Postdoctoral scholarship (1-2 years) in muscle biology

Postdoctoral scholarship (1-2 years) in muscle biology
The Department of Medical and Translational Biology at Umea University, Sweden, invites applicants for a postdoctoral scholarship to study muscle biology using in vitro and in vivo models. The scholarship is full-time for one to two years funded by Kempe foundation.

Departmental specific information 
The research group led by prof. Fatima Pedrosa Domellöf conducts innovative and multidisciplinary research at the intersection of molecular biology, developmental biology and muscle physiology. The team uses cutting-edge molecular techniques, advanced in vitro models and powerful zebrafish genetics tools to investigate the fundamental mechanisms that contribute to muscle resilience and disease resistance. The group’s work is mainly focused on the extraocular muscles (EOMs), the effectors for ocular motility, and the lab is particularly interested in elucidating aspects related to the remarkable disease resistance of the EOMs.

Project description  
The project focuses on the unique physiological and structural features of the EOMs. Unlike other skeletal muscles, EOMs exhibit remarkable resistance to muscular dystrophies including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, making them a valuable model for understanding muscle resilience and disease resistance.

The main aim of the project is to study components within muscle tissue that may underlie these unique features. Using a combination of in vitro (cell culture) and zebrafish genetic models, the project will explore how different components contribute to the unique behaviour of EOMs compared to the other skeletal muscles. The selected candidate will be expected to contribute to ongoing projects and will be encouraged to actively develop new lines of research in the field. This will include how specific proteins affect muscle regeneration, structural integrity and resistance to degenerative changes with the ultimate goal of generating novel therapeutic strategies for muscular dystrophies and other muscle related disorders.

The postdoctoral researcher will have the opportunity to: 

• apply their previous experience of initiating and maintaining cell cultures. A central aspect of the role will involve genetic modification of these cell lines. Building on this in vitro work, the researcher will also perform targeted genetic modification using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, enabling in vivo validation of key findings.
• apply a range of molecular techniques, including RNA and protein analysis, reporter assays, immunostaining across both cell and zebrafish models. In addition, the researcher will work with advanced microscopy to visualize muscle cell architecture and dynamics and engage in data analysis.

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, 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 fellow must have a PhD in a relevant area such as muscle biology, developmental biology, molecular biology or related discipline or equivalent. 

Additional requirements are:

-profound experience in molecular biology and preferably have technical experience from tissue dissection and cell cultures. Prior experience in zebrafish research is considered a valuable merit.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in molecular biology, including gene editing using CRISPR-Cas9, RNA and protein analysis, immunohistochemistry, cell culture techniques and imaging. Familiarity with omics data analysis, such as transcriptomics and proteomics, will be a bonus. The successful candidate must be proficient in spoken and written English, with demonstrated experience in scientific writing and publication. We are looking for someone who is collaborative, well organized and capable of contributing to ongoing projects while also developing new research directions within the lab. Personal suitability and the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary research environment is important.

Application  
The application should be written in English or Swedish, and attached documents should be in Word or PDF format. The application should be registered via Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi and submitted by the deadline 2025-07-11 and include:

1. A brief cover letter (about one page) that describes the applicant’s research experience, research interests, and suitability for the project.
2. Curriculum vitae including information about academic degrees (with verifications), technical expertise, employments, list of publications, and names and contact information for two references.
3. A short (1-2 pages, text in font size 11) research program centered on elucidating the unique resistance of the EOMs to muscle disease.

For more information, contact Professor Fatima Pedrosa Domellöf fatima.pedrosa-domellof@umu.se

The fellowship is for one year with a possibility for extension for a maximum of two years. Start date upon agreement. 

We look forward to receiving your application!