50% Research technician in Plant Cell Biology

Ref nr 316-851-10 50% Research technician in Plant Cell Biology (1 year) We are offering a 1 year (18 months) part-time (50%) employment as a research technician within the research area of plant cell biology and more specifically in in vitro plant cell culture at the Berzelii Centre for Forest Biotechnology of the Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC).We are searching for a research technician to work in the research group of Dr.Edouard Pesquet.In vitro cell culture systems represent an ideal way to quickly test gene/protein localisation, interaction with other proteins, post-translational modifications and elucidate their role in developmental processes e.g.in secondary cell wall formation.Two systems are readily available within the Berzelii Centre for Forest Biotechnology: Dr.Laszlo Bako?s in vitro cell dividing system and Dr.Edouard Pesquet?s in vitro tracheary element (TE) differentiation system.The research technician position will be at the Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University.The candidate will participate in research project in the area of plant cell biology and more specifically in in vitro plant cell culture.Job description The position will involve in vitro plant cell culture.This will include 1) maintaining the resource/collection of wild-type and transgenic cell lines in the available Arabidopsis cell culture systems, 2) producing new transgenic and mutant cell lines from Arabidopsis, spruce and Populus and 3) preserving the resource/collection using cryo-conservation.Qualifications Applications are invited at the level of a research technician.Practical experience in sterile techniques (autoclave, laminar flow hood, flame sterilisation,...), in stable in vitro plant cell culture (culture medium preparation, cell subculturing,...), in xylogenic cell cultures (xylogenic induction of cells and their characterisation,...) and in plant cell culture stable transformation (Agrobacterium preparation, transformants selection,...) are required.Good communication skills in English as well as basic computer skills are expected.Practical experience in vitro plant culture techniques (explant sterilisation, callus induction,...), in light microscopy (xylogenic cell type characterisation, cell size measurement,...) and in cell culture cryo-preservation are desirable.The application should contain: 1.Curriculum vitae 2.Short written account of the merits and experience relevant to the application.3.Copies of degrees, certificates, course transcripts and other relevant documents.4.Addresses of referees and/or previous employers that may be asked to provide a letter of reference.Questions or inquires about the position can be answered by Edouard Pesquet, tel.Applications will be discarded or, if the applicant so wishes, returned two years after the position has been filled.Documents sent electronically should be in MS word or PDF format.We look forward to receiving your application!