Erc-funded Bioinformatics Postdoc: Unravelling The

**Who we are**:
The lab for Systems Biology of Kevin Verstrepen is a research team at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology. Our team focuses on genomics, genetics, epigenetics, transcriptomics and evolution, using yeast as a model. We combine wet lab and computational research to investigate how biological systems work and evolve and use this knowledge to generate superior microbes for use in a greener industry. Please visit us at Verstrepenlab.sites.vib.be and Verstrepen laboratory for more information.

The lab is located at KU Leuven, one of the oldest and most prominent universities in Europe, consistently ranked within the top 50 worldwide universities. Leuven is located 10 miles from Brussels, with frequent direct train connections to Brussels airport.

**Job description**:
Are you interested in breaking the code of posttranscriptional regulation, a central, yet understudied mechanism in eukaryotic cells? Join our multidisciplinary and international team to perform ground-breaking research aimed at understanding how cells control gene activity and protein expression through signals and patterns in untranslated regions of mRNA.

We are actively looking for a motivated and experienced postdoctoral scientist with a PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genetics, Comparative Genomics, or equivalent. You will use your experience in comparative genomics to analyze and integrate an exciting and unique set of newly generated genome-wide datasets from different fungal species across the evolutionary tree, generated across all layers of gene regulation (i.e. chromatin, DNA, RNA and protein level) under different environmental conditions. Your initial focus will be (_de novo_) genome assemblies and annotations of a diverse set of evolutionary divergent yeast species and integrate this with other available datasets.

You will be based in Leuven but will also collaborate with the two other groups involved in this project with complementary expertise (Vicente Pelechano, Karolinska Institute, development of high-throughput omics assays and Julien Gagneur, Technical University of Munich, AI and modeling) via regular online meetings and short research stays.

**Profile**:
**Essential**
- You have a PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Genetics, Comparative Genomics or equivalent
- You are proficient in multiple programming languages, including Python and R
- You have experience with high-performance computing clusters and analysis of genomics datasets
- Experience with _de novo _genome assemblies is considered a very big plus
- You have strong written and oral communication skills and are fluent in English
- You are an enthused team player who is open and respectful to other cultures, opinions and ways of life
- You are accurate and critical of your work and its implementation
- You have found a good balance between working in a team and working independently
- **Desirable but not required**
- Knowledge of molecular biology and/or microbiology

**Key personal characteristics**
- Motivated & enthused team player who enjoys working in a fun, diverse multicultural team

**We offer**:

- A fully funded, full-time postdoctoral position in a stimulating and supportive international research environment, with English as the main language
- The ability to work on scientifically significant and high-impact research topics
- Access to in-house generated large and unique datasets
- The chance to contribute meaningfully to genetic and evolutionary research in a dynamic team
- The possibility to participate in international conferences and collaborations
- Excellent training in academic, technical, and career skills
- Preferred starting date is as soon as possible

**How to apply?**:

- your cover/motivation letter stating career goals, experience, and how these relate to the current position
- your CV, including a list of your scientific publications
- contact information of at least 2 references