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Current job opportunities

Call open: MIMS Group Leader in Molecular Infection Medicine 

The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden MIMS is looking for an excellent young researcher to become Group Leader for innovative research in molecular infection medicine. The topic includes but is not limited to research on the biology of bacteria, viruses, parasites and the microbiome and how these interact with the immune system of the host. MIMS has a strong track record of research into microbial (including viral) pathogenesis, and provides excellent access to national research infrastructure, including cutting edge cryo-electron microscopy and animal biosafety level 3 (ABSL3) facility. 
 
MIMS intends to recruit a new Group Leader (Researcher) to start in the coming year. Funding is allocated for a five-year period, with the option of extension up to a total of nine years conditional upon a successful external evaluation in the fourth year. 
 
The recruited researcher will receive extensive support to establish their own research group with members at postdoctoral and doctoral level. Successful applicants are also expected to be able to supplement their research budget by attracting national and international research grants. 
MIMS Group Leaders are expected to conduct a successful research program in synergy with the multidisciplinary research environments in which MIMS is integrated and also participate in collaborations and joint activities that promote research and exchanges within The Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine. 

See full job ad description, criteria and apply in Umeå University's recruitment system: https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:778888/ 

Application period closes: 28 February 2025.

Call open: Project administrator

MIMS is looking for a project administrator with a focus on events for 12 months, for part-time employment at 50%, to our management team. Start in March 2025 or by agreement. The position is located at the Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University.
You will work on administrative tasks to organize workshops, conferences, retreats and meetings. The work is done in close collaboration with a project coordinator and a science manager.  

See full job ad description, criteria and apply in Umeå University's recruitment system: https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:777302/

Application period closes: 17 January 2025. 

Call open: Postdoctoral Fellowship in Intestinal Mucosal Immunology

The Department of Molecular Biology is offering a postdoctoral scholarship in Medical Science with a focus on intestinal mucosal immunology. The scholarship is full-time studies for two years, beginning 1st of March 2025 or by agreement.

Project description
The Schröder lab, situated in the Laboratory of Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) and the Department of Molecular Biology (Umeå University), is a dynamic and stimulating multidisciplinary research environment focused on host-microbe interaction in the intestine. We use a combination of gut microbiota analyses, microbiota transplantations (FMT), state-of-the-art ex vivo mucus measurements, metabolomics, antimicrobial assays, as well as confocal and fluorescence microscopy. We use dietary interventions in mice and humans and closely collaborate with clinicians and nutrition scientists.
Our findings have revealed that alterations in gut microbial communities affect mucus function, and that specific microbial metabolites are required to maintain a functional mucus barrier. This project will build on these findings and investigate the relevance of microbiota-mucus interaction in intestinal disease.

See full job ad description, criteria and apply in Umeå University's recruitment system: https://umustipendie.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:776051/

Application period closes: 17 January 2025. 

Call open: NORPOD - Postdoctoral Programme

NORPOD is a collaborative postdoctoral program of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine. The partnership is a network of four national research centers across the Nordics and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), with complementary research expertise at the forefront of molecular medicine research. With the NORPOD program, the Nordic EMBL Partnership aims to foster the next generation of researchers in molecular medicine by implementing joint postdoctoral research projects to nurture strong competences and research excellence.

See more information on the NORPOD landing page: https://projects.au.dk/nordic-embl-partnership/collaborations/nordforsk-norpod-postdoctoral-programme

Application period closes: 24 January 2025.

Call open: Postdoctoral position in evolutionary immunology

The Department of Molecular Biology seeks a postdoctor for a temporary position for two years on full time. The position is expected to start on 1 May 2025 or upon agreement.

Description of the project
The Morimoto Lab specializes in immunology research with a focus on evolutionary perspectives of antigen receptor diversification, leveraging non-conventional model organisms. This project aims to uncover the mechanisms of hematopoietic differentiation in the unique innate immune systems of invertebrate species, potentially involving physiological genome editing processes in the host. To achieve this, the research will employ a multidisciplinary approach, integrating conventional developmental biology with advanced techniques 

See full job ad description, criteria and apply in Umeå University's recruitment system: https://umu.varbi.com/en/?jobtoken=123b549af481414076590e156f66aa179130d7299

Application period closes: 31 January 2025. 

Call open: PhD position in Medical Science with orientation towards Molecular Biology

We are looking for a PhD student in Medical Science with an orientation towards Molecular Biology and a special interest in Immunology, Developmental Biology and Evolution. The position at the Department of Molecular Biology at Umeå University is temporary for four years to start 1 April 2025 or as agreed.
The PhD student will participate in activities provided by the Department of Molecular Biology, the Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), and the Umeå Centrum for Microbial Research (UCMR), thus providing interaction with researchers from different research fields and access to various scientific and technical expertise. A person who is employed as a PhD student shall primarily devote his-/or herself to his/her own education. The project and research environment will give the dedicated student the opportunity to train as a first-class researcher.

Background and description of tasks
The PhD project involves research using invertebrate model systems to investigate the mechanisms by which potential host genome editing processes enhance antigen receptor diversity, contributing to a deeper understanding of the human immune system. The experimental work will involve a variety of advanced techniques, including CRISPR/Cas9-based mutagenesis, imaging, genomics, and single-cell transcriptomics. 

See full job ad description, criteria and apply in Umeå University's recruitment system: https://umu.varbi.com/en/?jobtoken=15af3239ada34c15f048e89d89c2b23469cc8ae68 

Application period closes: 31 January 2025. 

Call open: Postdoctoral fellowship (2 years) in Molecular Parasitology

Medicinska fakulteten, Department of Molecular Biology

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.

Are you interested in learning more? https://www.umu.se

The Faculty of Medicine, which consists of 12 departments, is responsible for biomedical research and courses in the field of nursing and health care and has an extensive research and graduate education in more than 80 subjects.

The Department of Molecular Biology is offering a postdoctoral scholarship in Medical Science with a focus on Molecular Parasitology. The scholarship is full-time studies for two years, starting March 2025 or by agreement. Application deadline is 31 January 2025.

Project description

The Bushell lab is a part of the Laboratory of Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) and based at the Department of Molecular Biology at Umeå University.  Our research focuses on uncovering the molecular processes underpinning the parasite-host interactions that drive malaria infection and disease. We are particularly interested in those proteins that the malaria parasite actively exports and that facilitate rapid and dramatic remodelling of the infected red blood cell.

We leverage the unique genetic tractability of the murine malaria model parasite Plasmodium berghei and develop new genetic tools and phenotypic assays to understand the function of exported parasite proteins at a genome-scale in vivo. Our previous work has identified thousands of parasite genes that are required for normal parasite growth in the bloodstream. However, the molecular function of most of these genes remain unknown.

We have recently developed PbHiT, a CRISPR/Cas9-based high-throughput system for effective genetic modification of P. berghei. PbHiT allows us to engineer conditional alleles to disrupt essential genes at scale and facilitates pooled CRISPR screens for the first time in a malaria parasite. This project will capitalise on the development of PbHiT to adapt perturb-seq methodology to P. berghei, which couples CRISPR screens with single cell RNA sequencing to read out the phenotypic effect of gene disruption and generate mutant transcriptomes at an unparalleled scale.

Qualifications 

A person who has been awarded a doctorate or a foreign qualification deemed to be the equivalent of a doctorate in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Immunology or related fields at the time of recruitment qualifies as a postdoctoral fellow. This eligibility requirement must be met at the latest when the decision on the scholarship recipient is made. Upon equal qualification, priority should be given to candidates who have completed their doctoral degree no more than three years before the closing date of the application. Further, a candidate who has completed their degree more than three years before the closing date may be considered if special circumstances exist. Special circumstances include absence due to illness, parental leave or clinical practice, appointments of trust in trade unions or similar circumstances. 

You should be highly motivated and able to function productively in a team as well as independently. Excellent communication skills for interacting effectively with senior colleagues and peers are required. Proficiency in written and spoken English also required. Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

The successful candidate should have experience in advanced molecular cloning methods such as Gibson assembly or CRISPR/Cas9 vector design and construction, or experience in next generation sequencing methodologies, in particular RNA bulk or single cell sequencing.  

Experience in handling of laboratory animals and in cultivation and transfection of eukaryotic parasites is desirable. Knowledge of bioinformatics and programming is not a requirement and training is available, but it is a merit.

Application 

You apply by sending your application via email to ellen.bushell@umu.se. The application must be received latest 31 January 2025. Your application must contain the following documents written in English or Swedish:

• Cover letter (max. 1 page) clearly describing your research experience, motivation and how your expertise matches the requirements.
• Curriculum vitae (CV, max. 2 pages) and publication list (max. 5 pages).
• Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained.
• Contact information of two references.

More information

For more information, visit http://www.bushelllab.com/,  Department of Molecular Biology, UCMR - Umeå Centre for Microbial Research and MIMS.

For questions contact Ellen Bushell, ellen.bushell@umu.se.

We look forward to receiving your application! 

Application period closes: 31 January 2025.