Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest institutions of higher education with over 36,000 students and 4,100 faculty and staff. We are characterised by world-leading research in several scientific fields and a multitude of educations ranked highly in international comparison. Umeå University is also the site of the pioneering discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 genetic scissors - a revolution in genetic engineering that has been awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
The Integrated Science Lab (IceLab) (icelab.se) jointly with several departments at Umeå University and SLU offer three postdoctoral scholarships that will be affiliated with one of six possible multidisciplinary projects.
The ideal postdocs will have expertise in some of the following areas: data analytics, computational modeling, programming, mathematics, physics, molecular biology, microbiology, ecology, systems biology, plant physiology, physics, archeology, botany or an interest in gaining experience in these areas. Further, postdocs should have a deep interest in scientific collaboration between researchers using theoretical and empirical approaches.
The six projects are:
A. Real Options for Climate, Forestry and Fisheries
B. Impact of Environmental Stress on Reef-Forming Marine Algae
C. Mining the world’s largest historical eDNA dataset for eco-system interdependencies, causality, and human impacts
D. Outer membrane tethering in Gram-negative bacteria
E. Environmental paleomicrobiology: Inferring community composition and function from metabolic fossils
F. Exploring Genetic Legacy: Swedish Pine Forests from Glacial Origins to Modern Diversity
Detailed information on and specific requirements for each project is given below.
The under-explored terrain between traditional disciplines is full of fascinating and impactful research questions. At IceLab, we promote and facilitate transdisciplinary collaborations – with a focus on cutting-edge research that integrates theoretical, computational, and empirical approaches.
We will welcome you to IceLab with genuine support by creative researchers working on a panel of interdisciplinary problems. You will participate in both professionally and personally rewarding and entertaining activities aimed at training a new kind of researcher. A multidisciplinary team of researchers with complementary expertise will supervise each postdoc.
The two-year postdoc fellowships are financed by Kempestiftelserna and are part of the IceLab Multidisciplinary Postdoctoral Program. A fellowship amounts to 700 000 SEK over two years. The scholarships are tax-free. Application deadline September 20, 2024. Start winter/spring 2025 (exact start date according to agreement).
To qualify as a postdoctoral scholarship holder, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirements must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the decision about scholarship recipient.
Priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior to the decision date for the scholarship recipient. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.
Candidates should have experience in some of the following areas: data analytics, computational modeling, programming, mathematics, physics, molecular biology, microbiology, ecology, systems biology, plant physiology, physics, archeology, botany or an interest in gaining experience in these areas. Personal qualities such as collaboration, communication, strong drive and motivation, critical thinking abilities, creativity and analytical skills are essential. You should be able to take on the research independently and as part of a team. Good knowledge of oral and written English is required.
A full application should include:
Submit your application as a PDF marked with the reference number FS 2.1.6-1263-24, both in the file name and in the subject field of the email, to medel@diarie.umu.se. The application can be written in English or Swedish. Application deadline is 20 September 2024.
We look forward to receiving your application.
A. Real Options for Climate, Forestry and Fisheries
In this project we will make use of real options theory to guide better decision making in the management of biological and environmental resources. Our particular focus is on climate, forestry and fisheries. These areas feature elements of high risk, large uncertainty and a strong degree of irreversibility, which makes real option theory ideally suited to study how various incentives and policies have the potential to change the decision making and lead to more sustainable paths.
The real option approach is founded mathematically in the theory of optimal stopping, building largely on the theory of stochastic processes and stochastic analysis, but is also facilitating a lot of methodologies that evolved from financial theory, most notably contingent claim analysis and financial derivatives, e.g. options. The applications within this project lie mainly in Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, but there is also a connection to Biodiversity Conservation. As such the project is highly interdisciplinary, which is also reflected in the fact that there are three supervisors representing the different relevant areas.
To reflect the interdisciplinary nature of this project, the post-doc will necessarily have a strong interest in doing interdisciplinary research, however we do not expect candidates to have strong research skills in all of the areas relevant to this project. A strong candidate with a background in one or two of the relevant areas could complement her or his research skills during the first phase of the project and on the basis of this we highly encourage candidates with an excellent background in either stochastic analysis and optimal stopping, financial derivatives and investment theory, natural and/or environmental economics, theoretical biology and/or ecology to apply.
This postdoc will be housed in IceLab and hosted by the Institute of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, supervised by a multidisciplinary team with complementing expertise in real options and investment theory, optimal stopping, climate policy forestry and fisheries.
Specific Qualifications for Project A
To qualify for the fellowship, the candidate should have a PhD degree, or a foreign degree that is deemed equivalent in Mathematics, Economics, Finance, Biology or Theoretical Physics. The ideal candidate has a combination of skills from the theory of stochastic processes, financial mathematics, investment theory, forestry, ecology or fisheries management.
Contact Information Project A
Christian Ewald, Professor at Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Umeå University (christian.ewald@umu.se).
Tommy Lundgren, Professor at Department of Forest Economics, Swedish Agricultural University (SLU), Umeå (tommy.lundgren@umu.se).
Micael Jonsson, Associate Professor at Department of Ecology and Environmental, Umeå University (micael.jonsson@umu.se).
B. Impact of Environmental Stress on Reef-Forming Marine Algae
Marine photosynthesis supports almost all ocean life, especially in the coastal zone. The underwater environment is, therefore, of critical importance for ocean health. Unfortunately, climate change and human activity are causing significant environmental change. Marine heatwaves and coastal darkening are two important stress factors that have gained attention lately, however, their combined effects on coastal ecosystems remain poorly understood. In this project, the postdoctoral fellow will quantify the stress response of red coralline algae to heatwaves and darkening. These morphologically complex seaweeds create algae reefs worldwide but face extinction because of climate change and human pressures. The fellow will have the opportunity to investigate coralline algal physiology, using (1) ultrafast spectroscopy to quantify changes in energy transfer upon light excitation, and (2) single-cell spectroscopy to quantify cellular biochemistry, metabolism and calcification. Support and training will be provided as required, depending on the candidate’s incoming expertise. This unique multidisciplinary approach will significantly advance our understanding about the resilience of coralline algae to projected environmental change, with unprecedented insight into the mechanisms of response and the variability within individual organisms.
This postdoc will be housed in IceLab and hosted by the Department of Ecology & Environmental Science, the Department of Physics and Umeå Marine Sciences Centre, supervised by a multidisciplinary team with complementing expertise in algal ecology & biogeochemistry, ultrafast spectroscopy and optics & biophysics.
Specific Qualifications for Project B
To qualify for the fellowship, the candidate should have a PhD degree, or a foreign degree that is deemed equivalent, in plant / algal physiology or experimental physics. The ideal candidate has skills in photophysiology, optical spectroscopies (including frequency and time domain absorption, fluorescence and/or Raman spectroscopies), and / or imaging or atomic force microscopy. Importantly, the candidate will be interested in pursuing research that addresses climate change and sustainable development challenges at the intersection of physics and (plant) biology.
Contact Information Project B
Heidi Burdett, Associate Professor at Department of Ecology & Environmental Science, Umeå Marine Sciences Centre (UMF), Umeå University (heidi.burdett@umu.se).
Nicolò Maccaferri, Assistant Professor at Department of Physics, Umeå University (nicolo.maccaferri@umu.se).
Magnus Andersson, Professor at IceLab and Department of Physics, Umeå University (magnus.andersson@umu.se).
C. Mining the world’s largest historical eDNA dataset for eco-system interdependencies, causality, and human impacts
In this project, you will explore an unprecedented dataset reflecting weekly changes in the abundance of tens of thousands of species (viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants and animals) in an Arctic boreal ecosystem in northern Sweden, over a period of 34 years. This is made possible by the meticulous sequencing of air filters maintained by the Swedish Defence Research Agency. See https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.12.06.569882v1 for further details on the dataset and how it has been compiled.
The dataset offers a unique opportunity to study long-term ecological changes and the intricate web of species relationships in this remote and sensitive environment, allowing you to investigate ecosystem interdependencies, causality, and human impacts. By employing data analysis techniques, particularly empirical dynamical systems modeling, you will uncover previously unknown relationships between species and understand how these interactions are influenced by climate change and land use.
This large-scale analysis, the first of its kind, promises insights that will significantly enhance our ability to predict and mitigate the impacts of environmental change. Additionally, this project provides a unique opportunity to develop and hone skills in handling and analyzing large datasets within ecological contexts. The findings will contribute to better understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem function, potentially guiding future conservation and management efforts.
Specific Qualifications for Project C
We are particularly looking for candidates who are motivated to carry out research in data-driven ecosystem science and possess skills in mathematics, data science, and computer programming, with a strong interest in ecology.
Contact Information Project C
Åke Brännström, Professor at Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, IceLab, Umeå University (ake.brannstrom@umu.se).
Per Stenberg, Associate Professor at Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University (per.stenberg@umu.se).
D. Outer membrane tethering in Gram-negative bacteria
Bacteria are enveloped by a multilayered structure that offers structural support and shields against environmental challenges. Gram-negative bacteria possess a double membrane envelope, enclosing the periplasmic space containing the peptidoglycan cell wall. While it is known that the integrity of the cell envelope relies on covalent bonds between the peptidoglycan and outer membrane proteins, the specific proteins involved and the enzymatic mechanisms responsible for these interactions remain largely unexplored across species.
In this project, we aim to unravel the mechanism by which Gram-negative bacteria establish the connection between the outer membrane and the peptidoglycan layer. Our goal is to identify the key structural and enzymatic proteins involved in this crucial process.
To achieve this, we will use high-throughput proteomics (conducted at the Mateus lab) to analyze purified sacculi (i.e., peptidoglycan) from a diverse collection of phylogenetically distinct species (provided by the Cava lab). This comprehensive approach will allow us to uncover proteins that are covalently linked to the peptidoglycan. Subsequently, we will use computational methods to prioritize these candidate proteins for further mechanistic and physiological investigations. We will employ biophysical modelling informed by traditional molecular biology and biochemistry approaches (conducted at the Lizana lab) to study the importance of tethering for maintaining cell envelope stability.
The data generated from this study holds exceptional potential in terms of discovering novel targets for the development of effective antimicrobials.
This postdoc will be housed in IceLab and hosted by the departments of Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Physics, supervised by a multidisciplinary team with complementing expertise in proteomics, bacterial genetics and physiology, systems biology and biophysical modelling.
Specific Qualifications for Project D
To qualify for the fellowship, the candidate should have a PhD degree, or a foreign degree that is deemed equivalent, in one of the following fields: microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry or systems biology. The ideal candidate has experience in microbiology, molecular biology and/or biochemistry. It is of added value if the candidate postdoc has previous experience with cell wall biology, proteomics, or data analysis skills. If the candidate does not have these skills, they should be open to developing them.
Contact Information Project D
André Mateus, Assistant professor at Department of Chemistry, The laboratory of Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS, EMBL Nordic partner institute), Umeå University (andre.mateus@umu.se).
Felipe Cava, Professor at Department of Molecular Biology, MIMS, SciLifeLab and IceLab Affiliate, Umeå University (felipe.cava@umu.se).
Ludvig Lizana, Associate Professor at Department of Physics, IceLab, Umeå University (ludvig.lizana@umu.se).
E. Environmental paleomicrobiology: Inferring community composition and function from metabolic fossils
This project explores the impact of coastal deoxygenation on microbial ecosystems. As oceans face declining oxygen levels due to climate change and human activities, understanding how these changes affect microbial communities becomes increasingly important. Using an interdisciplinary approach that combines molecular ecology, paleogenomics, bioinformatics, and mathematical modeling, we aim to characterize the taxonomic and functional diversity of microorganisms in coastal systems such as the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, and northern fjords. By analyzing newly acquired data from water columns and sedimentary archives, we seek to uncover how past and ongoing deoxygenation events have shaped microbial community structures and their roles in ecosystem processes.
A key part of this research will be the use of metabolic models to simulate and study possible microbial community dynamics. These models will be informed by extensive genomic and transcriptomic data, enabling us to assess which metabolic pathways may be active under varying environmental conditions. Our goal is to determine the reliability of genetic signatures as indicators of specific metabolic functions and to assess how these functions have evolved over millennia. By integrating empirical data with simulations, we aim to provide new insights into the resilience and adaptability of microbial communities in response to environmental stressors, ultimately improving our understanding of their contributions to broader, biogeochemical cycles.
This postdoc will be housed in IceLab and hosted by either the Institute of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics or the Department of Ecology & Environmental Science depending on what is most appropriate for the candidate. The postdoc will be supervised by a multidisciplinary team with complementary expertise in environmental DNA, microbial ecology/evolution, and mathematical modeling.
Specific Qualifications for Project E
To qualify for the fellowship, the candidate should have a PhD degree, or a foreign degree that is deemed equivalent, in a relevant discipline such as aquatic microbial ecology, molecular biology, applied mathematics, mathematical/computational biology, evolution, etc. We note that since the project is multidisciplinary and can be tailored to the specific expertise of the candidate, we are inclusive of many academic backgrounds that may be appropriate for addressing the topic. The ideal candidate should be motivated to carry out research in data-driven science with a strong interest in ecology. The candidate should also possess skills in analyzing varied molecular data sets via computer programming.
Contact Information Project E
Eric Capo, Assistant Professor at Department of Ecology & Environmental Science, Umeå University (eric.capo@umu.se).
Eric Libby, Associate Professor at Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, IceLab, Umeå University (eric.libby@umu.se).
F. Exploring Genetic Legacy: Swedish Pine Forests from Glacial Origins to Modern Diversity
This project aims to explore the impact of historical exploitation and management on the genetic diversity and origins of modern Swedish pine forests. By integrating disciplines such as genetics, genomics, ancient DNA (aDNA), history, and archaeobotany, we seek to reconstruct the genetic trajectory of these forests since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). This will be the first comprehensive attempt to understand the genetic evolution of Swedish pine forests, moving beyond the limitations of studies that only consider modern forest data, which have likely led to incorrect conclusions.
Following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) 12,000 years ago, human settlement in Scandinavia began, with forests providing vital resources. Extensive deforestation and logging depleted natural forest resources, prompting Sweden to enact the first modern forest law in 1903, mandating replanting of felled areas. To boost productivity, Sweden imported Scots pine seeds, creating a mix of local and imported genetic material, raising concerns about genetic diversity and forest health.
The project intends to provide new insights into how centuries of forest exploitation and management have affected genetic diversity. This knowledge will be crucial in guiding future forest management practices to ensure the protection of genetic integrity and the various ecosystem services these forests offer.
The goals of the project are:
Specific Qualifications for Project F
To qualify for the fellowship, candidates should possess a PhD degree, or an equivalent foreign degree, in a relevant discipline such as genetics, genomics, ancient DNA, history, archaeology, botany, evolutionary biology, or related fields. Given the multidisciplinary nature of the project, we welcome candidates from various academic backgrounds capable of addressing the project's objectives.
The ideal candidate should demonstrate a strong motivation to engage in interdisciplinary research combining historical and modern data to understand genetic diversity. Candidates should have expertise in analyzing complex genetic and molecular data sets, preferably through advanced computational and bioinformatics skills. An interest in the history of forest management and its ecological impacts is also essential.
Contact Information Project F
M Rosario García Gil, Associate Professor at Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology and Umeå Plant Science Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå (m.rosario.garcia@slu.se).
Ivanka Hristova, Staff Scientist at Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Umeå University (ivanka.hristova@umu.se).
Nathaniel Street, Professor at Department of Plant Physiology, IceLab and Umeå Plant Science Centre, Umeå University (nathaniel.street@umu.se).
Lars Östlund, Professor at Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå (lars.ostlund@slu.se).