The Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES) is one of the biggest departments at the Faculty of Science. The department is divided into five units with more than 200 researchers, teachers, doctoral students and technical/administrative staff. Research and teaching focuses on Contaminant Chemistry, Exposure & Effects, Atmospheric Science, Biogeochemistry and Analytical Chemistry. As an employee at ACES you will be part of a dynamic environment with research in leading research areas and with a strong international profile. Parts of the project will be carried out at the Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), a national center for large-scale biosciences with a focus on health and environmental research. The SciLifeLab is a collaboration between Stockholm University, Karolinska Institute, the Royal Institute of Technology, and Uppsala University.

Project description
The position will be associated with the project MICROCHEM, which aims to generate new knowledge on the sensitivity of bacteria to chemical pollution. The project will investigate how chemical mixtures affect bacteria on the cellular level. Microbes comprise the largest part of the earth’s biomass and are key components of biogeochemical processes. Yet there is limited knowledge on how chemical pollutants affect bacteria and their functions.

MICROCHEM is an interdisciplinary project connecting environmental chemistry and molecular biology and is a collaboration between PIs Anna Sobek (ACES, SU) and Kristina Jonas (Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institiute, SU and SciLifeLab). The project builds on experiments exposing bacteria to chemical mixtures in solution followed by the assessment of chemical-induced cellular responses. The experimental work within MICROCHEM will be performed both at ACES and at SciLifeLab. Exposure experiments and subsequent cell biological evaluation of effects of chemicals on bacteria, will be carried out in Jonas’ lab at SciLifeLab, whereas preparation of chemical mixtures and dosing strategies will be carried out at ACES in close collaboration with a PhD student in Sobek’s group.

Main responsibilities
The position involves research, including experimental design to meet the scientific goals of the project, being in charge of the experimental work, interpretation of data and data management and writing of scientific manuscripts.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree should have been completed no more than three years before the deadline for applications. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances, which may involve sick leave, parental leave, clinical attachment, elected positions in trade unions, or similar.

In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills in a relevant area for the position. The successful postdoc candidate working on the project is expected to have a PhD in molecular biology, preferentially in microbiology, and should have experience in handling bacterial cultures, in performing growth assays and in using advanced microscopy techniques. Experience and knowledge in screening procedures and high-throughput data analysis and quantification is an asset. Further, as this is an interdisciplinary project that requires close collaboration between the research groups of Sobek and Jonas, the candidate should have the ability to see the big picture, and an interest in environmental science and toxicology. The succesful candidate should have a strong motivation for and ability to work closely together with other researchers.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a maximum of two years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date January 1st 2020 or as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from Anna Sobek, ACES, anna.sobek@aces.su.se or Kristina Jonas, MBW and SciLifeLab, Kristina.jonas@su.se.