Bioinformatician with expertise in computational structural biology

 

As a national hub for molecular biosciences in Sweden, SciLifeLab develops and maintains unique research infrastructure, services and data resources for life science. The overall aim of SciLifeLab is to facilitate cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary life science research and promote its translation to the benefit of society. About 200 research groups, 1500 researchers and 40 national infrastructure units are associated with SciLifeLab, with two main centers located in Stockholm and Uppsala, but with national SciLifeLab units at all major Swedish universities.

The SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS) is a 12-year initiative that focuses on data-driven research, within fields essential for improving people’s lives, detecting and treating diseases, protecting biodiversity and creating sustainability. The program will train and recruit the next generation of data-driven life scientists and create strong and globally competitive computational and data science capabilities in Swedish life science. The program aims to strengthen national collaborations between universities, bridge the research communities of life and data sciences, and create partnerships with industry, healthcare and other national and international actors.

As part of the DDLS program, the bioinformatics platform at SciLifeLab (NBIS) provides bioinformatics support to scientifically outstanding research projects at Swedish universities. NBIS is a large national infrastructure with around 100 staff, providing advanced support, infrastructure and training to the Swedish life science research community.

We are now looking for a bioinformatician with expertise in structural biology to join the NBIS Support team, to establish structural biology as a new national support function as a part of the DDLS initiative.

SciLifeLab’s new Integrated Structural Biology platform and other large initiatives like MAX IV and ESS put Sweden in a uniquely strong position for structural biology, and together with recent advances in protein structure prediction this is a very rapidly evolving area with implications across many research fields.

The NBIS support team currently comprises close to 60 full-time senior bioinformaticians across Sweden, with expertise in data analysis across a broad range of technologies and research areas.

We here seek skilled and motivated candidates to establish national bioinformatics support primarily focused on analysis of cryo-EM data. The service will be developed in close collaboration with the SciLifeLab Cryo-EM unit, holding state-of-the-art equipment and expertise in single particle cryo-EM, cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), and microED, providing services from specimen optimization to data acquisition to more than 150 research groups in the Nordics. These services will now be complemented with advanced bioinformatics support for cryo-EM image processing, structure determination and model analysis, with strong connections to other structural biology technologies and structure prediction methods.

You will get the opportunity to work in a vibrant research environment and with a range of interesting projects in collaboration with different research groups. We are a strong and collaborative team of bioinformatics experts and this, in conjunction with the broad competence within NBIS, the Cryo-EM unit and the larger SciLifeLab community, creates an excellent forum to maintain cutting-edge expertise and acquire new skills. In addition to direct involvement in research projects, the work includes teaching on advanced national courses and potentially method and data resource development in close collaboration with the SciLifeLab Data Centre and the emerging DDLS Data Area Nodes. 

The position is placed at SciLifeLab Stockholm, which is situated at the research campus of Karolinska Institutet in northern Stockholm.

Main responsibilities
The main responsibilities are to:

• Carry out advanced data analyses within nationally prioritized projects.
• Potentially develop tools and workflows for such analyses.
• Educate other scientists in bioinformatics through collaboration within supported projects, teaching at advanced national courses and consultations.
• Take part in the continuous development and improvement of the SciLifeLab Bioinformatics Platform, the Cryo-EM unit, and the DDLS program at a national level.

Qualification requirements
We are looking for a highly motivated scientist with a strong background and interest in computational methods for analysis of molecular structures.
The successful candidate should have:

• A PhD in bioinformatics, computer science, structural biology or other relevant area.
• Extensive experience with computational analysis of three-dimensional protein structures or software development for cryo-EM.
• Advanced skills in one or more programming languages.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Strong skills in cooperation and communication.

Postdoctoral studies are a strong merit but not a requirement. Experience with structure prediction tools such as Rosetta and AlphaFold is a strong merit. Skills in experimental design would be beneficial. Great importance will be given to personal suitability.

Terms of employment
This is a full-time, indefinite-term position with a six-month trial period. Salaries at Stockholm University are determined individually. Start date as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact 
Further information about the position can be obtained from NBIS Bioinformatics Support Manager, Pär Engström, par.engstrom@scilifelab.se, telephone: +46 8 16 22 44, and the Head of Cryo-EM Unit, Marta Carroni, marta.carroni@scilifelab.se, telephone: +46 8 16 10 13.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Only include the cover letter and CV in your application. Bring copies of grades and certificates if you are called to an interview.

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholms universitet bidrar till det hållbara demokratiska samhällets utveckling genom kunskap, upplysning och sanningssökande.

Closing date: 28/03/2022

URL to this pagehttps://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs?rmpage=job&rmjob=17294&rmlang=UK

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Postdoctoral Fellow in literary studies with a profile in older literature (before 1800)

 

The Faculty of Humanities is offering one postdoctoral position in literary studies with a profile in older literature (before 1800). This two-year employment will be placed at one of following five departments: the Department of Culture and Aesthetics, the Department of Romance Studies and Classics, the Department of English, the Department of Slavic and Baltic Studies, Finnish, Dutch and German, or the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Together, these departments constitute a nationally leading environment for literary studies with a strong international profile. It is characterised by a broad and deep publishing culture, and a lively seminar- and conference schedule.

Main responsibilities
The announced position has a comparative profile. Candidates whose research focuses on older literature in two or more of the languages represented at the five departments will have a competitive advantage. In addition, the proposed project should engage with one of the strong research areas that are already established, or are under development, at the departments. 

The successful candidate will be expected mainly to conduct research. A part of their brief will also be to contribute to cross-departmental initiatives in literary studies, such as organising an annual seminar to present work in progress. Teaching may be offered, but not amounting to more than 20% of the position.

The position will be placed at one of the five above-mentioned departments. In the application, please indicate a preference for one of the departments. The final decision on departmental affiliation will be taken in joint consultation with the candidate and the department concerned.

Qualification requirements
By ”post-doctoral researcher” is meant an employee whose main task is to conduct research and who has successfully completed a PhD degree (or international equivalent) in a subject relating to literary studies.

Assessment criteria
The PhD degree must have been awarded no more than three years before an employment decision is made. Under special circumstances, the degree may have been awarded earlier. Special circumstances include leave of absence for illness, parental leave, positions of trust in unions, service in the national defence force or other comparable contexts, plus clinical practice or other duties of relevance to the subject area.

The main criterion for selection is research expertise. Equal emphasis will be placed on previous reasearch and on the plan for the forthcoming project. Criteria for assessing the project plan are: originality, theoretical and methodological stringency, relevance to literary research at SU, and feasibility. Candidates whose research focuses on older literature in two or more of the languages represented at the five departments will be prioritised. In addition, a well-documented capacity to collaborate with colleagues will be taken into account. Pedagogical and administrative competence count as additional qualifications. Regardless of linguistic specialisation, the candidate must also be competent in written and spoken English.

Terms of employment
The position is a full-time employment lasting no more than two years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. These include leave of absence for illness, positions of trust in unions, service in the national defence force or other comparable contexts plus clinical practice or other duties of relevance to the employment. Special circumstances also include parental during the employment. Starting date 1 September 2022, unless otherwise agreed.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from professor Stefan Helgesson, stefan.helgesson@english.su.se. Questions about the recruitment procedure may be directed to the administrator Kenneth Hjalmarsson, phone no. 08-16 21 30, kenneth.hjalmarsson@su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline. 

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 3 references

In addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• Resumé: degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of degree projects/theses
• Your PhD thesis

• Research proposal (2000 words maximum, excluding references)
• The proposal must include:
• a statement of the research aim and research question
• a delineation of the methodological and theoretical framework
• a research plan
• an indication of the expected contribution to the research field

• Degree certificate(s) confirming that you meet the general and specific entry requirements

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholms universitet bidrar till det hållbara demokratiska samhällets utveckling genom kunskap, upplysning och sanningssökande.

Closing date: 31/03/2022

URL to this pagehttps://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs?rmpage=job&rmjob=17041&rmlang=UK

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Postdoctoral Fellow in Mathematical Analysis

 

The Department of Mathematics at Stockholm University has 38 faculty staff members, divided into three divisions:
Mathematics, Mathematical statistics and Computational Mathematics. The Division of Mathematics carries out research in a wide range of topics in pure mathematics, including algebra, analysis, combinatorics, geometry, logic and topology. Thedepartment has a large and active research group in mathematical analysis uniting mathematicians.

Project description
The position will be financed by a grant from Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation in the "Postdoctoral Scholarship Program in Mathematics for researchers from outside Sweden" entitled "Crystalline Measures".

The subject of the studies will be crystalline measures, quantum graphs and quasicrystals. This project is based on the recent discovery that spectra of Laplacians on metric graphs lead to exotic one-dimensional  measures being Fourier quasicrystals. We shall try to understand the connection to sphere packing and Fourier interpolation.

Main responsibilities
The position involves research in the area described above and limited teaching load of 20 %.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree should have been completed no more than three years before the time when the employment decision is made. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills in spectral theory, Fourier analysis and operator theory.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date 2022-07-01 or as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from Professor Pavel Kurasov, telephone: +46 708 22 34 16, kurasov@math.su.se, or Head of the Division, Associate Professor Jonas Bergström +46 8 16 45 63, jonasb@math.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

Closing date: 31/03/2022

URL to this pagehttps://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs?rmpage=job&rmjob=17156&rmlang=UK

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Postdoctoral Fellow in experimental quantum technology

 

The Department of Physics is one of the biggest departments within the Faculty of Science and supports a broad range of basic research in experimental and theoretical physics. It has about 250 employees of which 95 are PhD students. Many have been internationally recruited. The Department is part of the AlbaNova University Center, which apart from the Department of Physics houses the Department of Astronomy, the Physics Departments at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), and the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics (Nordita). 

The Department of Physics and Stockholm University is affiliated to Stockholm Dual Career Network (SDCN) that supports expat partners with professional events, career-related advice and by building a social network in their new hometown. https://www.sdcn.se/

Project description
The Trapped Ion Quantum Technology group at Stockholm University invites applications for a postdoctoral position on our trapped Rydberg ion project. The successful applicant will design and build a cryogenic ion trapping experiment for realising a fast quantum processor with trapped Rydberg ions. The cryogenic environment will reduce decoherence due to black-body radiation.

Trapped Rydberg ions are a new system for quantum computation. By laser pulses the ions’ outermost electron is excited to a high-lying Rydberg orbital [1]. Such Rydberg ions are million times bigger than ions in the ground state, and due to their size obtain very peculiar properties. In particular, trapped ions can be entangled via a strong Rydberg interaction in less than a microsecond [2]. This method supports fast entangling gates in large ions crystals, thus enabling a fast trapped ion quantum computer.

The experimental postdoctoral project will take place in the Trapped Ion Quantum Technology group at Stockholm University. For more information see http://qtech.fysik.su.se/.  

• [1] Higgins, et al., Coherent control of a single trapped Rydberg ion, Physical Review Letters 119 (22), 220501 (2017).
• [2] Zhang, et al., Submicrosecond entangling gate between trapped ions via Rydberg interaction, Nature 580, 345 (2020).

Main responsibilities
The position involves experimental research with trapped ions, design and setup of a cryogenic ion trap, laser excitation into Rydberg states, characterisation of quantum states and processes, numerical simulations of the experimental results, co-supervision of students.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills and experience in experimental research in quantum information or quantum optics with trapped ions, or ultracold atoms, cryogenic experiments, Rydberg physics, and precision laser spectroscopy.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date 2022-04-01 or as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from Assoc. Prof. Markus Hennrich, telephone: +46 85537 8614, markus.hennrich@fysik.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

Closing date: 31/03/2022

URL to this pagehttps://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs?rmpage=job&rmjob=17278&rmlang=UK

Apply

Postdoctoral Fellow in Environmental Chemistry focusing on development and application of a high resolution GCMS method

 

The Department of Environmental Science is one of the biggest departments at the Faculty of Science. The department is divided into four units with more than 170 researchers, teachers, doctoral students and technical/administrative staff from over 30 countries. Research and teaching focuses on chemical contaminants, atmospheric science, biogeochemistry and (eco)toxicology. As an employee at the Department of Environmental Science you will be part of a dynamic environment with research in leading research areas and a strong international profile.

Project description
Research in contaminant chemistry at the Department of Environmental Science covers a wide spectrum of organic contaminants, and aims at understanding their sources, environmental fate and transport as well as risk to humans and the environment. Development and wide application of sensitive and robust analytical tools is critical to facilitating this research. The overarching goal of this project is to develop and apply a high resolution gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HRGCMS) method for wide-scope targeted as well as non-targeted analyses of non-polar organic contaminants in the Arctic and in other environmental samples. The work will primarily make use of a state-of-the-art QExactive GC-Orbitrap system but there are also several low resolution instruments available for method development. There are three main components to the project:

1. Method Development. We will start by building a wide-scope targeted method using standards covering diverse physcial-chemical properties. The method should also enable acquisition of data to facilitate so-called “suspect” and “non-target” screening experiments. Priority applications include circum-Arctic sediments and municipal wastewater treatment plant sludge. Accessible data handling workflows for target, suspect, and non-target screening, including databases, will also be established as part of this work.
2. Application to Arctic Sediments. Environmental transport and fate of hydrophobic organic contaminants is strongly influenced by biogeochemical cycles, as these chemicals bind to organic matter. For this reason, marine sediment is an important sink for many non-polar chemicals, and can thus serve as an archive and indicate chemical emissions and global transport. The project has access to a large collection of sediment samples collected across the entire Arctic Ocean, and the ultimate goal is to apply the developed HRGCMS method on these samples in order to a) investigate the contaminant fingerprint in Arctic shelf sediment, b) make an assessment of the organic contaminant inventory in Arctic shelf sediment and its geograhical distribution and differences and c) assess how sources and degradation of organic carbon affect occurrence and storage of hydrophobic organic contaminants in Arctic shelf sediment. There is the possibility for the postdoc candidate to take part in a research expedition with the Swedish Icebreaker Oden to the Arctic Ocean in 2023.
3. Application to Collaborative projects. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to support collaborations within the department which take advantage of the newly developed high resolition GCMS method. Possible topics include (but are not limited to): organohalogen mass balance experiments, combustion-derived contaminants, PFAS characterization in consumer products, characterization of emissions from wastewater treatment plants as well as bioaccumulation and plastics characterization. In this regard, the position offers considerable flexibility for the successful candidate to develop their own research “niche” within the department.

Main responsibilities
The work involves both method development (e.g., the HRMS part of the analytical chain, as well as optimization and testing of extraction and cleanup procedures) and application to environmental samples (e.g. including interpretation of contaminant fingerprints and distributions). The postdoctoral researcher is expected to take the lead on and be responsible for experimental design and laboratory work, as well as interpretation of data, data management, writing, and publishing, in collaboration with the project team.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills in a relevant area for the position. The successful postdoc candidate is expected to have a PhD in analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, organic geochemistry or equivalent, with documented experience of using GCMS for chemical analysis. Experience with non-target and/or suspect screening is considered an advantage, including handling of large datasets, identification of molecules by MS2 spectral library matching, and mass spectral interpretation of unknown molecules. Experience of interpreting organic compound distributions within an environmental system context is advantageous.

Other Requirements:

• Knowledge of programming, including working ability in R and/or Python.
• Strong statistical knowledge and experience in multivariate modelling.
• Experience with using either open-source or commercial software for handling GC-Orbitrap data (e.g. Compound Discoverer, MSDial, etc).
• Strong communication skills in English, in both speech and writing.
• Any environmental field work experience is viewed as favorable.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date in September 2022 or as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from Professor Anna Sobek, anna.sobek@aces.su.se, Professor Jon Benskin, jon.benskin@aces.su.se, or Professor Örjan Gustafsson, orjan.gustafsson@aces.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

Closing date: 18/04/2022

URL to this pagehttps://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs?rmpage=job&rmjob=17228&rmlang=UK

Apply

Postdoctoral Fellow in Epigenetic Toxicology of Chemical Mixtures

 

Science for Life Laboratory(SciLifeLab) is a national research center for molecular biosciences  located at Karolinska Institutet’s campus in Solna. SciLifeLab offers infrastructure access for state-of-the-art high-throughput molecular technologies and serves as a collaboration hub for Stockholm University, Karolinska Institute, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Uppsala University. The center brings together a broad range of scientists across traditional university and department boundaries to facilitate networking and multidisciplinary studies within two main focus areas: health and environmental research.

The Department of Environmental Science is one of the largest departments at the Faculty of Science at Stockholm University. The department is divided into four units with more than 170 researchers, teachers, doctoral students and technical/administrative staff from over 30 countries. Research and teaching focuses on chemical contaminants, atmospheric science, biogeochemistry and (eco)toxicology. As an employee at the Department of Environmental Science you will be part of a dynamic environment with work being done in leading research areas and with a strong international profile.

Project description
We seek a postdoctoral fellow with strong skills in molecular toxicology, or in a closely related field, to develop and apply human cell-based methods for detection of epigenetic effects of real-world environmental chemical mixtures. You will work in an established team of toxicologists and analytical chemists currently investigating the endocrine effects of chemical contaminant mixtures found in human blood. The project will make effective use of national infrastructure, including liquid handling robotics and high-throughput screening technologies at Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), and you have access to cell culture facilities and high content analysis (HCA) instrumentation to further explore effects at the sub-cellular level. The position is a two year postdoctoral fellowship fully funded by the Swedish Research Council Formas.

Main responsibilities
The postdoctoral fellow will be supervised by Professors Oskar Karlsson and Jonathan Martin in the Exposure & Effects Unit, Department of ACES. The successful candidate will work primarily at SciLifeLab (Solna). The major objective will be to establish sensitive cellular assays to measure the epigenetic and molecular effects of environmental chemical mixtures that we have measured in blood by exposomics. You will also use high-throughput screening strategies to identify which chemical(s) are responsible for the mixture-effects. The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to plan, conduct, interpret and communicate the research and results.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree should have been completed no more than three years before the time when the employment decision is made. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills in molecular toxicology and cell culture work. Previous research experience in epigenetics, molecular biology, mixture toxicology, high content cell imaging and analysis will be considered a great asset. The provided research plan/statement will also be used to rank the candidates.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date is suggested as May 2022, but is flexible.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from Associate Professor Oskar Karlsson, oskar.karlsson@aces.su.se or Professor Jonathan Martin, telephone: +46 72 146 27 73, jon.martin@aces.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Letters of recommendation (optional, no more than 3 files)
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

Closing date: 22/04/2022

URL to this pagehttps://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs?rmpage=job&rmjob=17136&rmlang=UK

Apply

Student (m/f/d) | B.Sc. project - Elemental analysis of symbiotic bark and ambrosia beetle fungi

 

We are currently looking for a motivated student (f/m/d) for a B.Sc. project at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena (Germany). In this project, the student will work with symbiotic filamentous fungi of bark and ambrosia beetles under laboratory conditions. The student will explore and describe the total elemental composition of fungal mycelium and compare it with other non-insect associated beetles as well as with competitive and wood-degrading fungi.

Both bark and ambrosia beetles, which typically colonize rather nutrient-poor woody substrates (like phloem or xylem of weakened trees), are associated with a broad range of microbes such as filamentous fungi, bacteria, and yeasts. To date, only little is known about the role of these microbes and how they support the survival of their beetle hosts. Especially some of the associated filamentous fungi are believed to be of high nutritional value for the beetles, and thus ensure the successful development of beetles in such a challenging environment. In many cases, the beetles themselves are unable to survive without their fungal partners. However, our current knowledge about the nutritional value of these fungi is limited as detailed studies are lacking. Therefore, a comparative study on the elemental composition of different symbiotic and non-symbiotic fungi will be of crucial importance to understand how these beneficial fungi support their beetle hosts.

Within this project, a student will analyse and quantify the most important elements (such as C, N, P, S, Ca, Mg, Mn, and K) for the very first time of several bark and ambrosia beetle fungi using state-of-the-art techniques focussing on:

• Cultivation of fungi under sterile conditions
• Sample preparation
• Analyzation of samples using ICP-OES, ICP-MS, and an element analyser for C and N
• Comparison of results between different tested fungi

This study will be a collaboration between the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology and the Landesamt für Landwirtschaft und Ländlichen Raum Thüringen (TLLLR) in Jena (Germany). The analysis will take place at the TLLLR.

If you are generally interested in microbiology, mycology and ecology, and want to find out more about this project (e.g. details, start date), don´t hesitate to get in contact with us.

Dr. Maximilian Lehenberger                 
mlehenberger@ice.mpg.de

Prof. Dr. Jonathan Gershenzon                   
gershenzon@ice.mpg.de

Student (m/f/d) | M.Sc. project - The function of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in fungus-farming ambrosia beetles

 

We are currently looking for a motivated student (f/m/d) for a M.Sc. project at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena (Germany). The student will gain novel insights into the role and importance of possible nitrogen-fixing bacteria in native fungus-farming bark- and ambrosia beetles.

In general, ambrosia beetles are fungus-farming bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) that encompass around 16 species in Germany and more than 3400 worldwide. They typically colonize the xylem of recently dead trees in which they drill their tunnel systems. This substrate is extremely challenging for the beetles as it mainly consists of cellulose and hemicellulose, both hardly digestible for beetles. Further, one of the most important elements in life, nitrogen, is almost absent in the xylem of trees. Here, the beetles benefit from associated mutualistic fungi, which provide a nutritional source of food for the beetles, and are thus supporting them to fulfil their carbon requirements. To date, it remains unknown how the beetles gather sufficient amounts of nitrogen. Only about 5% of the fungal symbionts of known ambrosia beetle species have been described. Even less studied is the identity and role of other fungi, yeasts and especially bacteria that are frequently found to co-inhabit the ambrosia beetle galleries.

In a recent project, we isolated and identified possible nitrogen-fixing bacteria from the tunnel systems of two common and widespread ambrosia beetles (X. saxesenii & X. germanus). These findings raise questions regarding their function in the beetle-fungus symbiosis.

The aim of this project is to study the role and the influence of such bacteria within the beetle-fungus symbiosis focussing on:

• Fieldwork
• Isolation and identification of bacteria and fungi from natural and artificial breeding systems and beetles
• Behavioural assays with beetles and bacteria/fungi
• Bioassays with antagonistic/competitive fungi
• Volatile measurements of fungi and bacteria
• Nutritional analyses of involved microbes focussing on isolated bacteria
• Isotope (15N2) measurements

If you are generally interested in microbiology, mycology and ecology, and want to find out more about this project (e.g. details, start date), don´t hesitate to get in contact with us.

Dr. Maximilian Lehenberger                               
mlehenberger@ice.mpg.de

Prof. Dr. Jonathan Gershenzon                   
gershenzon@ice.mpg.de

Student (m/f/d) | Master Project - The role of yeasts in the survival of fungus-farming bark and ambrosia beetles

 

We are currently looking for a motivated student (f/m/d) for a M.Sc. project at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena (Germany). The student will explore the function of symbiotic yeasts within fungus-farming bark and ambrosia beetles.

Both bark and ambrosia beetles, which typically colonize rather nutrient-poor woody substrates (like phloem or xylem of weakened trees), are associated with a broad range of microbes such as filamentous fungi, bacteria, and yeasts. Researchers have just begun to study the role of these microbes and how they support the survival of their beetle hosts. Some of the associated filamentous fungi are of high nutritional value for the beetles and thus ensure the successful development of beetles in such a challenging environment. In many cases, the beetles themselves are unable to survive without their fungal partners.

Although a few functions of the associated filamentous fungi are known to date, much less is known about the role of yeasts in such beetle-microbe symbioses. Some yeasts are thought to have the capability of detoxifying tree defense compounds, while others might have a role as nutritional symbionts.
In this project, the student will gain novel insights into this understudied topic focussing on the native ambrosia beetle Xyleborinus saxesenii as well as the common European bark beetle Ips typographus.

In this project, the student will focus on:

• Fieldwork
• Isolation and identification of yeast from natural and artificial breeding systems and beetles
• Behavioural assays with beetles and yeasts
• Bioassays with antagonistic/competitive fungi
• Detoxification assays with tree-defensive compounds
• Volatile measurements of yeasts
• Nutritional analyses of isolated yeasts

This study will be a collaboration between the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology and the Chair of Functional Ecology, Lund University (Sweden).
If you are generally interested in microbiology, mycology and ecology, and want to find out more about this project (e.g. details, start date), don´t hesitate to get in contact with us.

Dr. Maximilian Lehenberger                 
mlehenberger@ice.mpg.de

Prof. Dr. Jonathan Gershenzon                   
gershenzon@ice.mpg.de

Student (f/m/d) | Master Project - The mycetangia of fungus-farming ambrosia beetles

 

We are currently looking for a motivated student for a M.Sc. project at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena (Germany). In this project, the student will investigate a highly evolved and complex structure, which is specialized for the transportation of fungal spores in fungus-farming ambrosia beetles.

Ambrosia beetles are fungus-farming bark beetles (Curculionidae), which encompass around 16 species in Germany and more than 3400 worldwide. They typically colonize the xylem of recently dead trees in which they drill their tunnel systems. Here, the beetles cultivate a species-specific nutritional fungus, which allows them to survive in such a challenging environment. However, a very specific structure is characteristic for all ambrosia beetles, the so-called mycetangia or mycangia. This structure is highly evolved and is specialized for the transportation of fungal spores from the initial nest to a new one. Without it, the survival of the beetles would be even more challenging. However, little is known about the function (e.g. fungal uptake) as well as the chemistry (e.g. secretions) of mycetangia. Therefore, research on this fascinating structure of ambrosia beetles would provide novel insights into the interaction between the beetle and its fungal symbiont.

Within this project, the student will examine the mycetangia of two common and widespread native ambrosia beetles using state-of-the-art-technique focussing on:

• Field work
• Rearing of beetles on an artificial diet
• Isolation of mycetangial structures from beetles
• Preparation of crude extracts
• Identification of major involved compounds (e.g. fatty acids, amino acids)
• Bioassays with extracts/compounds using competitive and antagonistic fungi

If you are generally interested in microbiology, mycology and ecology, and want to find out more about this project (e.g. details, start date), don´t hesitate to get in contact with us.

Dr. Maximilian Lehenberger                 
mlehenberger@ice.mpg.de

Prof. Dr. Jonathan Gershenzon                   
gershenzon@ice.mpg.de