Post doctor (2 years) within virology with focus on tick-borne encephalitis virus
“The Department of Clinical Microbiology offers a postdoctoral fellowship in virology with a focus on tick-borne encephalitis virus. The fellowship is for two years with start on 12 01 2026 or as agreed. The application deadline is 15 12 2025.”
Departmental specific information
The Department of Clinical Microbiology at Umeå University conducts outstanding research and education in host-microbe interactions, microbial disease-causing mechanisms and the immune system's response. The research covers both cellular and molecular aspects of infections caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi, as well as how the immune system reacts and regulates these processes. The department has around 30 active research groups with different profiles. The group in question is led by Anna Överby Wernstedt and studies virus-host interactions between tick-borne encephalitis virus and mammalian cells, with a particular focus on interactions and factors that affect virus replication. The goal is to identify new treatment strategies against virus-caused disease. More information is available on the group's website: https://www.umu.se/forskning/grupper/anna-overby-wernstedt/
Project description
Tick-borne encephalitis virus is a virus that targets the brain, but there is much that we do not understand in that process and which parts of the virus are specifically important for RNA replication, the formation of replication complexes and tropism in the brain. The project aims to investigate and identify different molecular mechanisms that drive replication and tropism. This will be done through reverse genetics and mutation of the virus genome. You will also identify new cellular proteins that are important for virus replication and map how and why these cellular proteins are important.
The project includes independent planning, implementing and evaluating experiments and collaborating with other researchers at our and other institutions. You will communicate and present your research within the university and at national/international conferences and write articles of high scientific quality.
Qualifications
The post-doctoral 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 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 before the application deadline. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree before 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, or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.
We are looking for a talented and motivated candidate with a PhD in virology, molecular biology, cell biology or a related field. You must be highly proficient in English, both oral and written. It is important that you can run projects independently and have strong skills in documentation and data analysis. You must have experience in constructing and modifying flavivirus infectious clones, as well as characterizing them. Experience of working with virus-based methods and in laboratories with safety class 3 is also a requirement. The project also requires good collaboration skills and a willingness to collaborate with researchers both nationally and internationally.
Additional desirable merits
Merits include expertise in confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, Co-IP, RT-qPCR, CRISPR/Cas9 and other cell and molecular biology techniques is an advantage. High-quality scientific publications in these areas are also an advantage, as is experience in bioinformatics, which is considered a particular advantage. Personal qualities such as creativity, initiative and social skills are valued.
Application
The application should be written in English or Swedish, and attached documents should be in Word or PDF format. The application should be registered via Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi and submitted by the deadline 15 12 2025.
A complete application should include:
Cover letter describing qualifications, research interests and motivation for applying (max 2 pages).
Curriculum vitae (CV) with publication list.
Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained.
Contact information for two reference persons.
Other documents that the applicant wishes to claim.
Further information
For more information, please contact Professor Anna Överby Wernstedt anna.overby@umu.se
