Postdoctoral Fellowships: Institute for Wine Biotechnology

Opportunities for Postdoctoral Fellowships in the Wine Science Research Niche Area at the Institute for Wine Biotechnology (IWBT)

The National Research Foundation is funding a Wine Science Research Niche Area (RNA), as well as a Bioinformatical programme at the IWBT, SUN. The vision of this RNA and the bioinformatical programme is to integrate emerging technologies into the traditional wine sciences to promote science and skills development in these disciplines.

The Wine Science RNA at SUN has the scientific theme of Metabolomics and Metrics of wine and wine organisms. The focus of the research is to provide a fully integrated and controlled research chain starting with characterised model vineyards and ending with a comprehensive chemical, sensory and quality assessment of the final product. Currently there are vacancies for postdoctoral fellows in the following sub-programmes of the RNA/Bioinformatical programme:

Grapevine Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: Project title: The application of system biology tools to study a model vineyard. The postdoctoral fellow will be involved in molecular characterisation and profiling of grapevine berry samples with “-omics” technologies, specifically proteomic and metabolomic analysis. The work will be conducted in project teams to enable the integrative nature of the approach. Applicants with a PhD in Plant Molecular Biology/ Plant Biotechnology and experience with systems biology approaches, as well as data analysis from these approaches will be preferred.

Analytical and Wine Chemistry: Project title: Metabolomic evaluation of grapes and wines from a model vineyard. The postdoctoral fellow will be involved in optimising and implementation of analytical methods to perform metabolomic profiling of grapevine berry samples, as well as wine samples. The work will be conducted in project teams to enable the integrative nature of the approach. Applicants with a PhD in Chemistry/Wine Chemistry and with experience with GC-MS and/or LC-MS will be the preferred candidates.

“-Omics” and Systems Biology: Project title: The interpretation of “-omics” data sets. The postdoctoral fellow will work with a computational biologist in the analysis and interpretation of results generated by novel algorithms applied to large “-omics” data sets. Applicants should have a PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or related disciplines and be familiar with large scale data analysis. Applicants that have experience with Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics or Metabolomics will be preferred.

Computational Biology: Project title: The development of novel algorithms for the analysis and integration of “-omics” data sets. The postdoctoral fellow will work with a computational biologist in the development of novel algorithms to be applied to large “-omics” data sets. Applicants should have a PhD in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Engineering or related disciplines and be familiar with algorithm development, programming and large scale data analysis. Applicants that have experience with High Throughput Computing, Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics or Metabolomics will be preferred.

These vacancies will be filled within the Institute for Wine Biotechnology, Stellenbosch University from January 2011 onwards. Interested candidates with a PhD in an appropriate field are invited to apply by submitting a detailed curriculum vitae and cover letter to Prof MA Vivier (mav@sun.ac.za; Tel: 27-21 808 3773; Fax: 27 21 808 3771). Applicants are also required to provide confirmed contact details of two references.

Closing date for applications: Friday 4 December 2010