PhD Student in Plant Biology

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Project Description and Responsibilities We are seeking a motivated PhD student for the Plant Cell Wall Dynamics laboratory, led by University Lecturer Laura Bacete. The successful candidate will investigate how physical and chemical changes in the plant cell wall are perceived and converted into signals that regulate growth, differentiation, and stress responses. For this purpose, the PhD student will combine Brillouin microscopy, live-cell biosensors, optogenetic tools, and targeted genetic methods in Arabidopsis thaliana to characterize mechanochemical signatures and map these to early outcomes of cell wall integrity (CWI). The PhD project is embedded in a broader, collaboration-oriented research environment. The PhD student will work closely with experts in optical microscopy, plant defense, and synthetic biology, and will benefit from the extensive infrastructure and scientific community at Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC). Participation in national and international collaborations is expected and actively supported. Eligibility Basic eligibility is held by those who have completed a degree at an advanced level, completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at an advanced level, or in some other way within or outside the country acquired essentially equivalent knowledge. The Faculty Board may make exceptions to the requirement of basic eligibility for an individual applicant if there are special reasons. (HF 7 kap 39 §) To meet the requirement of special eligibility for admission to doctoral-level education in plant biology, the applicant must have completed course requirements of at least 90 higher education credits at an advanced level in biology, or other subjects relevant to the research area, such as chemistry, physics, or computer science. Of these, at least 15 higher education credits must be from courses with direct relevance to the research project, and at least 15 higher education credits from an individual project work. Good knowledge of English, both written and oral, is also a requirement. The above prior knowledge requirements are considered fulfilled even by those who in another manner have acquired essentially equivalent knowledge. Qualifications Required For this position, we are seeking a person with a strong interest in plant molecular biology and live-cell imaging, and who is enthusiastic about developing new experimental approaches. We expect you to have an academic background in plant biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, or a closely related field. The following qualifications are required: Documented experience with advanced microscopy, preferably Brillouin microscopy or an equivalent quantitative optics-based technique. Solid background in plant cell and molecular biology, including competence in standardized molecular and cell biological techniques. Experience working with Arabidopsis thaliana or a comparable plant model system. Very good knowledge of English in speech and writing. Meritorious The following qualifications are not required at the start of employment, but candidates who possess one or more of them will be assessed favorably. We do not expect the selected candidate to be proficient in all of these from the beginning; however, he or she should be willing and eager to acquire relevant techniques during doctoral studies. Solid practical knowledge of cell wall integrity signaling in plants. Experience with RNA isolation from various organisms and knowledge of downstream transcriptomic methods (e.g., RNA sequencing, RT-qPCR). Experience with fluorescence imaging of live cells, including confocal microscopy and use of genetically encoded biosensors (e.g., Ca²⁺ reporters, pH sensors). Knowledge of plant immune responses, particularly pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and its connection to cell wall remodeling. Experience with cell wall biochemistry, including immunolabeling with monoclonal antibodies and/or fluorescent probes targeting pectin or other wall polysaccharides. Experience with protein expression, purification, and/or optogenetics. Knowledge of computational biology, biological modeling, and/or biostatistics. Participation in science communication and outreach activities. On a personal level, we are seeking a person who can work independently when required and who also contributes effectively to a team. We further expect you to: Be able to organize and structure your own work. Deliver results according to agreements made. Be proactive and take your own initiative. About the Position The position aims toward a doctoral degree, and the PhD student's primary task is to dedicate themselves to their doctoral education, which includes both participation in the research project described above and participation in doctoral-level courses. Teaching and other departmental work (maximum 20%) may be included in the responsibilities. The position is limited to four years full-time or up to five years with part-time teaching. Salary placement will be made according to the established salary scale for PhD student positions. Employment starts in September 2026 or by agreement. Application You apply through our recruitment system Varbi no later than July 31, 2026. Your application should be written in English (preferably) or Swedish and should contain: A cover letter in which you explain why you are applying for this position and how your background and skills align with the project (maximum 1 page). A research statement in which you discuss the scientific questions you find most important within plant cell wall biology, how you have worked with or thought about them, and where you want to take your research in the long term (maximum 1 page). Curriculum vitae. Copies of diplomas and a list of completed university courses with grades. Copy of publications (if any) or thesis work. Contact information for 2-3 references (can also be provided later during the recruitment process). Any other documents the applicant wishes to submit. Contact If you have questions about the position, please contact Laura Bacete ([email protected]). Please direct your questions in English.Project Description and Responsibilities We are seeking a motivated PhD student for the Plant Cell Wall Dynamics laboratory, led by University Lecturer Laura Bacete. The successful candidate will investigate how physical and chemical changes in the plant cell wall are perceived and converted into signals that regulate growth, differentiation, and stress responses. For this purpose, the PhD student will combine Brillouin microscopy, live-cell biosensors, optogenetic tools, and targeted genetic methods in Arabidopsis thaliana to characterize mechanochemical signatures and map these to early…

Přehled

Typ

job

Stav

active

Viditelnost

public

Město

Umeå

Adresa

Umeå universitet

GPS

63.7970413, 20.2816791kopírovatotevřít v ▾

Email

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Telefon

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Zobrazení

3

Publikováno

12. 6. 2026

Upraveno

30. 7. 2026

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