Postdoctoral position in Metabolomics

A great opportunity for a postdoctoral candidate seeking to work in a strong research environment with excellent analytical resources and with a very high degree of independence. We are now recruiting a postdoctoral fellow to the department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine at Umeå University. The employment is a full-time, fixed term position for two years starting 24-09-01 or as agreed upon.

Description of the project

The postdoc position will be affiliated with the Swedish metabolomic Centre (SMC) that supports researchers active at Swedish universities with mass spectrometry-based analysis of metabolites and lipids in biological tissues and fluids and aims to be a leading knowledge center in metabolomics and related areas.

The project aims to explore sphingolipid metabolism in obesity-related diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes. Despite type 2 diabetes traditionally being seen as progressive and irreversible, recent evidence suggests remission is possible and linked to reduced lipid levels in organs like the pancreas, liver, and skeletal muscle. However, the mechanisms behind this are unclear. The project focuses on understanding how sphingolipids affect tissue-specific insulin sensitivity and secretion, crucial factors in diabetes development and remission. We employ mass spectrometry to analyze sphingolipids in key tissues like skeletal muscle, pancreatic islets, and adipose tissue, using human and mouse models alongside experimental cell lines. Functional assessments of cells and tissues from human and animal models provided by collaborators and lab co-workers complement this research.

Work responsibilities

In this role, you will be responsible for planning, developing, and implementing both new and existing methodologies using our mass spectrometry platform at the Swedish Metabolomics Center (SMC). The SMC, comprised of a service component and a research development sector, represents a cutting-edge facility specializing in mass spectrometry-based methods for metabolite analysis in diverse biological systems.

Eligibility 

A person who has been awarded a doctorate or a foreign qualification deemed to be the equivalent of a doctorate 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. 

To be eligible the candidate must have a PhD degree in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, or a related discipline. The candidate should have a strong interest in research and be capable of developing the project independently and creatively. Good knowledge in chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis is necessary.  We also require good English communication skills. It is meriting with experiences in LC-MS based metabolomics and metabolite analysis, as well as analysis of biochemical data. The ideal candidate possesses expertise in hyphenated mass spectrometry-based techniques and the analysis of small molecules, particularly in metabolomics and lipidomics targeting small molecule analysis.

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. 

More information about the position

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

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 22 May 2024. 

We look forward to receiving your application.