Post doctor (2 years) in plant cell wall dynamics and mechanochemical signalling

Wifo; Umeå kommun; On-site; SEK 360,000 - 480,000; Full time

Job summary

Wifo is offering a postdoctoral position in plant cell wall dynamics based at Umeå University, starting September 2026. The successful candidate will focus on the DYNAMO project's investigation of the physical and chemical state of cell walls in plants.

Key qualifications include a doctoral degree in a relevant field, expertise in plant cell wall biology, and hands-on experience with biochemical techniques. Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in plant biology and possess solid communication skills in English.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a relevant field completed by the time of appointment.
• Strong interest in plant biology and enthusiasm for new experimental approaches.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the DYNAMO project focused on plant cell wall dynamics.
• Use optogenetic and genetic tools to study tissue-level responses.
• Collaborate with team members and contribute to project goals.

Skills

Expertise in plant cell wall biology

Biochemical characterisation of cell wall proteins

Molecular and cellular biology techniques

Protein expression and purification

Confocal microscopy and quantitative image analysis

Written and oral English skills

Education

Doctoral degree in Plant Biology, Biotechnology, Biophysics, or a related field

Tools

Biochemical assays

Cloning techniques (GoldenGate or Gateway)

Plant transformation techniques

Reporter-line approaches

Optogenetics

Confocal microscopy

Job description

Post doctor (2 years) in plant cell wall dynamics and mechanochemical signalling

The Department of Plant Physiology (Umeå University, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Sweden) invites applicants for a postdoctoral position in plant cell wall dynamics and mechanochemical signalling. The expected starting date is September 2026 or according to agreement.

Project description and work tasks

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the DYNAMO project (“Dynamics of Mechanochemical Signals in Plant Cell Walls”) at the Plant Cell Wall Dynamics Lab, led by Assistant Professor Laura Bacete. This project is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (Emerging Investigator 2026 in Plant Science, Agriculture and Food Biotechnology). The project investigates how plants sense and interpret the physical and chemical state of their cell walls, and how these wall‑state signals govern growth, differentiation, and stress responses. The successful candidate will focus on determining whether wall states propagate across tissues and how this propagation relates to active sensing rather than passive mechanical spread. Optogenetic and inducible genetic tools will be used to generate defined perturbations of pectin remodelling, and Brillouin microscopy combined with live‑cell signalling reporters will be used to characterise the tissue‑level responses these perturbations elicit. The work is carried out in Arabidopsis thaliana, with selected conditions validated in hybrid aspen, in close collaboration with experts in optical microscopy, plant defence, and synthetic biology.

Eligibility and qualifications

To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree no later than at the time of the appointment decision.

Priority is given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree within the last three years, or earlier if special reasons exist (such as illness, parental leave, military service, or clinical practice).

The doctoral degree should be in Plant Biology, Biotechnology, Biophysics, or a related field.

We are looking for a person with a strong interest in plant biology and enthusiasm for developing new experimental approaches. The following qualifications are required:

• Demonstrated expertise in plant cell wall biology, including knowledge of cell wall composition, remodelling enzymes, and their regulation.
• Hands‑on experience with biochemical characterisation of cell wall proteins, including enzymatic activity assays (e.g. methylesterase or acetylesterase assays).
• Solid command of molecular and cellular biology techniques, including cloning (e.g. GoldenGate or Gateway), plant transformation, and reporter‑line approaches.
• Experience in protein expression and purification and/or optogenetics, particularly as applied to the control of cell wall synthesis or remodelling enzymes.
• Experience with confocal microscopy and quantitative image analysis in plant systems.
• Very good written and oral English language skills.

Merits

We do not expect the selected candidate to be proficient in all of the following from the outset, but they should be eager to learn the required techniques. The following are considered advantageous:

• Experience with different model plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana.
• Familiarity with cell wall integrity signalling pathways, including receptor‑like kinase networks or associated downstream cascades.
• Skills in computational biology, biological modelling, and/or biostatistics.
• Involvement in science communication and outreach activities.

On a personal level, we are looking for a good team player who can also work independently when required. We would like you to:

• Be able to organise and structure your work.
• Deliver results according to agreements made.
• Be proactive and take your own initiative.
• Be willing to share your knowledge with trainees and junior members of the research group.

About the employment

This is a full‑time position for two years, with a possibility of a maximum one‑year extension depending on the project’s progression. Salary and employment conditions are set in accordance with Umeå University’s collective agreements. The appointed researcher will receive full support from the PI to develop their own research profile, write grant applications, and follow an individual development plan crafted together with the PI. The employment will start in September 2026 or upon agreement.

Contact

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact Laura Bacete [e-mail].

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Department of Plant Physiology values an equal environment where open dialogue between people with different backgrounds and perspectives lays the foundation for learning, creativity and development. We encourage women to apply for the position.