As large-scale pathogen genome sequencing efforts become more common, the need to comprehensively analyse genome variation is real and immediate. Typically phenotype-genotype association studies (e.g. GWAS) are underpowered due to the size and complexity of variable genomes. We are interested in developing context-dependent models of genome variation to boost the performance of association analyses. Our methodology will be applied to a range bacteria including those with commensal lifestyles, those involved in chronic infection, or hypervirulent strains. We aim to use our results to predict the pathogenic potential of bacteria using genome sequence alone.
The successful candidate will join a research group that has a broad range of interests including the application of bioinformatic methods to analyse comparative genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic datasets. In particular we are interested in RNA biology and the consequences of prokaryotic genome variation.
You will join the Gardner research group who has recently joined the University of Otago. We will work in close collaboration with A/Prof. Peter Fineran (Otago), Prof. Murray Cox (Massey) and Dr Nicole Wheeler (Sanger Institute). Our groups are diverse, and we collaborate widely, including with groups in New Zealand, UK, Denmark, US, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Australia. We work towards the free and rapid dissemination of research discoveries.
For further enquiries please contact: Paul Gardner (
[email protected])
Required background: A PhD in bioinformatics or computational biology. Ideally with experience analysing next-generation sequencing data. A demonstrated interest in microbial evolution would be an advantage.
Please email a CV and cover letter to Paul Gardner (
[email protected]). If short-listed, we will request further details from you.
Closing date 1 December, 2017.
