Postdoctoral Position (Chickpea Genetics): The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Aarhus University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position in the research group of Dr. Aleksandr Gavrin. The position focuses on legume biology and crop trait development, particularly in chickpea adaptation to Northern European climates.
The successful candidate will contribute to the CicerNord collaborative project, which aims to develop chickpea cultivars with improved early maturation, productivity, nutritional quality, and symbiotic nitrogen fixation efficiency. The research will integrate field experiments, genomic analysis, GWAS, and transcriptomic approaches to identify genetic determinants associated with key agronomic and nutritional traits.
Postdoctoral Position in Legume Crop Trait Development (Chickpea Genetics)
Summary Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Position Title | Postdoctoral Researcher |
| Project | CicerNord – Chickpea Adaptation to Northern European Climate |
| Institution | Aarhus University |
| Department | Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics |
| Supervisor | Dr. Aleksandr Gavrin |
| Research Focus | Legume Biology, Chickpea Genetics, Crop Trait Development |
| Location | Aarhus, Denmark |
| Application Deadline | 1 May 2026 |
| Start Date | Immediately available |
| Application Mode | Online through Aarhus University job portal |
Designation
Postdoctoral Researcher – Legume Crop Trait Development
Research Area
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Legume Biology and Crop Genetics
- Chickpea Phenology and Trait Development
- Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation
- Plant–Microbe Interactions
- Quantitative Genetics and Genomics
- Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS)
- Transcriptomics (RNA-seq, TWAS)
Location
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
Aarhus University
Aarhus, Denmark
Eligibility / Qualification
Applicants should meet the following requirements:
- PhD in Plant Genetics, Plant Biology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, or related disciplines.
- Strong background in quantitative genetics and statistical analysis, including understanding of:
- Polygenic traits
- Heritability
- Population structure
- Linkage disequilibrium
- Genotype–phenotype associations
- Hands-on experience with GWAS tools and pipelines, such as:
- GEMMA
- EMMAX
- GAPIT
- FarmCPU
- BLINK
- Ability to run mixed linear models, handle covariates, correct for population structure and kinship, and perform SNP quality filtering.
- Experience integrating genomics and transcriptomics datasets, including RNA-seq and TWAS, to identify candidate genes.
- Experience designing or evaluating phenotyping experiments in field or controlled environments.
- Strong analytical, communication, and collaborative skills.
Job Description
The selected candidate will play a key role in the CicerNord project, focusing on the genetic improvement of chickpea. Key responsibilities include:
- Designing and conducting experiments on chickpea phenology and trait variation.
- Investigating genomic variation and symbiotic nitrogen fixation in chickpea.
- Integrating field and laboratory datasets for trait analysis.
- Performing Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) to identify loci linked to key agronomic traits.
- Applying transcriptomic approaches to prioritize candidate genes associated with productivity, nutritional quality, and symbiotic efficiency.
- Collaborating with an interdisciplinary research team in genomics, agronomy, and food science.
- Publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals and presenting results at scientific conferences.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply through the official job portal of Aarhus University.
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Motivation Letter describing research experience, interests, and alignment with the CicerNord project
- Contact information for references
For detailed application guidelines and submission, visit the official vacancy page on the Aarhus University job portal.
For scientific inquiries, contact:
Dr. Aleksandr Gavrin
Email: agav@mbg.au.dk
Last Date to Apply
1 May 2026
