Postdoctoral Researcher in Microbiology

University of Gothenburg meets society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 58,000 students and 6,800 employees make the university a large and inspiring workplace. Strong research and attractive education programs attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University of Gothenburg contributes to a better future. See full job announcement at: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-anstallningar. Subject Microbiology Subject Description The gut microbiota contains approximately 1,000 times more genes than the human genome and constitutes a complex ecosystem that affects the host's physiology through the production of bioactive metabolites. Despite major advances in microbiome research, it remains largely unknown how individual bacterial species and genetic variation between different bacterial strains contribute to microbiota function and the development of metabolic diseases. This project aims to identify and characterize bacterial species and strains within the families Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae, with particular focus on the genus Faecalibacterium, one of the most prevalent and functionally important bacterial groups in the healthy human gut microbiota. Duties The successful candidate will investigate the functional diversity of Faecalibacterium and its interactions with other gut bacteria through an integrated experimental and bioinformatic approach. The project combines comparative genomic and bioinformatic analyses to examine how genetic variation at the strain level affects bacterial metabolism and functional properties with physiological characterization of bacterial growth, substrate utilization, and production of bioactive metabolites under defined anaerobic culture conditions. Based on our observations that the presence of Faecalibacterium is associated with increased stability in the intestinal microbial community, likely through interactions with bacteria within the families Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae, the candidate will also isolate and characterize new bacterial strains from fecal samples from healthy donors. These isolates will be used in experimental models to study microbial interactions, cross-feeding, and their significance for host metabolism. The project integrates clinical cohorts, large-scale genomic analyses, anaerobic bacterial culture, metabolomics, and experimental model systems to identify microbial mechanisms and bioactive metabolites that contribute to metabolic health and that may form the basis for future microbiome-based treatments of cardiometabolic diseases. Qualifications Eligible for employment as a postdoctoral researcher is a person who holds a doctoral degree in a relevant subject area, or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirement must be met at the latest when the employment decision is made. First priority should be given to applicants who completed their degree at most three years before the application deadline. Those who completed their degree earlier should also be considered if there are special reasons. Evaluation Criteria Documented experience in preparation, optimization, and development of culture media for strictly anaerobic human gut bacteria, including YCFA medium with fatty acids, as well as cultivation and isolation of strictly anaerobic gut bacteria under anaerobic conditions, particularly using Coy chambers or equivalent anaerobic culture systems, is a requirement. Documented experience in genomics-based phylogenetic identification and functional characterization of bacterial species and strains, including analyses using tools such as Protologger, phylogenetic analysis and reconstruction of phylogenetic trees, ANI, dDDH, and functional genome annotation with Prokka and COGs/EggNOG, is also a requirement. Furthermore, experience with programming and statistical data analysis in R is required, along with very good ability to express oneself verbally and in writing in English. Experience with isolation, cultivation, and physiological characterization of human gut commensals belonging to the families Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae, particularly butyrate-producing and/or fiber-degrading bacteria, is highly meritorious. Experience working with fecal cultures from human samples, including selective or enrichment-based isolation strategies under strictly anaerobic conditions, is also meritorious. Additional merit will be given to experience studying bacterial metabolism of dietary components, including dietary fibers, complex carbohydrates, or other diet-related substrates. Experience with physiological and functional characterization of strictly anaerobic gut bacteria is meritorious, as is experience using API kits or other phenotypic methods for bacterial characterization, particularly Faecalibacterium and related human gut anaerobes. International research experience, for example through doctoral training or postdoctoral research abroad, is also meritorious. Great importance will be placed on the applicant's ability to collaborate and interact effectively with researchers and clinicians in an interdisciplinary research environment. Great importance will also be placed on personal suitability, including the ability to take initiative, work independently, demonstrate flexibility, and have good analytical and problem-solving skills. Employment Type of Employment: Fixed-term position, 36 months. Scope: 100% Placement: Department of Medicine, Gothenburg. Start Date: November 1, 2026, or by agreement. Contact Information for the Position Fredrik Bäckhed Professor 0702182355 [email protected] Malin Levin Department Head [email protected] Application You apply for the position via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal on the website: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-anstallningar. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete in accordance with the announcement and that it is received by the university by the final application deadline. Attach your doctoral degree certificate with your application. If the degree certificate has not yet been issued, it must be submitted at the latest when the employment decision is to be made. The applicant must attach a personal letter with a brief description of previous experience with anaerobic culture, isolation, and characterization of human gut bacteria as well as bioinformatic/genome-based analysis. Applications must be received by: September 7, 2026

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