Biostatistics research associate in the University of York, United Kingdom Application deadline: 26/05/2021

https://jobs.york.ac.uk/wd/plsql/wd_portal.show_job?p_web_site_id=3885&p_web_page_id=442112

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on a BBSRC-funded study focussed on uncovering the genetic basis by which plants respond to changes in day length to produce synchronised flowering. It is led by Dr. Daphne Ezer, Lecturer in Computational Biology (Department of Biology, University of York), Dr. Marina Knight (Department of Mathematics, University of York) and Prof Seth Davis (Department of Biology, University of York).

You will develop and apply new statistical methods to identify genetic loci that are associated with the ability of a plant to quickly detect changes in day length. Ideally, you should have some familiarity with time series (or, even better, functional) data, Fourier analysis, and/or biostatistical methods (such as those used in quantitative trait loci mapping).

The long-term aim of the project is to develop more efficient breeding strategies to produce crop lines that have synchronised development, by screening plant seedlings for varieties that respond quickly to changes in day length (and therefore respond in a more uniform way to the change in seasons). It is important for plants to develop in a synchronised manner to reduce food waste, since farmers harvest whole fields at a time and throw away produce that does not meet food standards.