Publicerad: 2025-04-03
Researcher in DNA metabarcoding of insects
The Swedish Museum of Natural History is a government agency with a mandate to promote knowledge, research and interest in our world. It is a prominent research institution and Sweden's largest museum. For more than 200 years, the museum has been collecting specimens and data and conducting research on life on earth. The collections contain more than 11 million plants, animals, fungi, environmental samples, minerals and fossils. All research and knowledge are shared in the exhibitions, Cosmonova and in activities at the museum and digitally.
In the Department of bioinformatics and genetics, we are using information technology and genetic methods to study biological diversity and evolution. We are now looking for a research leader for the DarkTree project, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The position will be placed in the research group led by professor Fredrik Ronquist (https://ronquistlab.github.io/), focused on data-driven research on insect diversity and evolution.
WORK TASKS
You will work within a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary team with the goal of filling in the current gaps in the insect tree of life using a combination of genome sequencing, computer vision and probabilistic machine learning. We will be using a unique insect material collected in the Insect Biome Atlas project (funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation) and LIFEPLAN project (funded by the European Research Council), comprising some 50,000 Malaise trap samples containing an estimated 50 million insects representing at least a million species, most of which are undescribed. All samples have been previously indexed using metabarcoding of the mitochondrial gene CO1, commonly used for species identification in insects.
Using the metabarcoding information and the current genome-based tree of life for insects, we will systematically pick out specimens of species-rich but poorly known groups for genome sequencing. The process will involve computer-assisted manual sorting of samples, individual-specimen barcoding to verify the species identification, and finally genome sequencing and phylogenetic inference aimed at providing a backbone within the darkest regions in the current genome-based insect tree of life.
The resulting data will be used to study the diversification of insects through time, the evolution of insect genomes, and the co-evolution of insects and their symbionts. We will also target methods for improved noise reduction and taxonomic annotation of metabarcoding data. The project will involve methods development at the cutting edge of AI, computer vision and probabilistic machine learning. The project is a collaboration between researchers at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Linköping University, and also involves an advisory group consisting of additional researchers from Sweden and abroad.
You will be responsible for coordinating and leading research activities, from planning to publication, especially research involving the use of DNA metabarcoding data or the development of improved processing techniques for such data. You will also be responsible for supporting the PIs in project management, including budget planning, economic and results reporting and other project administration tasks. The work will involve travel, organization of project meetings, and outreach activities.
QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for a candidate with a PhD and postdoctoral research experience in DNA metabarcoding of insects. You should have a solid background in and experience of DNA barcoding, metabarcoding and genome sequencing more broadly. Previous experience of project management or coordination would be meritorious. The work requires excellent skills in written and oral communication in English. Skills in written and oral communication in Swedish would be meritorious, as well as knowledge of insect diversity.
We are looking for a candidate with strong analytical and communicative skills, and who is results-oriented.
OTHER
This is a temporary employment, for a period of four years from the starting date.
We advance our knowledge of the natural world, inspiring to better care of our planet. Our ambition is that the employees of The Swedish Museum of Natural History shall represent the diversity in Sweden and we welcome every applicant.
We have decided upon choices for marketing. Therefore we decline contact with sales agents, recruitment sites and similar.
In the Department of bioinformatics and genetics, we are using information technology and genetic methods to study biological diversity and evolution. We are now looking for a research leader for the DarkTree project, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The position will be placed in the research group led by professor Fredrik Ronquist (https://ronquistlab.github.io/), focused on data-driven research on insect diversity and evolution.
WORK TASKS
You will work within a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary team with the goal of filling in the current gaps in the insect tree of life using a combination of genome sequencing, computer vision and probabilistic machine learning. We will be using a unique insect material collected in the Insect Biome Atlas project (funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation) and LIFEPLAN project (funded by the European Research Council), comprising some 50,000 Malaise trap samples containing an estimated 50 million insects representing at least a million species, most of which are undescribed. All samples have been previously indexed using metabarcoding of the mitochondrial gene CO1, commonly used for species identification in insects.
Using the metabarcoding information and the current genome-based tree of life for insects, we will systematically pick out specimens of species-rich but poorly known groups for genome sequencing. The process will involve computer-assisted manual sorting of samples, individual-specimen barcoding to verify the species identification, and finally genome sequencing and phylogenetic inference aimed at providing a backbone within the darkest regions in the current genome-based insect tree of life.
The resulting data will be used to study the diversification of insects through time, the evolution of insect genomes, and the co-evolution of insects and their symbionts. We will also target methods for improved noise reduction and taxonomic annotation of metabarcoding data. The project will involve methods development at the cutting edge of AI, computer vision and probabilistic machine learning. The project is a collaboration between researchers at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Linköping University, and also involves an advisory group consisting of additional researchers from Sweden and abroad.
You will be responsible for coordinating and leading research activities, from planning to publication, especially research involving the use of DNA metabarcoding data or the development of improved processing techniques for such data. You will also be responsible for supporting the PIs in project management, including budget planning, economic and results reporting and other project administration tasks. The work will involve travel, organization of project meetings, and outreach activities.
QUALIFICATIONS
We are looking for a candidate with a PhD and postdoctoral research experience in DNA metabarcoding of insects. You should have a solid background in and experience of DNA barcoding, metabarcoding and genome sequencing more broadly. Previous experience of project management or coordination would be meritorious. The work requires excellent skills in written and oral communication in English. Skills in written and oral communication in Swedish would be meritorious, as well as knowledge of insect diversity.
We are looking for a candidate with strong analytical and communicative skills, and who is results-oriented.
OTHER
This is a temporary employment, for a period of four years from the starting date.
We advance our knowledge of the natural world, inspiring to better care of our planet. Our ambition is that the employees of The Swedish Museum of Natural History shall represent the diversity in Sweden and we welcome every applicant.
We have decided upon choices for marketing. Therefore we decline contact with sales agents, recruitment sites and similar.