Postdoctoral researcher in Chemistry/biology

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher in the areas of Biochemistry, Biotechnology, and Molecular Biology for a fixed-term position at the School of Science and Technology.

Subject area
The subject area for this position is Chemistry or Biology.

Background
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a nutrient deficiency that is prevalent in all countries affecting ≈2 billion people. Though heme iron (heme-Fe) from meat can be absorbed very efficiently in humans, consumption of heme-Fe is constrained by several factors, such as affordability, personal preference, religion, or government policy. Also, recent studies emphasize a strong relationship between high consumption of meat products and increased risk for severe diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular disease. The world’s meat production is in addition considered non-sustainable from a global warming perspective since cattle emit enormous amounts of greenhouse gases. Instead, inorganic Fe is widely used to reduce IDA using oral intake of inorganic Fe-salts. However, long-term use of oral Fe supplementation can give rise to severe side effects.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a more sustainable product of vegetable origin. Plant-based heme-Fe products are much more sustainable, thus highly suitable as a heme-Fe food source. In our project, which is supported by the Knowledge Foundation (www.kks.se) we will produce PHbs in plants and probiotic bacteria to be used as Fe-fortificant or as a constituent in plant-based food to alleviate IDA.

More information about Örebro University can be found at www.oru.se/english.

Duties and responsibilities
The appointment as a postdoctoral researcher is intended to enable persons who have recently been awarded their doctoral degree to consolidate and develop primarily their research skills.

The applicant will be involved in genetic engineering (e.g. synthetic gene synthesis, PCR and molecular cloning), developing biological (plants, probiotic bacteria) production platforms for plant hemoglobins (PHbs) and testing the resulting candidates for the quality and quantity of protein production. The applicant will also be involved in purification and evaluation of the produced PHbs in vitro and in vivo (in cell and animal models), using conventional techniques such as FPLC, SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the other academic and industrial partners within the project.

Qualifications
Those qualified for appointment as a postdoctoral researcher are applicants who have been awarded a doctoral degree in a subject matter relevant for the position or have a degree from abroad deemed to correspond to a doctoral degree. The degree is to have been awarded no more than three years prior to the application deadline. If special grounds exist, a person who has been awarded their doctoral degree prior to that should also be considered. Such grounds comprise leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, clinical practice, positions of trust in a trade union or other similar circumstances.

Assessment criteria
A basis for the assessment is the applicant’s ability to disseminate information and communicate; collaborate and engage with the wider community; and facilitate utilisation of the university’s research; as well as the ability and suitability to cooperate with other members of staff and contribute to the development of university operations.

Particular attention is to be paid to the applicant’s prospects of contributing to the future development of both research and education. Importance is also attached to a demonstrated ability and ambition to embark on a career within academia.  

Other assessment criteria
Preferably, you have experience with plants and/or bacterial protein expression systems and have other complementary skills using molecular biological, biochemical and immunological techniques. Previous research activities aimed at producing pharmaceutical or other highly valuable proteins in plants and/or probiotic bacteria and metabolic engineering are of special interest. Since the project will be conducted in close collaboration with industrial and academic researchers, a cooperative mindset is of great importance as well as the ability to work independently. The applicant should also be self-motivated, highly organized, able to meet deadlines, have a clear sense of responsibility, and be goal-oriented. The applicant shall be fluent in oral and written English.

Information
This is a fixed-term, full-time position for two years, with a possibility of a one-year extension. At Örebro University, salary depends on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.

For more information about the position, contact Prof. Åke Strid, email: ake.strid@oru.se, or the Head of the Natural Science Division Ingrid Ericson Jogsten, ingrid.ericson@oru.se

At Örebro University, we expect each member of staff to be open to development and change; take responsibility for their work and performance; demonstrate a keen interest in collaboration and contribute to development; as well as to show respect for others by adopting a constructive and professional approach.

Örebro University actively pursues equal opportunities and gender equality as well as a work environment characterised by openness, trust and respect. We value the qualities that diversity adds to our operations.

Application
The application is made on our website.

The application deadline is 2022-10-10. We look forward to receiving your application!

We decline any contact with advertisers or recruitment agencies in the recruitment process.

As directed by the National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), we are required to deposit one file copy of the application documents, excluding publications, for a period of two years after the appointment decision has gained legal force.