Summary
The Department of Medical and Translational Biology at Umeå University, Sweden, is inviting applications for a 2-year Postdoctoral Scholarship in Bioinformatics. The successful candidate will join the Horváth Lab (part of the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine – WCMM) to work on the project “Transposable elements and the aging human brain: Functional Insights and therapeutic opportunities.” The project focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of human brain aging and oligodendrocyte biology using multi-omics and advanced bioinformatics approaches.
Overview & Key Details
| Attribute | Details |
| Position / Designation | Postdoctoral Scholar (Postdoctoral Fellow) |
| Institution | Umeå University |
| Faculty / Department | Faculty of Medicine / Department of Medical and Translational Biology |
| Research Group | Horváth Lab (affiliated with Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine – WCMM) |
| Research Area | Bioinformatics, Computational Genomics, Epigenetics, Human Brain Aging |
| Location | Umeå, Sweden |
| Position Type / Duration | Full-time Postdoctoral Scholarship (2 years) |
| Starting Date | September 2026 (or by mutual agreement) |
| Application Deadline | September 11, 2026 |
Research Area
- Bioinformatics & Computational Genomics
- Epigenetics & DNA Methylation Dynamics
- Transposable Elements (TE) Biology
- Human Brain Aging & Neurodegenerative Risk Factors
- Single-Cell & Long-Read Sequencing Integration (Multi-omics)
Job Description & Project Scope
Project Overview
Human brain aging is a primary risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. This project investigates how age-related changes in epigenetic repression (such as DNA methylation) alter the regulatory impact of transposable elements (TEs) in the human brain, specifically focusing on white matter and oligodendrocytes.
Using post-mortem human brain tissue, the project will generate and integrate large-scale bulk and single-cell datasets, employing technologies such as:
- 10x Genomics single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq)
- Oxford Nanopore long-read DNA and RNA sequencing
- Illumina short-read sequencing
- CUT&RUN chromatin profiling
Key Responsibilities & Opportunities
- Process, analyze, and integrate complex multi-omics datasets with a specialized transposable element focus.
- Develop and apply advanced TE-tailored computational pipelines and bioinformatics workflows.
- Collaborate closely with basic and translational researchers within the Horváth Lab, WCMM, and SciLifeLab networks.
- Present research findings at lab meetings, institutional seminars, and international conferences.
- Prepare high-impact scientific manuscripts and contribute to grant development.
Eligibility & Qualifications
Mandatory Requirements
- Doctoral Degree: A PhD (or foreign equivalent) in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Computational Biology, Neuroscience, Genome Biology, Molecular Biology, Biomedicine, Genetics, or a related discipline.
- Degree completion requirement: Must be completed no later than the time the scholarship decision is made.
- Recency: Priority is given to candidates who completed their PhD within the last 3 years (allowances made for parental leave, clinical duties, military service, or illness).
- Technical Skills:
- Documented experience analyzing genomics, transcriptomics, or epigenomics datasets using R, Python, and Shell/Bash.
- Proficiency in standard bioinformatics tools and packages (e.g.,
DESeq2,edgeR,bedtools, and related genomic suites).
- Language & Communication: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience using high-performance supercomputing clusters (HPC/SLURM).
- Practical expertise in single-cell sequencing analysis and/or long-read sequencing datasets.
- Background in transposable element biology, epigenetics, or chromatin architecture.
- Experience with de novo genome assembly or higher-order genome organization.
- Previous international research experience.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted electronically via Umeå University’s official Varbi recruitment portal.
Required Application Documents (in English or Swedish; PDF or Word format):
- Cover Letter: Detailing research background, career motivation, and how your skill set aligns with the project.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Maximum 2 pages.
- Publication List: Maximum 5 pages.
- Degree Certificate: Verified copy of the doctoral degree certificate (or official documentation stating the expected graduation date).
- Doctoral Thesis: Copy/link of your PhD thesis (if available).
- References: Contact information (names, affiliations, and email addresses) for two academic referees.
Application Link: Umeå University Varbi Application Portal
Last Date to Apply
- September 11, 2026 (23:59 CET)
