Project Description
The SponBIODIV project is an EU-funded international consortium aimed at establishing foundational knowledge about the diversity and distribution of sponges and delivering tools to improve the management and conservation of sponges in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, at the gene and species level, as well as their habitats. The project is anchored in the establishment of a trans-European and pan-Atlantic network of research organizations that will collaborate with key stakeholders to support evidence-based policies for management, conservation, and restoration of marine biological diversity, from coastal areas to deep-sea ecosystems. One of the SponBIODIV objectives at Uppsala University is to identify hotspots of bio- and phylodiversity in European waters, focusing on several case study areas, one of which is the Norwegian coast.
Duties
The Museum Assistant will produce DNA barcodes (28S, COI, 18S) from a large sponge collection from Norway collected during the Polarstern ARK XII 2007 expedition, which is stored at the Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University. These barcodes will be used by a postdoctoral researcher to assist with species identification and for sponge systematics and studies of sponge communities. The applicant is expected to conduct the molecular barcoding work (subsampling, DNA extraction, PCR, sent for sequencing). Some sample processing and registration of the sponge collections is also expected.
Qualification Requirements
Master's degree in systematics or biodiversity, or equivalent, or a foreign degree equivalent to a Master's degree. The candidate may be in the process of completing a Master's degree at the time of application, but the Master's thesis must at minimum be submitted. The project requires good experience with molecular laboratory work and DNA barcoding. Prior knowledge of sponge systematics and sponge DNA barcoding is meritorious. The candidate is expected to work independently and take own initiative as well as collaborate with colleagues both within and outside the research group. The position is in an international context, so good oral and written communication skills in English are a prerequisite. Finally, significant weight will be placed on personal suitability such as: analytical and organizational ability, personal maturity, ability to collaborate with others, take initiative, and demonstrate good judgment.
About the Employment
The employment is limited to 6 months according to central collective agreement. Employment extent 100%. Start date by agreement. Location: Uppsala.
For further information about the position, please contact: Docent Paco Cárdenas, [email protected]. Please submit your application by September 30, 2026, UFV-PA 2026/2700
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