Postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Biochemistry with focus on Quadruplex DNA structures

The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics conducts research and teaching at the Faculty of Medicine. In addition to department-wide grants for research and education, the department's research groups have many national and international research projects with external funding. We are an international workplace with employees from many different countries.

The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics at Umeå University, Sweden, invites applicants for a two-year Postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Biochemistry with focus on Quadruplex DNA structures. The fellowship is expected to start in 2025-05-01 or according to agreement. Application deadline is February 28th, 2025.  

Description of the project 

In addition to the classical double-helix, DNA can fold into unique four-stranded structures called G-quadruplexes (G4) and intercalated motifs (i-motifs; iM). G4s arise in guanine-rich single-stranded regions, while iMs form in complementary cytosine-rich sequences. These intricate structures are thought to function as critical protein-binding sites, influencing essential processes such as transcription, replication, telomere stability, and DNA repair. The research group study the biological functions of quadruplex DNA structures in the genome by using a variety of biochemical, biophysical, imaging, and molecular biology methods, and have access to outstanding state-of-the art facilities. The current project concerns quadruplex structures in yeast genome, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, to understand their regulatory roles in health and disease. 

Please see our lab page for more details about our recent research: Quadruplex Dynamics and Biochemistry Lab

Eligibility and qualifications 

A person who has been awarded a doctorate or a foreign qualification deemed to be the equivalent of a doctorate within biochemistry, cell- and molecular biology, or related discipline, is eligible for appointment as postdoctoral researcher. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the appointment decision.  

You should have gained experience in DNA/RNA-based cellular mechanisms. Experience within the field of Quadruplex structures is advantageous as well as in CRISPR/Cas9 genetic engineering and high throughput screening in yeast. Additionally, you should have experience in method development, and various biochemical and biophysical analysis techniques. You should also have a strong research track record, as evidenced by first authorship publications in relevant research area.

Candidates must be fluent in spoken and written English and highly motivated. Candidates are expected to pursue and plan research independently, but also to function in a team. Excellent communication skills are required for interacting effectively with colleagues and peers, including colleagues from complementary research fields. 

Application 

The application must include: 

• A cover letter explaining why you are interested in the fellowship, how you can contribute to the project and in which direction you may want to develop it (no more than 2 A4 pages)
• A curriculum vitae that documents academic education and past and previous employments
• A brief description of your previous research experience outlining methodologies and research questions (no more than 1 page)
• A list with your publications (describe also your contributions for each paper with no more than four sentences)
• A copy of the PhD certificate and other relevant degree certificates
• Names and contact details with e-mail addresses of two or three academic references. 

The application must be written in Swedish or English, and submitted via our e-recruitment system Varbi at latest Februray 28th, 2025.  

For further information on this project, please see the lab website at Quadruplex Dynamics and Biochemistry Lab or contact the Head of Lab Nasim Sabouri, nasim.sabouri@umu.se 

We welcome your application!