Postdoctoral researcher position in plant cell wall dynamics and mechanochemical signalling

Project description and work tasks

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the DYNAMO project (“Dynamics of Mechanochemical Signals in Plant Cell Walls”) at the Plant Cell Wall Dynamics Lab, led by Assistant Professor Laura Bacete. This project is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (Emerging Investigator 2026 in Plant Science, Agriculture and Food Biotechnology). The project investigates how plants sense and interpret the physical and chemical state of their cell walls, and how these wall-state signals govern growth, differentiation, and stress responses. The successful candidate will focus on determining whether wall states propagate across tissues and how this propagation relates to active sensing rather than passive mechanical spread. Optogenetic and inducible genetic tools will be used to generate defined perturbations of pectin remodelling, and Brillouin microscopy combined with live-cell signalling reporters will be used to characterise the tissue-level responses these perturbations elicit. The work is carried out in Arabidopsis thaliana, with selected conditions validated in hybrid aspen, in close collaboration with experts in optical microscopy, plant defence, and synthetic biology.

Eligibility and qualifications

To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirements must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the appointment decision. 

To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organisations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.

The doctoral degree should be in Plant Biology, Biotechnology, Biophysics, or a related field.

For this employment, we are looking for a person with a strong interest in plant biology and enthusiasm for developing new experimental approaches. The following qualifications are required:

• Demonstrated expertise in plant cell wall biology, including knowledge of cell wall composition, remodelling enzymes, and their regulation.
• Hands-on experience with biochemical characterisation of cell wall proteins, including enzymatic activity assays (e.g. methylesterase or acetylesterase assays).
• Solid command of molecular and cellular biology techniques, including cloning (e.g. GoldenGate or Gateway), plant transformation, and reporter-line approaches.
• Experience in protein expression and purification and/or optogenetics, particularly as applied to the control of cell wall synthesis or remodelling enzymes.
• Experience with confocal microscopy and quantitative image analysis in plant systems.
• Very good written and oral English language skills.

Merits

We do not expect the selected candidate to be proficient in all of the following from the outset, but they should be eager to learn the required techniques. The following are considered advantageous:

• Experience with different model plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana.
• Familiarity with cell wall integrity signalling pathways, including receptor-like kinase networks or associated downstream cascades.
• Skills in computational biology, biological modelling, and/or biostatistics.
• Involvement in science communication and outreach activities.

On a personal level, we are looking for a good team player who can also work independently when required. We would like you to:

• Be able to organise and structure your work.
• Deliver results according to agreements made.
• Be proactive and take your own initiative.
• Be willing to share your knowledge with trainees and junior members of the research group.

About the employment

This is a full-time position for two years, with a possibility of a maximum one-year extension depending on project’s progression. Salary and employment conditions are set in accordance with Umeå University’s collective agreements. The appointed researcher will receive full support from the PI to develop their own research profile, write grant applications, and follow an individual development plan crafted together with the PI. The employment will start in September 2026 or upon agreement.

Application

You apply through our recruitment system Varbi no later than 31 July 2026. Documents should be sent electronically, in MS Word or PDF format, through the recruitment system. 

The application should be written in English (preferred) or Swedish and should include:

• A motivation letter (max. 2 pages).
• A brief research statement (1 page) discussing your research interests (for example: when did you become interested in the field, what knowledge have you gained so far, what research questions you find most interesting, and what your long-term career goals are).
• CV with full publication list.
• Certified copies of certificates from higher education.
• Copy of publications (if any) and doctoral thesis.

Contact

If you have questions regarding the position, please contact Laura Bacete (laura.bacete@umu.se). 

The Department of Plant Physiology values the qualities that an even gender distribution brings to the department, and therefore we particularly encourage women to apply for the position.

We look forward to your application!