Postdoc Position on Developing Analytical Pipelines and Analyses to Survey Invasive Alien Species in Aquatic Systems using eDNA

In this Postdoc project, you will establish and develop analytical pipelines to analyse and survey invasive alien species using existing eDNA datasets. The initial focus will be on IAS in Central Europe/Switzerland, but pipelines should be scalable across Europe and beyond. The project involves: establishing reference databases for IAS metabarcoding analyses (literature based/data mining across multiple markers/taxonomic groups); develop end-to-end semiautomated analytical pipelines for eDNA metabarcoding analyses with respect to IAS monitoring and detection, allowing self-guided analysis of IAS signals in eDNA metabarcoding data sets and provide measures of confidence of IAS detections; proof-of-principle testing and application of these pipelines on existing aquatic eDNA datasets (fish and invertebrates), building on high-resolution eDNA time-series and >250 routine monitoring sites across Switzerland.

Eawag, the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, is an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). Eawag conducts research, education and expert consulting to achieve the dual goals of meeting direct human needs for water and maintaining the function and integrity of aquatic ecosystems. The project is led by Prof. Dr Florian Altermatt at University of Zurich and Eawag. The successful applicant will be based and hired in the group of Prof. Dr Florian Altermatt at University of Zurich and Eawag (Dübendorf, Switzerland). The project allows collaborations with national/cantonal stakeholders. At Eawag, we have a working environment in which people with different experiences, strengths, and perspectives can fully contribute and further develop. Here, you can help us advance! We promote genuine participation, exchange, and mutual understanding. We create structures that enable the compatibility of work and other areas of life, such as care work, and continuously make efforts to reduce barriers.

• PhD degree in Molecular Ecology, Bioinformatics, Biodiversity or Data Sciences, or a closely related science field

• Previous experience in bioinformatics and eDNA metabarcoding data analyses

• Knowledge on analysing biodiversity/IAS datasets

• General experience in programming and data-analysis

• Strong conceptual background in molecular ecology/freshwater ecology

• Good understanding of ecological theory

• Demonstrated interest in open and reproducible science (e.g. FAIR principles, experience with versioning tools)

• Fluency in speaking and writing English

• Additional German or French language skills for stakeholder interactions are helpful