The University of Tokyo

Microbial Ecology and Evolution Research group led by Professor Ville-Petri Friman at the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki is looking for a postdoctoral researcher with background in molecular virology, microbiology and metagenomics/metaviromics to a Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation funded project: ‘Discovering the benefits of plant growth-promoting bacteriophages About the position: Plant growth is not only determined by the plant genotype but also by the presence of beneficial microbes that can boost plant growth by providing access to nutrients, defending plants against invading pathogens, and producing plant growth-promoting hormones. While increasing evidence suggests that phages can shape the composition, diversity and functioning of rhizosphere bacterial communities, we lack an understanding of how these changes are associated with plant health and growth. The main aim of this project is to experimentally study how phages can boost plant growth and to determine the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms of phage-mediated plant growth-promotion. Even though phages do not directly interact with plants, they can indirectly affect plant growth by interacting with plant-associated rhizosphere bacteria. For example, lytic phages can infect and kill plant-pathogenic bacterial taxa and reduce their relative abundances alleviating plant disease symptoms. Selective killing of bacterial taxa can also lead to the enrichment of plant growth-promoting bacteria in the rhizosphere, which could result in improved plant growth. Moreover, by killing bacteria, lytic phages release nutrients in the rhizosphere, which could help plants sequester and assimilate resources to support their growth. Finally, temperate phages can integrate into bacterial chromosomes and provision bacteria with additional genes (auxiliary metabolic genes, or AMGs for short) that do not only improve bacterial survival but could also boost the expression of plant growth-promoting functions. In this project, we will use a highly trackable tomato rhizosphere model system to directly study if phages can boost plant growth by interacting with rhizosphere bacterial communities in the plant roots. Specifically, we will focus on understanding the importance of three key mechanisms of phage-mediated plant growth-promotion: i) Release of nutrients in the rhizosphere due to the killing of bacteria by phages, ii) Selective enrichment of plant growth-promoting bacteria in the rhizosphere by phages, and iii) Provisioning of bacteria with plant growth-promoting functional genes by temperate phages. We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher with experience in molecular virology, microbiology and metagenomics/metaviromics to join our international team. The candidate should hold PhD degree in microbiology, bioinformatics or related field, and good written and verbal communication skills in English are necessary. The postdoctoral position is for 4 years starting in April 2026.  Requirements Doctoral degree in molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, bioinformatics or another relevant field. The degree requirement (doctoral degree) must be met by the beginning of the employment. Experience in bioinformatics and metagenomic and/or metaviromic analyses. Experience or knowledge in plant biology/pathology, plant-microbe interactions, microbial ecology, evolution or phage biology are desirable. Ability to conceive, execute, and complete research projects independently. Creativity and good group-working skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. What we offer Competitive salary, high-quality local infrastructure and a top-level interdisciplinary and international collaboration network. State-of-art computational resources from the Finnish IT Center for Science (CSC). Additional training for microbial bioinformatics and plant pathology (if needed). Possibility to visit collaborators at the Nanjing Agricultural University, and other Universities, depending on training needs and candidate preferences. Supportive and non-discriminative working environment. The salary of the postdoctoral researcher will be based on level 5 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal performance. The starting salary of the postdoctoral researcher will be ca. 3600-3800 euros/month, depending on the appointees’ qualifications and experience. A six-month trial period will be applied. The workplace of the position is in Helsinki, Finland. How to apply Please submit your application as a single pdf file in English using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System. Please include the following in your application:  A motivation letter (max. 2 pages) including descriptions of the candidate’s: background and methodological skills relevant for the position research interest or a vision for the research conducted in this position past experience on working in multidisciplinary groups or research environments CV that includes a list of publications  Names and contact details of two referees  External applicants, please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via Apply Now button. Applicants who have a helsinki.fi -username and a valid employment contract, a grant researcher’s contract or a visiting researcher’s contract at the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application by using the Employee login. The deadline for the applications is 2.2.2026 (at 23.59 EET), while the preferred start date is the 1.4.2026. Further information The position: Professor Ville-Petri Friman (ville-petri.friman@helsinki.fi) University of Helsinki recruitment system: HR Specialist Mirkka Juntunen (via HR Services uni-help@helsinki.fi) https://www.helsinki.fi/en/university/working-at-the-university https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-agriculture-and-forestry/research/microbiology https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/microbial-ecology-and-evolution https://villefrimanscience.weebly.com/ About the Department of Microbiology and Finland The department of Microbiology is part of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and is located on the Viikki campus. The research focuses on microbial ecology and evolution, as well as the application of microbiology in agriculture and forestry, food production, medicine, environmental sciences and microbial biotechnology. The mission of the faculty is to promote the sustainable use of renewable natural resources, covering the full natural resource chain from farm to fork, the entire field of forest sciences from soil chemistry to marketing, as well as the environmental effects of related activities. www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-agriculture-and-forestry Finland is one of the most livable countries, with a high quality of life, safety and excellent education system. Finland is a member of the EU, has high quality and inexpensive childcare, free schooling and tertiary training (also in English), generous family benefits and healthcare, and was recently ranked as the best country in the world for expat families. The successful candidate will receive the benefits provided by the University of Helsinki to university employees, including occupational health care services, and obtain access to high-quality public affordable childcare services and schools. A diverse and equitable study and work culture is important to us. That is why we do our best to promote an inclusive university community. We encourage all qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for our positions. Click this link to read about accessibility and inclusivity at our University. JOIN US TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD – TOGETHER! #HelsinkiUniCareers

About us  King’s College London invites applications for a Research Assistant (RA) in GeoAI, Infectious Diseases, and Health Equity to join the GeoAI for Health Equity Lab (GAHEL, pronounced “gail”) led by Dr. Sabrina Li. The RA will contribute to Dr. Li’s UKRI-funded Future Leaders Fellowship project which focusses on integrating equity considerations into infectious disease mapping and surveillance, starting with the UK. The RA will be based in the Department of Geography, but will have access to training and support from King’s Health Partners Digital Health Hub, King’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and the Digital Futures Institute. The RA will also have access to research and career development from King’s Centre for Research Staff Development. The postholder will work closely with Dr. Li and in collaboration with national and international interdisciplinary partners based at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and John Hopkins University (USA). About the role The RA will contribute to the theoretical and methodological developments of scalable GeoAI systems that improve understanding of infectious disease risks across populations and space, particularly for vulnerable and disadvantaged populations. The RA will lead literature review searches to identify the historical, structural, and contextual drivers of disease risk and inequity, and map pathways and interactions among determinants to inform disease mapping and modelling.  The RA will lead the development of a database of high-resolution equity indicators for disease surveillance, and will contribute to the development of novel approaches for managing confidential spatial health data, including differential privacy and other secure geospatial data protocols. This research will advance our understanding of how major infectious diseases of concern in the UK emerge, spread, and unequally affect different individuals and population groups. Outcomes of this research will help advance the development of more equitable, spatial data-driven approaches to public health surveillance and pandemic preparedness, with direct links to public health policy. The findings will inform the development of a real-time spatial AI system to improve early detection and risk prediction, to protect vulnerable populations in the UK and in the future globally. This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a 2-year fixed-term contract. The post is offered on a hybrid working basis, typically involving three days per week on campus and two days remote.  Research staff at King’s are entitled to at least 10 days per year (pro-rata) for professional development. This entitlement, from the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, applies to Postdocs, Research Assistants, Research and Teaching Technicians, Teaching Fellows and AEP equivalent up to and including grade 7. Visit the Centre for Research Staff Development for more information. About you To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience: Essential criteria  PhD in spatial epidemiology, quantitative geography/remote sensing, ecology, statistics, engineering, data science, quantitative social sciences, or a related discipline.  Experience in developing models and mapping with real world data, with strong programming proficiency in R or Python and version control systems like Git. Familiarity with spatial and statistical libraries (e.g. INLA, PyMC, scikit-learn, GeoPandas). Proven ability to work independently. Track record in publishing peer-reviewed papers. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within teams, with a strong commitment to fostering a fair and inclusive work environment. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including to diverse audiences.  Desirable criteria Experience managing stakeholder relationships and working in a practitioner/policy context. Experience working on interdisciplinary research projects. Downloading a copy of our Job Description Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process. Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.  Further information We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community. We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's. As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities. We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible. To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages. Interviews are due to be held between Monday 19th - Friday 23rd January 2026. Grade and Salary: £39,735 per annum including London Weighting Allowance Job ID: 134808 Close Date: 11-Jan-2026 Contact Person: Sabrina Li Contact Details: sabrina.li@kcl.ac.uk

Instructor/Assistant ProfessorSocial Work and Field Education Coordinator - Fall 2026ID: 2033Department: College of Humanities and SciencesType: Full-time FacultyPost Date: 12/19/2025Position Available Date: N/ADescriptionThe University of Mary Hardin Baylor seeks qualified faculty for its Bachelor of Social Work program which is accredited by CSWE, beginning in late July of 2026. This is a nine (9) month full-time position with initial appointment at the rank of Instructor or Assistant Professor, commensurate with experience and academic preparation. UMHB seeks faculty who are active Christians and dedicated teacher-scholars to prepare students for leadership, service, and faith-informed discernment in a global society.This faculty position is responsible for advising and teaching undergraduate students throughout the curriculum and supervision of students during their Field Practicum.UMHB is conveniently located in Belton, an historic town of 22,000 in the heart of central Texas. Nearby cities are Temple (5 miles), Waco (45 miles), Austin (65 miles), San Antonio (130 miles) and Dallas/Ft. Worth (130 miles). Excellent schools, abundant cultural and recreational opportunities, and a high quality of life are hallmarks of the local community.Faculty Responsibilities: Activities required of all faculty include exemplary teaching, curriculum development, student recruitment and advising; professional attainment; and service to department, college, university, and the community.Specific Responsibilities: This position includes teaching undergraduate courses in Social Work; ongoing curricular and course revision and development; program assessment; advising and mentoring students; and participating in departmental and university committees. In addition, the Field Education Coordinator will be responsible for all aspects of the fieldwork component of the curriculum, supporting students before, during and after fieldwork experiences, and evaluation of students in the fieldwork setting.Qualifications: Must be an active and committed Christian who will support the University's mission and who will be an active participant in their local church. Degree: Masters in social work A doctoral degree in Social Work (or closely related field) and MSW to qualify for tenure track status. Licensure: A current MSW licensure. Professional Experience: Minimum of two (2) years experience post masters in a social work required. Teaching Experience: Professional experience as a fieldwork educator or documentation of training in the roles and responsibilities of a fieldwork educator is required. Excellent interpersonal communication skills, a dedication to professional attainment, and commitment to quality improvement are essential. Must agree to the University's Employee Statement of Understanding Salaries and Benefits: Competitive salary commensurate with experience, excellent benefits including medical and dental insurance, retirement plan with match and UMHB tuition benefits for employees and their dependents.Application Deadline: Position will remain open until filled.To Apply: Visit www.umhb.edu/careers for more details and to apply. Please submit a cover letter, CV, transcript copies and evidence of quality teaching performance with your online application. Your letter of interest should also respond to UMHB's mission and values, found at http://about.umhb.edu/our-mission. In addition, include in one page or less, a description of your own Christian beliefs and commitments.Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled. For information regarding employment at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, please visit our Careers Site.To apply, visit https://umhb.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a2zc18o6n7vxCopyright ©2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency jeid-7214efa2f9b71a44b15ac7a0f3783447