Postdoctoral position

Department of Molecular Sciences
We are announcing a position as postdoctoral research fellow at the section of Food Biotechnology at the Department of Molecular Sciences, SLU Uppsala. The department consists of about 110 co-workers and generates, together with four other departments an inspiring research environment at Uppsala BioCentrum, situated at the SLU campus Ultuna in Uppsala. In the BioCentrum there is broad competence within plant biology, - pathology and -genetics, mycology, microbiology, food science, chemistry and biotechnology. We have access to advanced infrastructure, including plant growth cabinets, advanced microscopy, X-ray -, mass- and NMR- spectroscopy.

Our department is running research and teaching within chemistry, biochemistry, plant physiology, food science and microbiology. Our research projects covers an area from enzymatic degradation of lignocellulosic material, production of lipids, biochemicals and fish feed by yeasts, programmed cell death at plants, food science and food biotechnology. More information about our research is available at https://www.slu.se/en/departments/molecular-sciences/about-us/ . The position will be filled in the frame of Formas/ Nordforsk- projects that aim to convert lignocellulose to food and high-value chemicals, by growing mushrooms on the material, extracting bioactive compounds from the spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and utilising the SMS as substrate for microorganisms.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Duties:
The postdoc will run fermentations with oleaginous yeasts on lignocellulose material, specifically pre-treated by growing mushrooms on it. Oil, carotenoids and other biochemicals will be extracted from the yeast cells. The postdoc will also be involved in the development of extraction methods from spent mushroom substrate. Characterisation of yeast growth on the substrate may also be involved in the project- including transcriptomics and proteomics analyses.

Qualifications:
Doctoral degree awarded within three years before the application deadline and in one of the following areas: biology, biotechnology, microbiology, or other relevant subject. Good abilities to communicate in English, both in writing and speaking are required. Experience in work with yeasts, preferable non-conventional yeasts, as well as microbial fermentation in bioreactors (preferably on lignocellulosic substrate) is required. Experience in analysing and extracting lipids and other hydrophobic compounds from microorganisms, knowledge of modern extraction methods (green fractionation), isolation of nucleic acids and proteins from microorganisms as well as in molecular biology methods is desirable. The postdoc will interact with a variety of other scientists in the group, thus, the ability to work in a team is essential.

Place of work:
Uppsala

Form of employment:
Temporary employment 24 months, with the possibility of extension.

Extent:
100%

Starting date:
According to agreement.

Application:
We welcome your application no later than 2023-11-22, use the button below. Applicants should also submit the following three documents: 1) Cover letter demonstrating the applicant’s motivation and interest in the topic, and optionally, preliminary ideas for the research to be carried out (max 2 A4 pages). 2) C.V. including a list of your published work, 3) Copies of transcripts of academic records, or a link to/copy of doctoral thesis.

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/



Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU) har en nyckelroll i utvecklingen för hållbart liv, grundad i vetenskap och utbildning. Genom vårt fokus på samspelen mellan människa, djur och ekosystem och ett ansvarsfullt brukande av naturresurserna bidrar vi till en hållbar samhällsutveckling och goda livsvillkor på vår planet. Huvudorter är Alnarp, Umeå och Uppsala, men verksamhet bedrivs också på forskningsstationer, försöksparker och utbildningsorter i hela landet.

SLU har drygt 3000 medarbetare, 5000 studenter och forskarstuderande och en omsättning på över tre miljarder kronor. Universitetet satsar på attraktiva miljöer på sina campusområden. Vi arbetar för en jämställd och inkluderande arbetsmiljö där öppna samtal mellan människor med olika erfarenheter lägger grunden för vetenskaplighet, kreativitet och utveckling. Vi välkomnar därför personer med olika bakgrunder och perspektiv att söka den aktuella anställningen.