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.
National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS) is recruiting a bioinformatics expert to the national support team for electron microscope image analysis and multimodal 3D data, at SciLifeLab Umeå as work place.
Project description Umeå University is recruiting a staff scientist to work with advanced 3D image analysis of electron microscopy data, tomography, cryo-EM, SEM generated image volumes and correlation of image data from multimodal microscopy data. As a Staff scientist, you will be part of a team of technical personnel, working together with national research infrastructure at Umeå Centre for Electron Microscopy (UCEM) as part of the SciLifeLab Bioinformatics Platform (National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden: www.nbis.se), a national infrastructure with over 120 experts providing advanced bioinformatics support, infrastructure and training to the Swedish life science research community, and participating in international collaborations. Within NBIS, you will be part of the BioImage Informatics team (https://www.scilifelab.se/units/bioimage-informatics/). This employment is funded through NBIS under the SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS).
Work tasks As a staff scientist, you will provide researchers with expertise in the planning and analysis of electron microscopy (EM) and multimodal data, in the life science area, including biological, chemical, biochemical and medical research areas. You will lead individual research support projects and be involved in teaching methodology courses at postgraduate level on EM data analysis. The EM data analysis support is prioritised at a national level. You will perform support and service tasks individually and plan your work together with the NBIS BioImage Informatics team. Work assignments include team and user meetings both locally and nationally, computational image analysis work, presentations, writing protocols and reports. You enjoy being up to date with EM and image analysis software developments, test and implement new developments, as well as communication and training together with other software developers, researchers and infrastructure users. You will help to develop, implement and maintain computational tools and workflows. You will also help coordinate ongoing facility projects and collaborations between partner microscopy facilities in Sweden and internationally. Your workplace will be at UCEM in Umeå. Our working language is English.
Qualifications We are looking for a person with a PhD in cell and structural biology, bioimaging, biotechnology, data science or equal. You have experience of applying and/or developing advanced image analysis of EM data and correlative microscopy imaging. Experience or background knowledge about EM data collection (SEM, TEM and/or Cryo-EM) for life science research projects are important to understand the computational methods. Extensive (3+ years) experience of applying and/or developing advanced digital image analysis methods in the field of bioimage analysis is a requirement, as well as documented experience in tomographic 3D reconstruction and in using multiple software for 3D image analysis, segmentation and visualisation. The selected candidate must have very good skills in cooperation and communication in English.
In this position you must work independent and flexible and can take on new challenges, establish new methods and participate in several different projects in parallel. You can take initiatives, be creative, have a service minded attitude towards collaborative facility work, in order to help infrastructure users and research groups with research projects and to achieve results.
Additional qualifications Relevant postdoctoral studies or equivalent industry experience are a strong merit but not a requirement. Experience of different types of microscopy, for example sample preparation and instrument operations, is a merit. “Reproducible research” and “FAIR data” are central concepts to us, and expertise in the development of reproducible code by using code sharing platforms, version control, workflow languages and container solutions is a merit. Experience in training deep learning-based models on HPC-resources is also meriting. A well-established international network in EM, and earlier international collaborations around research infrastructure, is highly valued.
Application Your application should contain a personal letter with motivation for why you are applying for the job, a CV, a copy of the relevant diploma and other relevant certificates/grades as well as names and contact details of two reference persons.
Applications must be submitted via our e-recruitment system no later than June 15, 2026.
Terms of employment The employment is full time and a fixed-term employment of 12 months. Start day by agreement.
The Department of Chemistry is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Science and Technology with approximately 200 employees, of which approximately 50 doctoral students, and a strong and expanding research. The Department has four major research areas: Biological Chemistry, Environmental and Biogeochemistry, IBEAM and Technical Chemistry. We are also a strong partner in the KBC, Chemical-Biological Center. Information about the postgraduate education can be found on the Faculty of Science and Technology website: www.umu.se/en/faculty-of-science-and-technology/education/doctoral-studies/chemistry/.
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.
