Post doctor, 2 years, within DNA damage and disease tolerance

The Department of Molecular Biology seeks a postdoctoral researcher who will work on the studying the mechanism of by which DNA damaging toxins promote intestinal disease tolerance upon infection with bacterial genotoxin expressing bacteria. The employment is full-time for two years with access 1 April 2025 or by agreement.

Project description and working tasks

The research team studies the effect of acute and chronic infection/intoxication in vitro and in vivo with bacteria expressing genotoxins, which cause DNA damage in mammalian cells.

The project aims at characterizing the role of the tissue-specific microenvironment in induction of disease tolerance upon infection with a genotoxigenic Salmonella. The effects of the genotoxins on activation of the DNA damage and host immune response will be studied in short term and long-term infections/intoxication in in vivo models, ex vivo and 3D models.

The project employs a comprehensive range of techniques including, but not limited to, mice infection via gavage and intraperitoneal injections, necropsy, paraffin tissue embedding, tissue sectioning, multiplex immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and multiplex RNAscope analysis. We utilize tissue culture and develop 3D culture models, conduct infections with ex vivo primary cells, and purify peripheral blood mononuclear cells from mouse bone marrow and human peripheral blood. Our methodologies also encompass macrophage isolation and differentiation, bacterial infections in both in vitro and ex vivo models, as well as a variety of techniques including flow cytometry (FACS) analysis, immunoblot analysis, confocal microscopy, qRT-PCR, ELISA.

Further details are provided by:
Teresa Frisan
Professor Cellular and Molecular Biology
Dept Molecular Biology
teresa.frisan@umu.se

Qualifications

To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, 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 appointment decision.

To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, 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. 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 organisations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.

The candidate should have excellent capacity and previous experience to work with in vivo mouse models, including a FELASA B certificate, and have a verry good knowledge on innate immune response to bacterial infection and inflammation.

The candidate should show excellent capacity to develop independently the assigned project(s), have good ability to be a team-player, interact co-operatively with senior and junior colleagues and sharing laboratory and research resources. Previous knowledge in the field of immunology, inflammation and cancer biology, and all the techniques required for carry on the project specified above, as well as good skills in oral and written English are required.

Desirable qualifications

Experience with CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing in vitro, molecular cloning, and lentivirus production for the manipulation of the 3D models, experience in assessing inflammasome activation, immunoprecipitation (IP) techniques as well as previous experience of supervising undergraduate students will be considered as merit.

Application

The application must be written in English. The application is made through our electronic recruitment system at the latest 19 February 2025 and should include:

• Cover letter,
• Curriculum vitae (CV) with publication list, 
• Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained, 
• Verified copies of other diplomas, list of completed academic courses and grades 
• Other documents that the applicant wishes to claim.
• Contact information to two persons willing to act as references.

More information

For more information about The Department of Molecular Biology, please visit our webpage.