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

Description:

Postdoctoral Researcher (2 years) in Cell Wall Dynamics and Mechanochemical Signaling The Department of Physiological Botany (Umeå University, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Sweden) welcomes applications for a postdoctoral position in cell wall dynamics and mechanochemical signaling. Expected start date is September 2026 or by agreement. Project Description and Responsibilities We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to participate in the DYNAMO project ("Dynamics of Mechanochemical Signals in Plant Cell Walls") at the Plant Cell Wall Dynamics Lab, led by Assistant 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 responses. The successful candidate will focus on determining whether wall state signals propagate between tissues, and how this propagation relates to active sensing rather than passive mechanical spreading. 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 these perturbations generate. The work will be 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 a fixed-term postdoctoral employment agreement, a doctoral degree or foreign degree assessed as equivalent to a doctoral degree is required. This qualification requirement must be met by the time the employment decision is made. For postdoctoral employment, preference will be given to those who completed their degree within the past three years. If there are special circumstances, those who completed their doctoral degree earlier may be considered. Special circumstances include leave due to illness, parental leave, positions of trust within trade union organizations, military service, or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical work or work/assignments relevant to the field. The doctoral degree should be in plant biology, biotechnology, biophysics, or a related field. For this position, we seek 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 with biochemical characterization of cell wall proteins, including enzymatic activity assays (e.g., methyl esterase or acetyl esterase assays). Solid competence in molecular and cell biological techniques, including cloning (e.g., GoldenGate or Gateway), plant transformation, and reporter line strategies. Experience with protein expression and purification and/or optogenetics, particularly applied to regulating enzymes for 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. Merit Criteria We do not expect the selected candidate to be proficient in all of the following from the start, but they should be eager to learn the required techniques. The following are considered merits: Experience with different model plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana. Familiarity with signaling pathways linked 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 seek a good team player who can also work independently when required. We would like you to: Be able to organize and structure your work. Deliver results according to agreed-upon commitments. Be proactive and take own initiatives. Be willing to share your knowledge with interns and junior members of the research group. About the Position The employment is full-time for two years, with the possibility of extension for a maximum of one additional year depending on project progress. Salary and employment terms are set according to 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. Employment begins in September 2026 or by agreement. Application You apply through our recruitment system Varbi no later than July 31, 2026. Documents should be submitted electronically in MS Word or PDF format via the recruitment system. The application should be written in English (preferred) or Swedish and must include: Cover letter (maximum 2 pages). Brief research description (1 page) where you discuss your research interests, for example when you first became interested in the field, what knowledge you have acquired so far, which research questions you find most important, and what your long-term career goals are. CV with complete list of publications. Certified copies of degree certificates and diplomas from higher education. Copy of publications (if any) and doctoral dissertation. Contact If you have questions about the position, please contact Laura Bacete ([email protected]). Please direct your questions in English. The Department of Physiological Botany values the qualities that gender balance brings to the department, and therefore we particularly encourage women to apply for this position. We look forward to receiving your application!Postdoctoral Researcher (2 years) in Cell Wall Dynamics and Mechanochemical Signaling The Department of Physiological Botany (Umeå University, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Sweden) welcomes applications for a postdoctoral position in cell wall dynamics and mechanochemical signaling. Expected start date is September 2026 or by agreement. Project Description and Responsibilities We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to participate in the DYNAMO project ("Dynamics of Mechanochemical Signals in Plant Cell Walls") at the Plant Cell Wall Dynamics Lab, led by Assistant Professor Laura…

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Type

job

Status

active

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public

City

Umeå

Address

Umeå universitet

GPS

63.7970413, 20.2816791copyopen in

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3

Published

10. 6. 2026

Edited

30. 7. 2026

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