Postdoctoral and Graduate Research Positions in Paleogenomics and Paleoepigenomics

Nanjing University  School of Geography and Ocean Science  Nanjing China

The newly established Paleogenomics and Paleoepigenomics Laboratory at Nanjing University invites applications from China and internationally for postdoctoral researchers, PhD candidates and Master’s students. We seek researchers who want to connect genomic evidence from the past with questions about population history, adaptation, health, disease and environmental change.

1.Research leadership

The laboratory is led by Professor Ron Pinhasi, who is joining Nanjing University as national high-level talent. from his full professorship in Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Vienna. Trained in archaeology and biological anthropology, with a PhD from the University of Cambridge, he has led or co-led major ancient-DNA studies across Europe and Asia and published in Nature, Science, the New England Journal of Medicine and other leading journals.

His group helped establish high-yield ancient-DNA recovery from the petrous bone and produced pioneering genome-scale analyses of human and faunal DNA directly from Palaeolithic sediments. His current research integrates paleogenomics, paleoepigenomics, ancient pathogens, skeletal biology, isotopes and environmental records. As of August 2026, his work had received more than 30,000 Google Scholar citations, with an h-index of 80. He has supervised 15 postdoctoral researchers and 11 completed PhD students and maintains extensive collaborations across China, Europe and North America.

Research profile www.pinhasilab.at

2.Research directions

Human paleogenomics Population history, migration, admixture, kinship, demographic change, natural selection and adaptation.

Climate and biological response Integration of genomic data with high-resolution climate records, stable isotopes, skeletal biology and paleopathology.

Paleoepigenomics Ancient DNA methylation, gene regulation, environmental stress, development and phenotypic plasticity.

Ancient pathogens and microbiomes Pathogen discovery, host–pathogen interaction and the history of infectious disease.

Sedimentary and faunal ancient DNA Genomic recovery from sediments and animal remains, with links to Quaternary environments.

3.Postdoctoral researchers

We particularly welcome candidates trained in population or evolutionary genomics, human or medical genetics, bioinformatics, statistical genetics, computational biology, epigenomics, molecular genetics or ancient-DNA laboratory methods. Prior ancient-DNA experience is advantageous but not essential: strong genomics and bioinformatics researchers who wish to move into ancient-DNA research are explicitly encouraged to apply.

Develop an independent but collaborative project within one or more of the laboratory’s research directions.

Lead rigorous data generation or analysis, publication and presentation of results.

Contribute to laboratory development, reproducible workflows, collaboration and student mentoring.

4.Eligibility

A completed or near-completed PhD in a relevant discipline. Applicants should normally be no more than 35 years old and within three years of the PhD at entry, subject to current NJU and national postdoctoral regulations.

Strong quantitative or molecular research skills and evidence of the ability to complete and publish rigorous work, appropriate to career stage.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary and international research environment.

5.Support and career development

A competitive salary and benefits package determined by appointment route, experience and current Nanjing University policy.

Substantial start-up support for a dedicated ancient-DNA clean laboratory, sequencing workflows and computational infrastructure within NJU’s Quaternary and environmental research environment.

Support for eligible applications to the NJU Yuxiu Young Scholars programme and national postdoctoral funding schemes, including the Postdoctoral Innovation Talent Support Programme.

Mentoring toward independent fellowships and future faculty applications, together with access to established collaborative networks in China, Europe and North America. All appointments and talent awards remain subject to the relevant competitive and institutional procedures.

6.PhD and Master’s students

Applicants with backgrounds in bioinformatics, genomics, genetics, molecular biology, epigenetics, biological anthropology, archaeology, geography, geology or Quaternary science are welcome. Students will develop a focused research project with direct supervision and training across computational, laboratory and contextual approaches. Opportunities for international collaboration, joint publication and research visits will be pursued where appropriate and subject to funding and approval. Outstanding students eligible for national recommendation-based admission or direct PhD entry are encouraged to make early contact. Admission and student funding follow current Nanjing University regulations.

7.How to apply

Please send the following materials to Professor Ron Pinhasi:

A concise cover letter describing your research interests, relevant computational or laboratory experience, preferred position and possible project direction.

A curriculum vitae including education, research experience, technical skills and publications.

One or two representative publications, preprints or links to relevant research outputs, where available.

Email ron.pinhasi@univie.ac.at

Subject line  NJU Paleogenomics Application  Position  Your Name  Current Institution

南京大学古基因组学与古表观基因组学博士后及研究生招聘

南京大学地理与海洋科学学院  中国南京

南京大学地理与海洋科学学院新建的古基因组学与古表观基因组学实验室现面向海内外招收博士后研究人员、博士研究生和硕士研究生。我们欢迎希望利用古代基因组证据研究人群历史、适应、健康、疾病与环境变化的青年学者加入。

8.团队负责人

实验室由Ron Pinhasi教授领衔。Pinhasi教授将由维也纳大学进化人类学全职教授岗位加盟南京大学，入选国家高层次人才。他具有考古学与生物人类学的跨学科训练背景，并获剑桥大学生物人类学博士学位；长期领导或共同领导欧洲与亚洲的大型古DNA研究，成果发表于Nature、Science、New England Journal of Medicine等期刊。

其团队推动了颞骨岩部高产量古DNA获取方法的发展，并率先开展了直接从旧石器时代沉积物中获取人类与动物全基因组尺度数据的研究。目前的研究整合古基因组学、古表观基因组学、古病原体、骨骼生物学、稳定同位素与环境记录。截至2026年8月，其研究获Google Scholar引用超过30,000次，h指数为80；已指导15名博士后并完成11名博士生的培养，与中国、欧洲和北美的研究团队保持广泛合作。

研究主页 www.pinhasilab.at

9.主要研究方向

人类古基因组学 人群历史、迁徙、基因交流、亲缘结构、人口变化、自然选择与适应。

气候变化与生物响应 将古基因组数据与高分辨率气候记录、稳定同位素、骨骼生物学和古病理学相结合。

古表观基因组学 古DNA甲基化、基因调控、环境压力、发育与表型可塑性。

古病原体与古微生物组 病原体发现、宿主与病原体相互作用及传染病演化史。

沉积物与动物古DNA 从沉积物和动物遗存中获取基因组信息，并与第四纪环境研究相结合。

10.博士后研究人员

重点欢迎具有群体或进化基因组学、人类或医学遗传学、生物信息学、统计遗传学、计算生物学、表观基因组学、分子遗传学或古DNA实验背景的申请者。具有古DNA经验者优先，但并非必要条件；具备扎实的现代基因组学、医学基因组学或生物信息学训练，并希望转向古DNA研究的优秀候选人尤其欢迎申请。

在实验室研究方向内发展具有独立性并重视合作的研究项目。

负责高质量的数据获取或分析，主导论文撰写并在学术会议上报告成果。

参与实验室建设、可重复分析流程、团队合作与学生指导。

11.应聘条件

已获得或即将获得相关专业博士学位。原则上进站时年龄不超过35周岁、获博士学位不超过3年，具体以南京大学及国家现行博士后管理规定为准。

具备扎实的定量分析或分子实验能力，并具有与职业阶段相称的严谨研究与论文发表能力。

能够在跨学科和国际化团队中独立开展研究并积极合作。

12.薪酬支持与职业发展

根据岗位类别、学术经历及南京大学现行政策提供具有竞争力的薪酬与福利，具体待遇以正式聘用方案为准。

依托充足的启动经费，建设专用古DNA洁净实验室、测序流程与计算平台，并共享南京大学第四纪科学和环境研究条件。

支持符合条件者申报南京大学毓秀青年学者计划及国家博士后资助项目，包括博士后创新人才支持计划。

提供独立基金和未来教职申请方面的指导，并接入中国、欧洲和北美的合作网络。所有岗位聘用及人才项目均以相应的竞争性评审和学校程序为准。

13.博士及硕士研究生

欢迎具有生物信息学、基因组学、遗传学、分子生物学、表观遗传学、生物人类学、考古学、地理学、地质学或第四纪科学背景的学生申请。学生将在直接指导下开展聚焦明确的研究项目，并接受计算分析、实验技术及考古与环境背景整合方面的跨学科训练。根据项目需要并在经费与审批允许的情况下，将积极推动国际合作、联合发表与研究交流。欢迎具有推免资格或有意申请直博的优秀学生提前联系。招生与资助按照南京大学现行规定执行。

14.申请方式

请将以下材料发送至Ron Pinhasi教授：

简明的申请信，说明研究兴趣、相关计算或实验经验、申请岗位及拟开展的研究方向。

个人简历，包括教育经历、科研经历、技术能力及论文发表情况。

如有，请附1至2篇代表性论文、预印本或相关研究成果链接。

电子邮箱 ron.pinhasi@univie.ac.at

邮件主题  南京大学古DNA申请  岗位  姓名  现单位