Postdoctoral scholarship (2 years) in Chemical Biology with a Focus on high-throughput cellular profiling at Umeå university

Postdoctoral scholarship (2 years) in Chemical Biology with a Focus on high-throughput cellular profiling

The Department of Chemistry at Umeå University invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship within the project Development of a Flow Cytometry-Based Strategy for Functional Profiling of Small Molecules. The fellowship is for two years with a preferred starting date as soon as possible or as agreed. The application deadline is 12 May 2025.

Departmental specific information 

The Department of Chemistry is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Science and Technology, with approximately 200 employees, including about 40 PhD students, and strong, expanding research activities. The department is located at the Chemical Biological Centre (https://www.umu.se/en/chemical-biological-centre/) at Umeå University and offers excellent facilities and state-of-the-art equipment in a creative, inspiring, international, and highly interactive environment. More information is available at: http://www.umu.se/en/department-of-chemistry/.

Project description  

The fellow will have the opportunity to explore the development of a novel strategy for high-throughput profiling of the effects of small molecules on cellular systems using flow cytometry. By establishing a panel of multiplexed cellular readouts—including cell viability, apoptosis, immune activation, and protein secretion—the project aims to expand current capabilities in functional screening.

The research is conducted within the Chorell Lab in close collaboration with the Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS) and other national partners. The fellow will benefit from access to advanced screening infrastructure and expertise in chemical biology, automation, and method development. The project is funded through fellowship support and offers excellent opportunities for professional development through conference participation, scientific publications, and international collaboration. Please visit our homepage for more details.  

The scholarship is for two years, starting by agreement. The scholarship amount is 360,000 SEK per year and is funded by the Kempe Foundation.

Qualifications  

To qualify as a postdoctoral scholarship holder, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirement must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the decision about scholarship recipient.

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 before that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, clinical service, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, or similar circumstances.

Requirements:

• A PhD (or equivalent foreign degree) in a relevant discipline such as cell biology, molecular biology, chemical biology, or biotechnology.
• Documented experience in flow cytometry and cellular assay development.
• Excellent proficiency in English, both oral and written.

Meriting Qualifications:

• Experience with fluorescent markers and antibody-based detection methods.
• Skills in data analysis tools and high-throughput screening.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams. 

Application  

The application must be written in English or Swedish and submitted in Word or PDF format. Applications are to be submitted through Umeå University's e-recruitment system Varbi no later than 12 May 2025.

A complete application should include:

• Cover letter (max 1 page) describing your research interests and qualifications.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) with a list of publications and technical competencies.
• Copy of PhD diploma (or documentation indicating the expected award of a PhD).
• Link to PhD thesis and up to five relevant publications.
• Copies of other degree certificates, academic transcripts, and/or grades.
• Contact details of two referees who have been contacted in advance.
• Any other documents you wish to submit in support of your application. 

Further information 

For further information, please contact:
Associate Professor Erik Chorell, Department of Chemistry
Email: erik.chorell@umu.se

We look forward to receiving your application!