Postdoctoral Researcher in Public Health with Focus on Bioinformatics

Karlstads Universitet · Vollzeit

Universitetsgatan 2, Karlstad, Schweden

Description Public Health is part of the Department of Health Sciences at the Faculty of Health, Science and Technology at Karlstad University. Within the subject, research and education are conducted with a focus on children's life and health across three medical tracks; an environmental medicine track focusing on environmental factors early in life and their significance for children's health and development, a public health medicine track focusing on vulnerable children, intimate partner violence and health-promoting environments, and a track in medical science encompassing anatomy, physiology and pathology, among others. Of significance for the current position is the SELMA study, a pregnancy cohort following more than 2,000 mother-child pairs from early pregnancy, through childbirth and into school age with focus on environmental factors, genetics/epigenetics and children's health and development. Our research within SELMA is conducted in close collaboration with world-leading institutions in Sweden, Europe and the USA, where we link our epidemiological studies with experimental investigations in cell and animal models for increased molecular understanding and improved risk assessment systems for hazardous chemicals. The research is funded by research councils nationally (Vetenskapsrådet, Formas) and within the EU and National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the USA. Work Tasks The position is central to two projects within the SELMA study. The first project is a large EU project, RE-MEND, where together with 15 international partners we investigate protective and resilience factors affecting mental health during endocrine-sensitive life stages. In the second project, Epi-Clock, we investigate whether the prenatal environment can affect epigenetic clocks in children and further examine whether such changes in the epigenetic clock are associated with children's neurodevelopment. Karlstad University's role in the projects is to analyze and interpret data collected from the SELMA cohort based on biological questions. In your position as a postdoctoral researcher, you will have a key role in establishing analytical pipelines based on relevant SELMA data, conducting close collaboration with physicians and other experts required to interpret the results, and establishing new research projects based on the SELMA project and other cohorts. Qualifications You are eligible for employment if you hold a doctoral degree in bioinformatics or another related subject. You may also hold a foreign degree assessed as equivalent to a Swedish doctoral degree. The doctoral degree must be issued before the employment decision is made and no more than three years before the application deadline. Older degrees may be considered when special circumstances exist, such as leave due to illness, parental leave, clinical service, positions of trust within trade union organizations, service within total defense or other similar circumstances or subject-relevant service/assignments. You have practical experience in computational biology with a focus on statistical analysis of large clinical datasets and solid experience with several omics technologies and their analysis and integration. You have experience with DNA methylation using both array and sequencing techniques as well as DNA sequence analysis. Good knowledge of English, both spoken and written, is required as the work is conducted in an international research environment. Assessment Criteria The applicant's scientific and technical skill will be assessed based on scientific publications, documented experience from research projects and contributions to open source projects, such as a GitHub portfolio. Of Particular Importance Strong ability to independently plan, conduct and develop bioinformatic analyses of large clinical datasets including DNA methylation with a focus on predictive modeling, programming, development of reproducible bioinformatic workflows, and knowledge of molecular biological tools and sequencing techniques. Experience and proficiency in at least one programming language (preferably R or Python), good knowledge of data cleaning, visualization (e.g. pandas, matplotlib, ggplot, plotly) and scripting languages in a Linux environment (Bash). Good practical skills in statistical analysis (dimensionality reduction, clustering, hypothesis testing, batch effect correction, FDR control) and previous practical experience with predictive modeling and machine learning. Since data from the SELMA study will be compared with data within the RE-MEND project, experience is also required in working with data generated through Oxford Nanopore sequencing. Experience with methods and tools that contribute to reproducible research and high code quality, for example version control, workflow systems, containerization and structured documentation. Of Great Importance Strong ability to communicate research results and complex questions in a clear and pedagogical manner to different audiences. Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary research environments. Ability to independently plan, prioritize and drive work tasks forward with good judgment, responsibility and commitment to the work. A positive and professional approach to colleagues, students and collaborators. Good analytical ability and a structured and meticulous work style. Meritorious Basic understanding of human physiology and molecular biology. Experience with multidisciplinary collaborations with clinically active professionals, for example physicians. Experience with national or international research networks and collaborations. Documented experience in teaching and pedagogical development. Completed higher education pedagogy training. Terms The position is a fixed-term full-time postdoctoral appointment for 2 years with possible extension for 1 year, starting in November 2026 or by agreement. Application Applications are submitted via the university's web-based recruitment tool Varbi. Read the full announcement here: https://www.kau.se/jobba-hos-oss/jobb/lediga-anstallningar