Postdoctoral position in Molecular RNA-Biology - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

We are looking for a postdoctoral fellow to the department of Molecular Biology. By using genetic and biochemical experiments, you will study RNA conformations in a bacterial pathogen. The position is full time for a maximum of 24 months, with a starting date of 2022-09-01. 

Project description

We have previously shown that RNA in the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes can change its structure dependent of external environmental cues, such as differences in temperature. By using a biochemical MaPseq method developed in the laboratory, we are able to monitor RNA-structures in living bacteria as well as in vitro synthesized RNA (Ignatov, 2020 a and b). The method also allow determination of single-molecule RNA structures. 

You will be examining how and why the structure of RNA is changing in Listeria monocytogenes during infection of a human host cell. Particular RNA structural changes will be examined genetically and with other biochemical methods. Such information will be used to try to identify chemical molecules that can lock the RNA in an inactive conformation and thereby abrogate the infection.

Work responsibilities

You will be using the aforementioned MaPseq-based method to determine RNA-structures but also RNAseq, cloning, mutational analysis as well as other common molecular biology and biochemical tools.    

Eligibility

A person who has been awarded a doctorate or a foreign qualification deemed to be the equivalent of a doctorate in Molecular Biology, Microbiology or biochemistry is eligible for appointment as postdoctoral researcher. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time at which the appointment decision is made. 

The applicant must have documented (i.e. published) experience of biochemical and genetic work in the field of RNA-based regulatory mechanisms.  

Additional useful qualifications 

Since appointment as a postdoctoral researcher is a career-development position for junior researchers, we are primarily interested in applicants who completed their doctoral degree no more than three years before the application deadline. If there are special reasons, an applicant who has completed their degree earlier than that may be considered. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, clinical practice, appointments of trust for a trade union organisation or other similar circumstances, and for relevant duties/assignments within the subject area. 

We are looking for you that previously have been working with RNA-biology using both biochemical and genetic methods. It is also a requirement that you have previous experiences in working with bacterial pathogens, preferably Listeria monocytogenes. You need to be able to work independently to plan experiments, do the analyses and write research papers. You also need to be able to communicate well in English (both written and spoken) and should be organised and able to work in a research team. 

Personal qualities are very important. 

More information about the position

The appointment is a full-time, fixed-term position for two years in accordance with the terms of "contract for fixed-term employment as a postdoctoral researcher from 1 February 2022". 

More information about the group's research can be found on our website www.umu.se/en/department-of-molecular-biology/.

Application

The application must include:

• A brief description of your research interests and a statement describing why you are interested in the position.
• CV.
• List of publications.
• Degree certificate from doctoral studies and other relevant degrees.
• Contact details of two reference persons.

The application must be written in Swedish or English. The application must be made via our e-recruitment system Varbi and must be received latest 23 Juni 2022. 

We look forward to receieve your application!