Arbetsbeskrivning

Department of Animal Biosciences

We are looking for a motivated and committed researcher who wants to understand the genetic consequences of feralisation and how these processes can alter the phenotype in feral and wild chickens.

About the position

The position involves working and directing a project where you will analyze genomic, transcriptomic and methylation data obtained from feral birds from Hawaii and Bermuda. You will be using this data in combination to determine the genetic basis of feralisation, and in particular the role that critical regions have in shaping phenotypic variation. Further, a large amount of single cell data will also be analysed to understand how the genetic basis of feralization corresponds to the differences elicited by domestication from a wild state. These regions and genes identified will then be used to help produce a transgenic chicken to turn a domestic chicken wild, as part of an ongoing project with Revive & Restore. Opportunities for research visits abroad may be available. The research involves bioinformatic work using large-scale genomic, transcriptomic and methylomic data, as well as single cell analysis.

Your profile

You must hold a PhD in animal science, veterinary medicine, natural sciences, or engineering. You must also have documented proficiency in written and spoken English.

The project entails exploring the evolutionary mechanisms behind feralization and domestication in chicken, analyzing WGS data and RAD-seq data (genomics), RNA-seq data (transcriptomics), MeDIP-seq data (methylomics), and scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq (single-cell omics) data of feral chicken from different populations. Required methods and skills include quantifying gene expression (both bulk RNA-seq and scRNA-seq) and chromatic accessibility (scATAC-seq) in different tissues, investigating differential gene expression (using, e.g., DESeq2 and EdgeR), finding putative selective sweeps using a combination of several methods (SweepFinder2, SweeD, OmegaPlus, Rehh, Tajima’s D), analyzing runs of homozygosity (ROH) and calculating inbreeding coefficients (FROH), calculating diverse population genetics metrics (e.g., heterozygosity, LD curve), performing QTL (Quantitative Trait Loci) analyses and GWAS (Genome-wide Association Study) to identify associations of genotypes with morphological and behavioral traits (using both MatrixEQTL and GEMMA), and expression patterns (using MatrixEQTL).

Familiarity with different versions of the chicken reference genome, computing in High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments such as PDC and UPPMAX are also required, as is advanced coding skills in programming languages in R, Bash (Linux), Python, Matlab and Mathematica. As this project is ongoing, all the above skills are requirements, and only candidates fully meeting all of the above will be considered.

Emphasis will also be placed on personal qualities such as commitment, ability to collaborate, analytical skills, independence, and initiative and organizational skills. The position will be offered to the candidate that after a qualitative assessment is deemed to be the most suitable to perform and develop the project tasks as well as contributing to a positive development of the subject area.

About us

The Department of Animal Biosciences is part of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science and is responsible for education and research in several basic and applied areas. These areas include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, toxicology, genetics, breeding, immunology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology, epizootology, comparative medicine, food safety, bioinformatics, and One Health. Our research covers everything from production animals to sport and companion animals, laboratory animals, and wild animals. The department's researchers work on the entire scale, from molecular mechanisms and microbiology to the structure, function, and behaviour of animals and how these are affected by breeding, physical activity, care, production, stress, environmental factors, and diseases.

For more information about the department or division visit: Länk till hemsida https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/organisation/departments/Animal-Biosciences/

Read more about our benefits and working at SLU by visiting: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Location:

Uppsala, Ultuna

Form of employment:

Indefinite-term employment. SLU may use probationary employment.

Scope:

100%

Start date:

As agreed.

Application:

Please submit your application before the deadline of 12 June 2026. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Union representatives:

https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

 

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden. SLU has around 4,000 employees, 6,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 4,5 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.