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

Umeå Universitet; Umeå kommun; On-site; SEK 386,356 - 551,937; Full time

Job summary

Umeå Universitet is inviting applications for a postdoctoral position in plant cell wall dynamics and mechanochemical signalling, based in Umeå, Sweden. The position is full-time for two years, starting in September 2026. Candidates should have a doctoral degree in Plant Biology or related fields and expertise in cell wall biology.

The successful applicant will join the DYNAMO project, investigate plant growth and stress responses, and work with advanced research tools. Application deadline is July 31, 2026.

Qualifications

• Must have completed a doctoral degree or equivalent by appointment decision.
• Priority for degrees completed within three years.

Responsibilities

• Join the DYNAMO project at the Plant Cell Wall Dynamics Lab.
• Investigate how plants sense and interpret cell wall states.
• Conduct experiments in Arabidopsis thaliana and collaborate with experts.

Skills

Expertise in plant cell wall biology

Biochemical characterisation of cell wall proteins

Molecular and cellular biology techniques

Protein expression and purification

Confocal microscopy

English language skills

Education

Doctoral degree in Plant Biology or related field

Job description

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

The Department of Plant Physiology 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.

Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC) is one of the strongest research environments for basic plant research in Europe. Research at UPSC covers a wide range of disciplines in plant biology including ecology, computational biology, genetics, physiology, biochemistry, cell biology and molecular biology. We are now offering a full‑time postdoctoral employment in the Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University, which is part of Umeå Plant Science Centre. The employment is full-time for two years, with access in September 2026 or according to agreement. Application deadline is 31 July 2026.

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. 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 must have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the appointment decision.

Priority is given to candidates whose doctoral degree was completed no later than three years prior, unless exceptional circumstances apply. The doctoral degree should be in Plant Biology, Biotechnology, Biophysics, or a related field.

• 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 such as methylesterase or acetylesterase assays.
• Solid command of molecular and cellular biology techniques, including cloning, 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. The candidate should:

• Be able to organise and structure their work.
• Deliver results according to agreements made.
• Be proactive and take their own initiative.
• Be willing to share their 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.

Application

Apply through the recruitment system Varbi no later than 31 July 2026. Documents should be sent electronically in MS Word or PDF format through the recruitment system. The application should be written in English (preferred) or Swedish and should include:

• A brief research statement (1 page) discussing your research interests and long‑term career goals.
• CV with full publication list.
• Certified copies of certificates from higher education.
• Copy of publications (if any) and doctoral thesis.

Contact

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

The Department of Plant Physiology values the qualities that an even gender distribution brings to the department, and therefore we particularly encourage women to apply for the position.

We look forward to your application!

Umeå University strives 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.