Research Position in Diagnostic Microbiology

The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology is divided into seven research programs focusing on various areas within cell and molecular biology: computational biology and bioinformatics, microbiology, molecular biology, molecular biophysics, molecular evolution, molecular systems biology, and structural biology.

The scientific foundation for what we do lies within biology, but our research overlaps with other fields such as medicine, computer science, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, and physics. The department has over 200 employees with around 60 doctoral students. Please read more about the organization's work at https://icm.uu.se (https://icm.uu.se).

The ELF lab (https://www.uu.se/institution/cell-och-molekylarbiologi/forskning/molekylar-systembiologi/elf-labb) works across the boundaries of traditional research fields to investigate life at the molecular level. We build physical models of central biological processes and develop various measurement methods to test these models in living cells. The current project focuses on the structure-function relationship of the bacterial chromosome. How bacteria organize their DNA and how structure affects gene expression are still relatively open questions in biology. We study the structure using various innovative methods, including time-resolved single-cell Hi-C where we use a combinatorial indexing method to create cell-specific barcodes for cross-linked DNA fragments. Based on these barcodes, we can create Hi-C profiles for cells at different stages of the cell cycle.

Job Responsibilities
As a researcher in diagnostic microbiology, you will develop and optimize the method for single-cell Hi-C and related techniques. You will perform experiments to map chromosome structure during different cell cycle stages and analyze large-scale sequencing data to generate phase-specific interaction profiles. The work also includes modeling chromosome segregation based on the data generated by the experiments. You will collaborate with researchers in microscopy, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, but are expected to drive the project independently and contribute to manuscript writing and dissemination of research results.

Qualifications
You should have a PhD in Life Science or equivalent and good knowledge in microbiology, microbial genetics, modeling of biological processes, as well as physics and data analysis. Experience in using and developing Hi-C methods for bacteria, including bioinformatics Hi-C analysis, is a requirement. You should have good laboratory experience and master molecular biological methods, particularly DNA/RNA handling, sequencing, and strain library construction, but also be competent in analyzing the results. You should be proficient in programming languages Python and Matlab and have experience in modeling biological processes with OpenMM and PyMOL or similar tools. You should have a creative and self-motivated personality and an interest in basic research and method development. Since the project requires collaboration with other researchers in the group, you should have good social skills and be able to communicate fluently in English.

Desirable/meritorious
Experience with AI-based analysis methods is meritorious.

About the Position
The position is permanent. The scope is full-time. Start date 2026-04-01 or by agreement. Location: Uppsala.

For inquiries about the position, please contact: Irmeli Barkefors, +46 18 471 668, [email protected]

Welcome with your application by December 26, 2025, UFV-PA 2025/3751.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international standing. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of the most exciting workplaces in the country.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/ (https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/)

The position may be subject to security clearance. A prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved during the security clearance.

We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising assistance.

Applications are received in Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Union representatives: Saco-S - [email protected], Seko - [email protected], ST (OFR/S) - [email protected]