Research Scientist, postdoc, genomic selection

Would you like to develop and apply cutting-edge methods in plant and animal breeding? We are seeking a motivated postdoc for the Business Finland-funded QGEN project, which investigates quantum-computing applications for genomic selection in breeding.

The postdoctoral researcher will work on Q-GEN (Quantum Computing Applications for Future Genomes and Biomaterials), a Business Finland-funded project.

Rapid advances in sequencing are generating vast genomic datasets that are challenging traditional computational methods. The project addresses key bottlenecks in existing and emerging genomic selection models by developing and testing quantum and quantum-inspired approaches. The research will primarily focus on the use of genomic selection for animal and plant breeding.

The successful candidate will join the Genomics and Breeding group at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke). The postdoctoral researcher will work in collaboration with quantum physicists at Aalto University, and use simulated and real quantum-computing environments.

The postdoctoral researcher will be supervised by Research Professor Ismo Strandén and Dr Matti Taskinen at Luke and will collaborate closely with Professor Ilkka Tittonen’s group at Aalto University. The position will be based at a Luke office in either Jokioinen or Helsinki. The work will also include research visits to international collaborators.

Our expectations of the applicant

• A recently completed (typically no more than 5 years ago) doctoral degree in a relevant field, such as animal breeding, applied mathematics, computer science, genetics, or statistics at the start of the position
• A strong understanding of quantitative genetics in breeding.
• Experience applying genomic selection for large datasets.
• Programming skills, in R and in a compiled language, such as Fortran and C.
• Experience with Unix-based high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
• Record of relevant peer‑reviewed publications.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary research team.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Experience with quantum‑computing platforms will be considered an advantage, as is knowledge of statistical methods used in genomic selection. Also Finnish or Swedish language skills are considered an advantage.

Additional information

Research Professor, available 9.10. and 16.10.