Postdoctoral Researcher in Perinatal Medical Research at the University of Gothenburg

The University of Gothenburg meets societal challenges with diverse knowledge. With 58,000 students and 6,800 employees, the university is a large and inspiring workplace. Strong research and attractive education attract researchers and students from all over the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University of Gothenburg contributes to a better future.

The Department of Clinical Sciences is one of six departments at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg. The department conducts research and education focused on human health and quality of life. We represent 16 different subject areas and are divided into four sections. Through enriching collaboration with healthcare and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, we have developed joint projects and meeting places that benefit both care and research.

The Department of Clinical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Sahlgrenska Academy is seeking a postdoctoral researcher for perinatal medical wet and dry lab research at the Perinatal Laboratory. The Perinatal Laboratory is a research laboratory with extensive research activities at a high international level. Here, you will have the opportunity to work in an international and transdisciplinary environment with groundbreaking research and unique datasets. The main languages are English and Swedish.

The Perinatal Laboratory and research group are led by Professor Bo Jacobsson. The research group is based at the University of Gothenburg and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo. We investigate genetic and environmental factors affecting gestational length and preterm birth. We work with unique genetic data from thousands of family trios in Norway, complemented by a comprehensive collection of medical and question-related pregnancy variables, validated environmental exposures, and a birth register with over four million pregnancies from Sweden.

Subject Description

Preterm birth and the duration of pregnancy are hereditary traits. Our group has recently published the largest GWAS meta-analysis of gestational length and preterm birth to date. As a postdoctoral researcher, you will contribute to the ongoing work of translating genetic discoveries into the lab to gain biological insights into preterm birth. Our group has begun mapping variants to specific gene variants in endometrial stromal cells (2D cell culture). The postdoctoral project will focus on modeling the genetics of gestational length in a pregnancy-like “organ-on-a-chip system,” and expanding the 2D cell culture system to a multi-cell type co-culture system that better replicates pregnancy anatomy, functions, and responses.

Job Responsibilities

The main task is to conduct high-quality research in perinatal medical research. There will be significant opportunities to expand focus within the framework of the specified projects and the researcher’s interests. The applicant is expected to contribute to other projects (from collaborators or other researchers at the Perinatal Laboratory). The researcher is expected to contribute to high-impact publications. Furthermore, the researcher is expected to perform specialized laboratory tasks related to the genetics behind gestational length and using microphysiological models. As part of this, the researcher will conduct cell co-culture analyses in organ-on-chip models, in vitro cell differentiation, as well as loss-and-gain-of-function experiments with human samples, among other cell biological techniques.

The position includes a planned research stay of at least one year at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas (USA). The purpose of the stay is to acquire and further develop techniques and skills to implement pregnancy-on-chip models. The position involves contributing to various types of important administrative work for the project leader and the entire group’s needs related to academic research, such as grant applications, writing scientific reports and project proposals, writing ethics applications, as well as co-authoring research manuscripts, including submission to the journal process and other tasks.

Contact Information for the Position

Questions about the position can be directed to Professor Bo Jacobsson via Ylva Folkesson, unit manager; email: [email protected] or Pol Solé Navais researcher; email: [email protected]

Trade Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: Union representatives (https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande)

Application/Other

Please note that this is a shortened version of the job announcement. For complete information about the position, eligibility, assessment criteria, and application, see the announcement at University of Gothenburg job openings (https://www.gu.se/omuniversitetet/aktuellt/lediga-jobb)

Applications must be received by: 2026-02-22

The university actively works for a work environment with equal conditions and values the qualities that diversity brings to the organization.

The university applies individual salary setting.

According to the National Archives' regulations, the university is obliged to store application documents for two years after the appointment decision. If you as an applicant specifically request the return of your documents, they will be returned after the two years have passed; otherwise, they will be discarded.

To staffing and recruitment companies and to you as a seller: The University of Gothenburg employs a contracted advertising agency in connection with the recruitment of staff. We kindly but firmly request no direct contact with staffing and recruitment companies or sellers of job advertisements.