Objective Dr. Bell proposes to work with Prof. Andersson at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, to study VIrus-hoSt Interactions in the BaLtic sEa (VISIBLE). Bacteriophages (bacteria specific viruses) are the most abundant biological entity on the planet, yet we are only beginning to grasp the impact they have upon ecosystem functioning. Using state-of-the-art metagenomics, viromics and bioinformatics, the fellow will uncover novel genomes of virus populations in the Baltic Sea and the prokaryotic hosts they infect. Multiple approaches (abundance, CRISPR spacer matching and homology of auxiliary metabolic genes) will be combined to uncover virus-host dynamics. The metagenomic and viromic dataset has a high temporal resolution spanning a three-year period making it possible to answer fundamental ecological questions: (1) How are the temporal dynamics of viruses related to that of their hosts? (2) Can the co-evolution of viruses and their hosts be detected? (3) Do the function of auxiliary metabolic genes reflect changes in environmental gradients? These questions have major implications for biogeochemical cycling and resource turnover in the marine biosphere, as well as water resource management and predicting ecological responses to climate change. By means of a multidisciplinary approach, the fellow will advance their current research skills in microbial ecology and bioinformatics and gain new skills in virology. The MCSA fellow will join a world-class host institute and world-leading research team in environmental genomics. They will establish new interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers from across Sweden and Europe and develop their communication, management and leadership skills. KTH has been awarded HR Excellence in Research and supports the MCSA Green Charter. KTH provides the ideal environment and infrastructure for the fellow to carry out this research and to develop as a leading independent researcher. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmarine biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirologynatural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Programme(s) HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme Topic(s) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01-01 - MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 Call for proposal HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme HORIZON-AG-UN - HORIZON Unit Grant Coordinator KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN Net EU contribution € 206 887,68 Address BRINELLVAGEN 8 100 44 Stockholm Sweden See on map Region Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data
