Postdoc in antimicrobial research on biofilm-killing small molecules and Staphylococcus aureus Umeå University in Sweden

Umeå University is advertising a 2-year postdoctoral position in antimicrobial research at the Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine. The project focuses on biofilms, Staphylococcus aureus, small antibacterial molecules, mechanism-of-action studies, and drug refinement. The successful candidate will work on identifying compounds that kill biofilm-forming bacteria, understanding their exact targets, and improving potency while reducing toxicity.

The research is highly interdisciplinary and includes microbiology, molecular biology, biochemical methods, bacterial genetics, infection biology, chemical analyses, and protein/lipid chemistry. Experimental work may involve SPR, fluorescence and luminescence analyses, bacterial culture and biofilm assays, human cell infection experiments, chicken embryo infections, DNA cloning, mutational analysis, Tn-seq, and RNA/protein expression analyses. The project also includes collaboration with QureTech Bio AB in Umeå, offering exposure to industrial drug-development perspectives.

Eligibility: applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent in microbial biology by the appointment decision date. Strong documented experience in standard microbiology, molecular biology, biochemical methods, bacterial genetics, infection biology, and prior work with small antibacterial molecules is required. The university also seeks candidates with a strong publication record, excellent English communication skills, independence, teamwork ability, and the capacity to supervise students. Recent PhD graduates are preferred, normally within three years of the deadline, unless special reasons apply.

Funding and terms: this is a full-time, fixed-term postdoctoral employment for two years. The post is a career-development position for junior researchers. No stipend amount is stated.

Application deadline: 21 May 2026. Applications must be submitted in Swedish or English via the Varbi recruitment system and should include a research-interest statement, CV, publication list, degree certificates, and contact details for two referees.

Institution: Umeå University, Sweden.