Staff Scientist in Membrane Biology 9 months
Umeå University, Faculty Office of Medicine
Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.
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The Faculty of Medicine, which consists of 12 departments, is responsible for biomedical research and courses in the field of nursing and health care and has an extensive research and graduate education in more than 80 subjects.
The Department of Medical and Translational Biology at the Faculty of Medicine is seeking a Staff Scientist in membrane biology, with a focus on investigating how viruses sculpt cellular lipid membranes into organelles for replication of their genetic material. The position is limited to 9 months.
Description
The aim of this project is to identify fundamental principles of how viral proteins transform cellular lipid membranes into organelles for replication of their genetic material. We study alphaviruses and use a model system for lipid membranes generated from living cells. The goal is to determine which properties of the proteins and the membrane that enable the generation of small vesicles during RNA replication. The project employs several techniques including fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, and advanced image data analysis.
Duties
- Establishment of plasma membrane model systems and studies of replication organelles
- Investigation of the dynamics of lipids, proteins, and replication organelles using spinning disc microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy
- Software-based image data analysis to achieve high temporal and structural resolution
- Protein purification and synthesis of model membranes
- Biophysical analysis of interactions between proteins and lipid membranes using Q-CMD analysis
Qualifications
To be eligible, you must hold a PhD in structural biology based on data from cryo-electron microscopy.
Furthermore, extensive knowledge and experience are required in: Virology, protein and lipid biochemistry, spinning disc microscopy, electron microscopy, image analysis and methods for studying interactions between proteins and lipid membranes. Good knowledge of the underlying theories and principles of cryo-electron microscopy is required, as well as specific expertise in the development and application of advanced membrane model systems for analysis using spinning disc microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy. Excellent written and spoken English is required, as well as the ability to plan and conduct independent scientific research and write scientific manuscripts.
Merits
Documented experience in:
- Advanced microscopy techniques in light and electron microscopy
- Lipid membrane model systems
- Protein purification and fluorescent labeling
- Cell culture and cell “unroofing”
- Script development for image analysis (e.g., MATLAB)
Terms of Employment
The position is full-time and fixed-term for 9 months. Start date: May 1st or as agreed.
Application
Your application must be registered via the Varbi e-recruitment system and received no later than:
2026-03-06.
The application should include:
- A short cover letter (approximately one A4 page) describing the applicant’s research experience, research interests, and suitability for the project
- A CV (Curriculum Vitae) including degrees, technical expertise, employment history, and names and contact details of two referees
- A list of publications
Further Information
For further information about the position, please contact:
Richard Lundmark
Email: richard.lundmark@umu.se
Department of Medical and Translational Biology
Umeå University
901 87 Umeå, Sweden
Welcome with your application!
| Type of employment | Special fixed-term employment |
|---|---|
| Contract type | Full time |
| Salary | Månadslön |
| Number of positions | 1 |
| Full-time equivalent | 100% |
| City | Umeå |
| County | Västerbottens län |
| Country | Sweden |
| Reference number | AN 2026/235 |
| Contact |
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| Union representative |
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| Published | 13.Feb.2026 |
| Last application date | 06.Mar.2026 |