First research engineer - ,

Research environment

Umeå University is the place where the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 was discovered, that later received the Nobel prize in chemistry.

The position will be carried out in Dr Fors Connolly´s research group, that is interdisciplinary with clinicians, statisticians, epidemiologists and biomedical researchers. Recently, the research group of Fors Connolly published an epidemiological paper in The Lancet regarding the association between COVID-19 and acute cardiovascular events. The research focus is on determining underlying mechanisms of disease pathogenesis of COVID-19, Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and Influenza. Focus is also on predicting which individuals are at risk of having a severe disease outcome following infection using biobank data. The research in Fors Connolly´s group has a translational focus with large-scale population studies to clinical studies to laboratory studies. The fellow will further work in close collaboration with the group of Dr. Marta Bally (Department of Clinical Microbiology).

At the Dept. of Clinical Microbiology, another research group published a paper in New England Journal of Medicine. There is therefore world-class research being performed both in the group of Fors Connolly but also at the department of Clinical Microbiology, and you are most welcome to join us.

Work assignments

The Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, is looking for a principal research engineer (research associate) for a 2-year position. The associate will be active in a research project aiming at elucidating the contribution of endothelial cells and specifically endothelial glycocalyx degradation to underlying molecular pathogenesis of diseases caused by viral infections, and at predicting which individuals are at risk of severe outcome.

You will:

• - Cultivate endothelial cells and perform infection assays with SARS-CoV-2, Influenza and Puumala virus.
• - Study the effect of patient plasma on in vitro endothelial glycocalyx and identify factors that cause degradation.
• - Identify specific factors causing endothelial glycocalyx degradation during viral disease using surface plasmon resonance.
• - Participate in designing multiplex assays to quantify endothelial activation markers in samples from COVID-19, HFRS and Flu patients
• - Participate and contribute to scientific group meetings involving the groups and their collaborators.
• - Contribute to the publication of research findings.
• - Participate in training and supervision of scientists and research students.

Selection criteria

For this employment the specific requirements are:

• - A completed postdoc within the same or similar topic
• - PhD in medical or natural sciences with focus on endothelial cell biology, infection biology, or related disciplines.
• - Expertise handling endothelial cells
• - Previous experience with studies on endothelial glycocalyx and setting up the methods described above.
• - Experience in virology.
• - Experience with setting up Ibidi flow studies and impedance measurements
• - Experience with immunofluorescence assays
• - Ability to independently plan experiments, develop methods and carry out analyzes, and summarize results in English is a requirement.

It is expected that the candidate can conduct research in a highly independent manner. In addition, the candidate should have documented good ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment at the interface between medicine and biology and to cooperate with other research groups.

Application

The application should contain:

1. In one A4 page highlight your specific qualifications and motivation for the position
2. Attested copy of PhD certificate 
3. Curriculum Vitae include full list of publications
4. Letters of recommendation and name of at least 2 reference persons.

Full time position, two years – start according to agreement
The application is made electronically (via the system Varbi). Last day to apply is:22-01-11

For questions, please contact:
Anne-Marie Fors Connolly, Department of Clinical Microbiology, E-mail: anne-marie.fors.connolly@umu.se  

We welcome your application!