Postdoc in genomics and plant transposable elements at Umeå University Umeå University in Sweden

Postdoctoral position in genomics with focus on plant transposable elements at Umeå University, Sweden.

This opening is for a 2-year postdoc in the Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC) at Umeå University, working in Professor Nathaniel R. Street’s team on the Con-TEki project. The project studies how transposable elements drive regulatory innovation in conifers, especially Norway spruce and Scots pine, with comparisons to aspen.

The research is highly interdisciplinary and combines genomics, epigenomics, 3D chromatin profiling, enhancer assays, comparative genomics, Bayesian analysis, and machine learning/deep learning. Methods mentioned include ATAC-Seq, easySHARE-Seq, ChIP-Seq, Micro-C/Hi-C, BS-Seq/EM-Seq, ATAC-STARR-seq, TE-derived cis-regulatory element analysis, enhancer–promoter linking, and functional validation in spruce.

The postdoc will work closely with Torgeir R. Hvidsten (NMBU, Norway) and will have access to a collaborative environment through SciLifeLab and IceLab. The role includes building reproducible computational workflows, analyzing multi-omic datasets, leading manuscript preparation, presenting results, and mentoring PhD students.

Eligibility highlights: a PhD in plant molecular biology, genomics/bioinformatics, systems genetics, or a closely related field; expertise in at least two relevant areas such as high-throughput sequencing analysis, chromatin conformation analysis, or computational genomics; strong publication record; and excellent English scientific communication. Experience with TE annotation, WGD/segmental duplication analyses, motif inference, MPRA-style assays, drought stress, wood development, or tree systems is considered meritorious.

Funding and terms: full-time, temporary employment for two years. No stipend amount is stated. This is a salaried postdoctoral employment rather than a scholarship.

Application deadline: 2026-06-06. Applications must be submitted through Umeå University’s recruitment system Varbi. Required documents include a CV, publication list, cover letter, referee contacts, and proof of PhD award or expected award date.