinary approach developed for this project will allow testing the relationship between genetic variation and behavioural and morphological traits of free-ranging dogs, for which the potential adaptive functions of these traits can be very important. This project is based on the collaboration of experts in the field of animal behaviour (Sarah Marshall-Pescini and Friederike Range from the Konrad Lorenz Institute in Austria) and evolutionary genetics (Małgorzata Pilot from the University of Gdańsk).

Workplace: University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Biology, Department of Evolutionary Genetics and Biosystematics

The recruitment process will be carried out in accordance with the rules for employing post-docs  adopted by the NCN for the CEUS-UNISONO call (https://ncn.gov.pl/ogloszenia/konkursy/ceus-unisono-2020). The successful candidate will be selected based on a ranking prepared in accordance with the above-mentioned rules. The Selection Committee reserves the right to invite selected candidates to an interview. In the event that the candidate ranked first resigns from employment in the project, the Selection Committee may decide to employ another candidate, according to the ranking list. The Selection Committee may also decide to close the competition without selecting a candidate and to re-open the competition.

Requirements

1. A candidate applying for the position of post-doc must, at the time of signing the employment contract, have a doctoral degree, obtained no earlier than 7 years before the year of employment in the project.
2. The competition is open to persons who meet the conditions set out in the Act of 20 July 2018 Law on Higher Education and Science (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 1668,  as amended) and the Statute of the University of Gdańsk.

The following essential skills are required:

3. experience with laboratory methods used in experimental population genetics and genomics;
4. experience with sample processing for NGS;
5. experience with SNP data analysis;
6. good theoretical knowledge of population genetics;
7. experience with methods of population genetic data analysis
8. experience with preparing research work for publication, evidenced by a first authorship of at least one research paper
9. excellent spoken and written English.

In addition, skills in one or more of the areas below are desirable:

1. analysis of mammalian genomes;
2. functional genomics;
3. behavioural genetics;
4. stable isotope analysis.

Responsibilities:

1. This position will involve carrying out research work as agreed with the group leader.
2. The successful applicant will be responsible for obtaining and bioinformatic analysis of genome-wide SNP data and targeted sequencing data, and performing population genetic analyses based on the obtained data. This will include the following tasks: 

- laboratory work to prepare DNA for the genotyping on SNP arrays and Next Generation Sequencing (including DNA extraction and quantification, and preparation of NGS libraries);

- reconstruction of heritability of canine phenotypic traits;

- analysis of association between variation at candidate genes and phenotypic traits;

- assessment of the joint developmental basis of DS traits.

The work will also include reconstruction of dog diet using stable isotope analysis.

3. The successful applicant will be responsible for preparing peer-reviewed publications as the first author, and will also participate in the preparation of publications as a co-author and in the preparation of reports on the project implementation.
4. The successful applicant will be responsible for the appropriate storage of genetic data generated during the project implementation in accordance with the data management plan.
5. The successful applicant will disseminate the results of his or her work on the project by participating in scientific conferences and through the media.
6. The successful applicant will participate in the preparation of grant applications submitted by the group, with the opportunity to work on their own applications for grants and scholarships for early career researchers.
7. The successful applicant will contribute to the supervision of MSc and PhD students in the group.
8. The work will require learning new methods of data analysis, and therefore strong self-motivation and willingness to learn is essential.
9. The position will involve participation in scientific, didactic and organizational work of the Team, in accordance with the Work Regulations of the University of Gdańsk (https://bip.ug.edu.pl/akty_normatywne/regulaminy/regulamin_pracy).

Conditions of employment

1. Employment will take place on the basis of a fixed-term employment contract for a period of 24 months.   
2. Planned start of work on the project: 01.03.2023.
3. Salary: approx. 7 600 PLN gross
4. Place of work: University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Biology, Department of Evolutionary Genetics and Biosystematics, Gdańsk, Poland.

Application deadline: 20.12.2023, 23:59 Competition results deadline: by 15.01.2024 Submission procedure:

Applications should be sent to the principal investigator, dr hab. Małgorzata Pilot, via e-mail to the following address: malgorzata.pilot@ug.edu.pl, with the subject line: "Application for a postdoctoral position in canine evolutionary genomics". Any questions about the project and this competition can also be sent to the same address.

Please send all the required documents as one PDF file:

1. Copy of PhD certificate
2. Curriculum vitae including the publication list
3. Motivation letter (maximum one page)
4. A copy of one research paper to be evaluated in the recruitment process
5. Contact details of two persons who can be contacted for references.
6. Signed information clause with the following wording:

INFORMATION CLAUSE

For the candidate taking part in the competition for the position of postdoctoral researcher

in the project "Testing the Domestication Syndrome hypothesis in free-ranging domestic dogs"

According to the General Data Protection Regulation of 27 April 2016, hereinafter referred to as GDPR, we would like to inform you that: 

1. Your personal data controller is the University of Gdańsk with its seat in (80-309) Gdańsk at ul. Jana Bażyńskiego 8.
2. The controller has appointed a Data Protection Officer who may be contacted by phone at (58) 523 31 30 or by e-mail at: iod@ug.edu.pl . The Data Protection Officer may be contacted in all matters regarding the processing of personal data and exercising the rights connected with the processing.
3. Your personal data will be processed for the purposes of carrying out the recruitment process for the postdoctoral researcher position at the Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, within the project "Testing the Domestication Syndrome hypothesis in free-ranging domestic dogs" funded by the National Science Centre, and in the case of successful completion of the competition also for purposes related to employment within the project.
4. The legal basis for the processing of your personal data is Article 6(1)(a) of the DPA - consent of the data subject, and in the case of obtaining the status of a scholarship holder also Article 6(1)(b) of the DPA - processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract.
5.  Providing your personal data is voluntary, but is a condition for employment within the project "Testing the Domestication Syndrome hypothesis in free-ranging domestic dogs" funded by the National Science Centre.
6. Your personal data will be processed on behalf of the data controller by authorised personnel solely for the purposes referred to in section 3.
7. Your personal data will be stored for the period necessary to achieve the objectives indicated in point 3, including the period of the Project implementation as well as its sustainability and archiving, with the possibility of its extension by the financing institution. In the case of an unfavourable outcome of the competition, your data will be deleted immediately after its completion, unless archiving is required by legal regulations to a certain extent - then for the period specified in these regulations.
8. Your personal data will not be disclosed to third parties with the exception of cases laid down by law.  Furthermore, the recipients of your personal data may be Managing, Clearing, Intermediary, Monitoring, Controlling, Implementing Authorities or Project Partners. Additionally, in case of electronic submission of the application documents, the recipient of your data may be an entity acting on behalf of the controller, i.e. a postal service provider.
9.  Under the terms of the GDPR you have the right to:
   1. access your data,
   2. rectify your data, should it be inaccurate,
   3. erase your data, restrict the processing of it as well as the right to data portability – in cases laid down by law,
   4. object to the processing of your data,
   5. lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority – President of the Personal Data Protection Office, should you consider that the processing of your data infringes the personal data protection regulations.         

I have read the above clause:

……………………………………

  (date and signature of candidate)