Postdoc in Precision Nutrition

Fermented foods have gained a reputation for being beneficial to health. However, except for yoghurt and other cultured dairy products, little concrete evidence exists for the actual health benefits of fermented foods. As partners of the recently started 4-year EU project- HealthFerm- we will conduct studies to better understand the interaction between food fermentation microbiomes, fermented grain-based foods and the human gut microbiome and how they support human health. We are currently finalizing a large dietary intervention study where we have tested a novel diet concept tailored to improve cardiometabolic risk factors via modulation of key microbiota and their metabolites.

Project description
We offer a 2 year postdoc postion with possibilites for 1 year extension to a highly motivated and skilled candidate. As a postdoc, you will together with our multidisciplinary team be responsible for the data-analysis of the dietary intervention study we are currently finalizing as well as writing papers and disseminating the findings. You will also take on the role as the manager of our responsibilities in the HealthFerm project. The tasks include planning, execution and writing up of a large portfolio diet intervention with fermented plant-based foods to be compared with corresponding non-fermented foods and habitual diet among 100 individuals at elevated risk of developing cardiovascular disease. You will work closely together with our multidiciplinary team with expertise in food science, precision- and molecular nutrition, computational metabolomics and modelling. The holder of the position is expected to conduct own reasearch, take part in supervision of PhD-students and students.

Information about the division and the department
The division of Food and Nutrition Science (FNS) is one of four research divisions at LIFE. FNS addresses major societal challenges related to foods, sustainability and health. We conduct fundamental and applied research, innovation, education and dissemination in food and nutrition science with the aim to provide new knowledge and solutions that pave the way for a sustainable planet and healthy humans. Research topics span from food chemistry and technology to molecular- and data- driven nutrition. In Food Science, we focus primarily on marine and plant-based food systems with the goal to promote high food quality, minimize losses throughout the value chain and to utilise alternative sources for production of nutrient. In nutrition, we focus on human observational and intervention studies as well as cell-based model studies and apply advanced data-driven approaches and state of the art biochemical- and OMICs technologies to understand and predict the role of foods, dietary components and dietary patterns in human health.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibility is to carry out research on the health effects of fermented foods. This includes planning and executing a clinical trial together with the team as well as taking the lead in analysing clinical- antropometric-, dietary as well as multiomics data from clinical trials and write up, and disseminating the findings towards the scientific community, industrial and helath care stakeholders as well as the general public. Project management of our part in the EU proejct, including preparation of reports and participating in meetings. 

Qualifications
Mandatory educational qualifications, experiences and skills:

1. The applicant must have a PhD in food and nutrition science, medicine, biological engineering or similar.
2. Hands on expereince from planning and managing clinical trials is a must.
3. Experiences from multiOMICs data analysis is also a requirement for the position.
4. Excellent skills in written and spoken English.

Meritorious educational qualifications, experiences and skills:

4. Experiences from untargeted metabolomics and microbiome data analysis is a merit
5. Written and spoken Scandinavian language

The position requires sound verbal and written communication skills in English. Swedish is not a requirement but Chalmers offers Swedish courses.

Contract terms
This postdoc position is a full-time temporary employment for two years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20230002 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV: (Please name the document as: CV, Surname, Ref. number) including:
• CV, include complete list of publications
• Previous teaching and pedagogical experiences
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous research fields and main research results
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Attested copies of completed education, grades and other certificates.

Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.

Application deadline: 16-02-2023

For questions, please contact:
Head of Division, Professor Rikard Landberg
E-mail: rikard.landberg@chalmers.se
Phone: 072 350 93 86

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***