Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 41,500 students and about 4,600 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.
The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.
The Department of Plant Physiology seeks a Senior Staff Scientist. The position is full-time and permanent with starting date during September 2026, or according to agreement. A probationary period of up to 6 months may be applied.
The Department of Plant Physiology is one part of Umeå Plant Science Centre, which has more than 200 employees and 35 research groups ( www.upsc.se). Umeå Plant Science Centre is one of the leading centres for experimental plant science in Europe. Research at UPSC covers a wide range of disciplines in plant biology, including ecology, computational biology, genetics, physiology, biochemistry, cell biology, and molecular biology.
Description and tasks
The bioinformatic support group of UPSC (UPSCb) supports researchers at UPSC with bioinformatic analysis, and interpreting large datasets from metabolomic, proteomic, or genomic experiments. The goal is to get maximum information from the datasets in collaboration with the individual researchers. The projects can be small (e.g. mRNA sequencing) and take a few hours to complete or very extensive, spanning over several years. The group currently consists of five staff scientists, all of whom have a PhD in Bioinformatics or a related discipline.
Your role as a Senior Staff Scientist will be to lead and develop the UPSCb support group. You will be responsible for the professional development of the group and the individuals in your team, both as bioinformaticians and as coworkers. You will have strategic responsibility for the platform, so it is important to closely follow the field's development.
The department is also hosting other similar groups that support researchers from other departments, as well as a large group of bioinformatics researchers and PhD students. Together with the research groups, about 30 biotechnicians work at the center. Your role will also be to coordinate local bioinformatics seminars and workshops in cooperation with Nathaniel Street, Professor in Plant Bioinformatics.
Qualification requirements
For employment as a Senior Staff Scientist, a doctoral degree is required in bioinformatics or a similar research field of relevance for the position. Solid knowledge and extensive experience within bioinformatics are also required, as well as excellent knowledge of underlying theories and principles, and specific competence linked to the development and application of advanced methods within bioinformatics.
For employment as a Senior Staff Scientist it is also required:
Experience of advanced leadership/coordination work with research infrastructure, such as work management, budget work, coordination, collaboration, reporting and grant applications/funding work.
Experience of advanced work duties involving the development and application of advanced methods within areas of relevance to the position.
You must be used to supporting researchers in their need for computer analysis and to ensure the scientific reproducibility of their projects, including data management. You must also have good collaboration skills, as the job is based on interaction between the support group and biologists. It’s important that you can explain bioinformatics to non-specialists so that they understand. As our research generates more and more data, it’s a merit to have experience across the whole data lifecycle.
UPSC is a very international environment (with more than 40 nationalities represented), and English is the working language. Therefore, very good English communication skills (oral and written) are required.
The following would also be advantageous for employment as a Senior Staff Scientist, e.g.:
Experience of establishing, developing and operating research infrastructure.
Scientific production and contributions to the development of the scientific field, for example through publications in highly respected scientific journals that apply peer review.
Experience of developing and carrying out teaching, such as courses, lectures, workshops and demonstrations at different educational levels for different target groups.
Experience of outreach activities, such as participating in and giving presentations at conferences, producing scientific reports and presentations, participating in national or international networks, or popular science activities.
Experience of work environment issues.
Ability to communicate in writing and verbally in Swedish.
Application
Apply via our e-recruitment system Varbi no later than 15 June, 2026. Your application must include:
A personal letter explaining why you are interested in the position (max 2 pages).
A CV detailing your academic education and previous employment.
List of publications.
Doctoral degree certificate.
Other relevant documentation that you wish to submit to support your application.
For further information, please contact Johannes Hanson, Head of Department at the Department of Plant Physiology, johannes.hanson@umu.se, or Professor Nathaniel Street, nathaniel.street@umu.se.
Umeå University wants to offer an equal environment where open dialogue between people with different backgrounds and perspectives lay the foundation for learning, creativity and development. We welcome people with different backgrounds and experiences to apply for the current employment.
We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising help.
