Postdoctoral in Pluripotent Stem Cell Models of Human Development

About this position

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Institute of Biomedicine is involved in both research and education. In both of these areas, we focus on fundamental knowledge of the living cell – what it consists of, how it works, how its function is directed by the genetic material, and how it interacts with various kinds of micro-organisms. Using this knowledge, we try to elucidate the causes of diseases, and find new ways to diagnose and treat them.

The Institute is composed of the following four departments:

• The Department of Infectious Diseases

• The Department of Microbiology and Immunology

• The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology

• The Department of Laboratory Medicine

At present, the institute has about 315 employees and approximately 450 million SEK in total assets.

The Guibentif lab is looking to recruit a post-doctoral fellow. We are a European Research Council-funded lab, applying single-cell profiling towards establishing novel pluripotent stem cell-based platforms for the study of human embryonic development and disease.

We are affiliated to the University of Gothenburg (GU), one of the largest universities in Northern Europe. Given our affiliation to the Institute of Biomedicine and to the Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, we are part of a supportive interdisciplinary environment, comprising basic developmental biologists as well as clinical scientists.

The Institute of Biomedicine is involved in both research and education. In both of these areas, we focus on fundamental knowledge of the living cell – what it consists of, how it works, how its function is directed by the genetic material, and how it interacts with various kinds of micro-organisms. Using this knowledge, we try to elucidate the causes of diseases, and find new ways to diagnose and treat them.

The Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research is a joint venture between the GU Faculty of Medicine and the Sahlgrenska University Hospital focused on cancer translational research.

Subject area

Pluripotent Stem Cell Models of Human Development

Subject area description

The overall goal of this project is to bridge current in vitro models of human embryonic development with the latest progress in developmental hematopoiesis studied in vivo. This will lead to new platforms to study molecular mechanisms of embryonic development.

We harness single-cell genomics and advanced experimental models to determine to what extent in vitro stem cell systems mimic the variety of molecular programmes underlying the emergence of hematopoietic cells at multiple anatomical locations and timepoints in the developing embryo.

Duties

The selected candidate will be expected to work in a cross-disciplinary team, and to establish proteomics and single-cell profiling analysis workflows to dissect developmental processes modelled in stem cell differentiation cultures.

Therefore, we seek a candidate capable of working as part of a diverse team, with an interest in studying molecular drivers of mammalian embryonic development as well as prior experience in aseptic cell culture techniques and molecular biology. We seek a candidate eager to work with others, and to develop leadership and teaching skills by participating in the supervision of junior colleagues. The selected candidate will also be expected to contribute to manuscript writing and will be expected to present their work regularly at group and department meetings.

Prior hands-on experience in chromatin immunoprecipitation, next-generation sequencing library preparation, and/or droplet-based single-cell profiling techniques will be an advantage. Applicants having demonstrated skills in proteomics, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, flow cytometry data analysis, or computational skills in next-generation sequencing data analysis will also be considered.

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts at the University of Gothenburg.

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree, a doctoral degree in art or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made.

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.

Assessment criteria

The candidate selection will be based on the cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, interview and contact with references.

See the selection criteria below, in decreasing order of importance:

1 – Expertise in developmental biology, stem cells and/or single-cell profiling techniques

2 – Communication and team work skills

3 – Hands-on experience in chromatin immunoprecipitation, next-generation sequencing library preparation, and/or droplet-based single-cell profiling techniques

4 – Demonstrated skills in human pluripotent stem cell culture and differentiation, proteomics, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, flow cytometry data analysis, and/or computational analysis of next-generation se