Vacant job

Postdoctoral Researcher (2 years) in Cell Wall Dynamics and Mechanochemical Signaling

The Department of Physiological Botany (Umeå University, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Sweden) invites applications for a postdoctoral position in cell wall dynamics and mechanochemical signaling. The expected start date is September 2026 or according to agreement.

Project Description and Responsibilities

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the DYNAMO project ("Dynamics of Mechanochemical Signals in Plant Cell Walls") at the Plant Cell Wall Dynamics Lab, led by Associate Professor Laura Bacete. The project is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (Emerging Investigator 2026 in Plant Science, Agriculture and Food Biotechnology). The project investigates how plants perceive and interpret the physical and chemical state of their cell walls, and how these state signals regulate growth, differentiation, and stress response. The successful candidate will focus on determining whether wall states propagate between tissues, and how this propagation is linked to active sensing rather than passive mechanical spread. Optogenetic and inducible genetic tools will be used to generate defined perturbations of pectin remodeling, and Brillouin microscopy combined with live-cell signal reporters will be used to characterize the tissue-level response generated by these perturbations. The work is performed in Arabidopsis thaliana, with selected conditions validated in hybrid aspen, in close collaboration with experts in optical microscopy, plant defense, and synthetic biology.

Qualifications and Requirements

To be employed under the agreement for fixed-term employment as a postdoctoral researcher, a completed doctoral degree or a foreign degree assessed as equivalent to a doctoral degree is required. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than at the time the employment decision is made.

To be employed under the postdoctoral agreement, priority should be given to those who have completed the degree mentioned in the previous paragraph no more than three years ago. If there are special reasons, those who completed their doctoral degree earlier may also be considered. Special reasons include leave due to illness, parental leave, trust positions within trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

The doctoral degree should be in plant biology, biotechnology, biophysics, or a related field.

For this position, we are looking for a person with a strong interest in plant biology and enthusiasm for developing new experimental approaches.

• Documented expertise in plant cell wall biology, including knowledge of cell wall composition, remodeling enzymes, and their regulation.
• Practical experience in biochemical characterization of cell wall proteins, including enzymatic activity assays (e.g., methyl esterase or acetyl esterase assays).
• Extensive competence in molecular and cell biological techniques, including cloning (e.g., GoldenGate or Gateway), plant transformation, and reporter line strategies.
• Experience in protein expression and purification and/or optogenetics, particularly applied to the regulation of enzymes involved in cell wall synthesis or remodeling.
• Experience with confocal microscopy and quantitative image analysis in plant systems.
• Very good proficiency in English, both spoken and written.

Merits

We do not expect the selected candidate to be knowledgeable in all of the following from the start, but the candidate should be eager to learn the required techniques. The following are considered meritorious:

• Experience with different model plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana.
• Knowledge of signaling pathways related to cell wall integrity, including receptor-like kinase networks or associated downstream cascades.
• Knowledge in computational biology, biological modeling, and/or biostatistics.
• Participation in science communication and outreach activities.

On a personal level, we are looking for a good team player who can also work independently when required. We want you to:

• Be able to organize and structure your work.
• Deliver results according to agreed terms.
• Be proactive and take initiative.
• Be willing to share your knowledge with interns and junior members of the research group.

About the Position

The position is full-time for two years, with the possibility of extension for a maximum of one year depending on the project's progress. Salary and terms of employment are determined in accordance with Umeå University's collective agreement. The appointed researcher will receive full support from the PI to develop their own research profile, write grant applications, and follow an individual merit plan developed together with the PI. The position starts in September 2026 or according to agreement.

Application

You apply via our recruitment system Varbi no later than July 31, 2026. Documents should be sent electronically, in MS Word or PDF format, via the recruitment system. The application should be written in English (preferred) or Swedish and should include:

• Cover letter (max 2 pages).
• Short research description (1 page) where you discuss your research interests, e.g., when you first became interested in the field, what knowledge you have acquired so far, what research questions you find most urgent, and what your long-term career goals are.
• CV with a complete publication list.
• Verified copies of degree certificates and certificates from higher education.
• Copy of publications (if any) and doctoral thesis.

Contact

If you have questions about the position, please contact Laura Bacete ([email protected]). Please ask your questions in English.

The Department of Physiological Botany values the qualities that an equal gender distribution brings to the department, and therefore we especially encourage women to apply for the position.

We look forward to your application!