Assistant professor of Data driven Precision Medicine and Diagnostics

Together with SciLifeLab and in collaboration with the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), the university’s Faculties of Medicine and Science and Technology announce the appointment of an assistant professor. This appointment offers a unique opportunity to establish oneself as a researcher in the field of data-driven life science and includes access to a formidable package of resources.

Project description: DDLS Fellows Program

Data-driven life science (DDLS) uses data, computational methods and artificial intelligence to study biological systems and processes at all levels, from molecular structures and cellular processes to human health and global ecosystems. The SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS), coordinated by SciLifeLab, aims to recruit and train the next-generation of data-driven life scientists and to create globally leading computational and data science capabilities in Sweden. The program is funded with a total of 3.3 billion SEK (about 350 MUSD) over 12 years from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) Foundation.

The DDLS program funds 50 high-profile young group leaders (“Fellows”), over 210 postdoctoral positions and has established a research school for 260 PhDs, including industry PhDs and postdocs. Fellows are recruited to the 11 participating host universities/organizations, but brought together under the DDLS program, which has four strategic areas: cell and molecular biology, evolution and biodiversity, precision medicine and diagnostics, epidemiology and biology of infection. For more information, please see www.scilifelab.se/data-driven.

During 2022-2024, the first and second round of 39 Fellows joined and now we are looking to recruit an additional group of 11 Fellows. Each DDLS Fellow will receive a recruitment package of 17 MSEK (about 1.6 MUSD) for a 5-year period, covering their own salary and other resources, such as salaries for PhD students and postdoc positions. The Fellowships are tenure-track positions with the host organizations, which assume the responsibility for the long-term faculty appointments following a tenure evaluation.

The future of life science is data-driven. Will you be leading the change with us? Then join us in this unique program!

At Umeå University, we are looking to fill the position as DDLS fellow in Data-driven Precision Medicine and Diagnostics

Data-driven precision medicine and diagnostics cover data integration, analysis, visualization, and data interpretation for patient stratification, discovery of biomarkers for disease risks, diagnosis, drug response and monitoring of health. Precision medicine research is expected to make use of existing strong assets in Sweden and abroad, such as molecular data (e.g. omics), imaging, electronic health care records, longitudinal patient and population registries and biobanks. The applicant is expected to have a strong computational focus on innovative development and application of novel data-driven methods relying on machine learning, artificial intelligence, or other computational techniques.

Tasks

The position is aimed at researchers early in their career and the purpose of the position is for an assistant professor to be given the opportunity to develop their independence as a researcher, and to merit both scientifically and pedagogically in the subject area of data-driven precision medicine and diagnostics in order to meet the requirements for appointment as an associate professor. The position will mainly (at least 80%) be focused on obtaining scientific qualifications, with the remaining time largely devoted to obtaining teaching qualifications.

Teaching may partly take place with internet-based methods at a distance. Teaching takes place in Swedish and English.Administrative tasks may also be included.

Place of stationing is Umeå, Sweden, but work in another location may occur.

Qualification requirements

Eligible to apply for this appointment as an assistant professor is a person who has completed a PhD or has corresponding research expertise.

To be eligible for employment, the applicant must have documented ability to teach in English. Those who do not have the ability to teach in Swedish are expected to acquire this ability during the period of employment.

Assessment criteria

Because the employment is aimed at researchers early in their career, eligible to apply for this appointment as an assistant professor is a person who has completed a PhD or has the corresponding research expertise. Primary consideration should be given to a person who has completed a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise within seven years of the deadline for application for employment as an assistant professor. However, a person who has completed a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are exceptional circumstances.

Exceptional circumstances are sick leave, parental leave or other similar circumstances (Chapter 4 Section 4a of the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance).

In assessing suitability for this appointment, primary consideration shall be given to research expertise (3), pedagogical skills (2) and administrative skills (1).

General assessment criteria for teaching staff at Umeå University are that the applicant has both a good ability to collaborate and the requisite competence and suitability in general to perform the duties of the post to a high standard.

Description of the assessment criteria

In assessing research expertise, specific consideration shall be given to the originality and autonomy of research and the potential for the applicant to develop their own successful line of research within data-driven precision medicine and diagnostics, in particular regarding the use of computational tools to integrate molecular and clinical data for precision medicine and diagnostic development. Ability to integrate data, analyze, visualize and interpret data for patient stratification, discovery of diagnostic biomarkers for disease risk, drug response and monitoring of health will be assessed. Furthermore, the assessment includes the applicant's potential to contribute to building competence in machine learning, AI and other computational tools, as well as making use of existing strong assets in Sweden and abroad, such as molecular data (e.g., omics), imaging, electronic health care records, longitudinal patient and population registries, biobanks and digital monitoring data.

Postdoctoral research conducted outside the university at which the applicant completed their PhD provides a particularly useful qualification.

In assessing teaching expertise, consideration will be given to the planning, implementation and evaluation of teaching, as well as to academic supervision and examinations.

Administrative skills can be demonstrated through experience of planning first and second-cycle courses and programmes, the ability to lead and help other to develop, etc.

For this appointment, a particularly useful qualification is provided by experience of research in the field of data-driven life science, especially specialization in precision medicine and diagnostics, including the use of computational tools to integrate molecular and clinical data for precision medicine and diagnostic development, and the applicant is expected to have a research profile that fits the purpose of the appointment.

More about the appointment

Organisationally, the position in question will be affiliated to either the Faculty of Medicine or Faculty of Science and Technology. Departmental affiliation will be decided in consultation with the successful candidate, based on where their research best fits. Please feel free to state your preferred department in your application.

The position is a five-year, full-time, fixed-term appointment pursuant to Chapter 4 Section 12a of the Higher Education Ordinance, with the right to be considered for promotion to associate professor. The criteria for promotion shall be determined no later than the start of employment. An application to be considered for promotion must be submitted six months before the end of the fixed-term appointment. If, after due consideration, it is decided not to promote an assistant professor, the fixed-term appointment shall be terminated.

A teaching and research development plan shall be drawn up in conjunction with the appointment and one teaching and two research mentors shall be appointed to support the successful candidate in implementing this plan.

Application
Last application date is 15/11/2025 Instructions for the application and a list of the documents to be attached to the application can be found here.

You apply via our e-recruitment system which you can reach via the application button below. When the application is received, you will receive a confirmation email.

We welcome your application!