Postdoctoral scholarship (two years) in physicochemical characterization of bacterial adhesion
The Department of Physics at Umeå University invites applications for a full-time, two-year postdoctoral scholarship focused on the physicochemical characterization of bacterial adhesion. The intended start date is 1 June 2024, although there is flexibility to begin at a mutually agreed upon date. The scholarship is for two years and is financed by the Carl Trygger Foundation. The scholarship amounts to 336 000 SEK per year, and is tax-free.
Project Description
The World Health Organization has identified Acinetobacter baumannii as the foremost critical priority pathogen due to its association with a variety of hospital-acquired infections like bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and meningitis, all of which have a high mortality rate. The pathogen's resistance to carbapenems—antibiotics of last resort—along with its ability to form protective biofilms and withstand desiccation and disinfectants, presents significant challenges in healthcare environments. Its capacity to adhere to diverse surfaces through "sticky" fibers facilitates its persistence and transmission, yet there remains a substantial lack of understanding regarding the mechanisms of its adhesion and biofilm formation.
Our project is dedicated to deepening the understanding of bacterial adhesion by employing advanced experimental techniques such as optical tweezers force spectroscopy, microfluidics, and vibrational spectroscopy. We will concentrate on exploring the biophysical aspects of adhesion fibers, the connections between cells, and the stability of biofilms, aiming to unveil new insights into the complex behaviors of this formidable pathogen.
Qualifications
To qualify as a postdoctoral scholarship holder, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirement must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the decision about the scholarship recipient.
Priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior to the decision date for the scholarship recipient. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.
Fluency in English is required and highly desirable qualifications include:
Expertise in force measurement techniques, specifically optical tweezers or Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and experience in bacterial adhesion studies.
Proficiency in Raman spectroscopy or other vibrational spectroscopy methods.
A proven track record of conducting independent research and publishing in reputable scientific journals.
Technical skills in computer programming (Python and/or Matlab) and experience with molecular dynamics simulations are also highly valued.
The candidate should be highly motivated and responsible, have good social skills, and should be passionate about positive development both as an individual scientist and within the Biophysics and Biophotonics group. More information about the group’s research activity is found here.
Application
A full application should include:
Cover letter stating your motivations for applying and summarizing your qualifications for the position, your previous research experience as well as your experience in the area mentioned above (max. one page),
Curriculum vitae (CV) with publication list,
Tentative project plan and research objectives for this project (max. one page)
Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained,
Verified copies of other diplomas, list of completed academic courses and grades,
Copy of doctoral thesis and up to three relevant articles,
Other documents that the applicant wishes to claim,
Contact information to two persons willing to act as references.
Submit your application as a PDF marked with the reference number FS 2.1.6-726-24, both in the file name and in the subject field of the email, to medel@diarie.umu.se. The application can be written in English (preferably) or Swedish. The application deadline is 2 May 2024.
