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University of Gothenburg meets society's 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 Neuroscience and Physiology is now seeking a postdoctoral researcher to be based at the Section of Pharmacology.

The position is linked to a research project within the research group Molecular Neuroscience and Pharmacology, led by Francesco Longo. The research group focuses on the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric conditions.

Current projects investigate dysfunction associated with the basal ganglia, with a particular focus on corticostriatal and dopaminergic circuits and their contribution to repetitive behaviors, behavioral rigidity, and obsessive-like phenotypes in Fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorders.

The successful candidate will work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment with opportunities for interaction with both preclinical and translational neuroscience researchers within and outside the department.

Subject

Pharmacology with specialization in neuropsychiatric conditions

Subject Description

In the field of neuropsychiatric conditions, pharmacology aims to understand how changes in brain development, synaptic function, and activity in neural circuits contribute to behavioral and cognitive impairments, as well as how these mechanisms can be targeted therapeutically. The research area is highly interdisciplinary, integrating neuroscience, molecular biology, physiology, and translational medicine to develop new treatment strategies for conditions such as autism spectrum disorders and Fragile X syndrome.

Responsibilities

The appointed researcher will conduct research within an interdisciplinary project, focusing on the molecular and circuit mechanisms underlying Fragile X syndrome and related neuropsychiatric conditions. The employee will combine spatial transcriptomics, metabolic profiling, molecular and histological techniques, behavioral tests, and imaging methods to investigate dysfunction in the autophagy-lysosome pathway and its impact on neuronal signaling and synaptic function.

The employee is expected to contribute to experimental design, data analysis, manuscript writing, and dissemination of research results. The work also includes active participation in lab meetings, supervision of students, and research collaborations within an interdisciplinary neuroscience environment.

Qualifications

Eligibility for appointment as a teacher is regulated in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and the University of Gothenburg's employment regulations.

Eligible for appointment as a postdoctoral researcher is someone who has completed a doctoral degree, an artistic doctoral degree, or has a foreign degree assessed as equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than at the time the employment decision is made.

Priority should be given to those who have completed their degree no more than three years before the application deadline. Those who completed their degree earlier may also be considered if there are special reasons. Special reasons include leave due to illness, parental leave, trust-based positions within trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service relevant to the subject area.

Eligible for appointment as a postdoctoral researcher for this position is someone who holds a doctoral degree in physiology or medical science.

Assessment Criteria

Eligibility for the position requires documented experience in experimental laboratory work, including in vivo models as well as molecular and histological techniques, as well as experience in studying cellular and tissue-level mechanisms behind disease-related phenotypes. Very good knowledge of English, both spoken and written, is required.

Experience with cellular autophagy and metabolism is considered an asset. Furthermore, practical experience with molecular biological techniques such as histology, spatial transcriptomics, and Western blotting, as well as in vivo experimental models, is desirable. Additional assets include experience with advanced data analysis, including gene expression profiling or other large-scale omics methods. Previous experience in interdisciplinary and international research environments will be considered a significant advantage. We place great emphasis on personal suitability.

Employment

The position is a fixed-term appointment for 2 years, 100% of full-time, with placement indefinitely at the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology. Start date: ASAP or as agreed.

Contact Information for the Position

If you have questions about the position, you are welcome to contact researcher/project leader Francesco Longo, tel: +46 768 792 134, email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

The responsible manager is Professor/Section Head Michael Winder, tel: +46 31 786 34 77, email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

Application documents are not sent to the contact persons.

Trade Unions

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

Application

You apply for the position via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by registering your application electronically via the website: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-anstallningar (https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-anstallningar)

As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is available to the university no later than the last application day.

A certificate of doctoral degree must be attached to the application.

Application deadline: 2026-06-11