UPSC is a highly dynamic institute with around 200 employees, 30 principal investigators and about 10 associated principal investigators. Approximately half of our staff is non-Swedish and the working language is English. We recruit researchers from all over the world. More than 40 nations are represented at UPSC. Post-doctoral fellows have the most diverse nationalities, but also our PIs, graduate and undergraduate students represent many different nations.
Are you interested in joining us? Please have a look below for currently open job opportunities. You are also always welcome to contact our principal investigators directly if you are interested in working with them.
A postdoctoral scholarship is available at the Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre: a stimulating research environment at Umeå University. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate for Åsa Strand´s research group, where the research will focus on the regulation of nuclear encoded photosynthesis genes.
Last day to apply: 1 June 2026
Project description
In this project we will investigate whether GOLDEN2-Like2 (GLK2) acts as a pioneer transcription factor that unlocks chromatin at photosynthesis-associated loci, thereby enabling full activation of gene expression during plant greening. The establishment of photosynthesis during plant greening requires a large‑scale reorganization of cellular metabolism and a coordinated activation of photosynthesis‑associated nuclear genes (PhANGs).
Previous research from Åsa Strand’s research group has revealed a dynamic histone code at these loci, characterized by a developmental shift from the repressive H3K27me3 mark to the activating H3K27ac mark. The purpose of this project is to test our hypothesis that GLK2 acts as a pioneer transcription factor by assessing GLK2 occupancy at inaccessible chromatin regions, the biophysical properties of GLK2–DNA interactions using single‑molecule C‑Trap force spectroscopy, and the functional consequences of changes in GLK2 activity in planta. By uncovering the mechanisms by which GLK2 regulates chromatin dynamics in response to metabolic transitions such as establishment of photosynthesis, we aim to advance fundamental understanding of plant development and regulation of chromatin compaction.
The Department of Plant Physiology at Umeå University that is part of Umeå Plant Science Centre seeks to fill one postdoctoral position who will work in Nathaniel Street’s research group on a project aimed at investigating the role of transposable elements as drivers of regulatory innovation in conifers. The employment is full-time for two years with access as soon as possible or according to agreement.
Last day to apply: 6 June 2026
Project description and working tasks
Con-TEki investigates the role of transposable elements (TEs) as drivers of regulatory innovation in conifers (Norway spruce and Scots pine), contrasting outcomes with an angiosperm (aspen). The project combines genomic, epigenomic and 3D chromatin profiling (ATAC-Seq, easySHARE-Seq, ChIP-Seq, Micro-C/Hi-C, BS-Seq/EM-Seq), massively parallel enhancer assays (ATAC-STARR-seq), and comparative/bayesian/deep-learning analyses, with functional validation in spruce.
A postdoctoral scholarship is available at the Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre: a stimulating research environment at Umeå University. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate for Stéphane Verger´s research group, where the goal is to discover how plant cells build and reinforce the vital connection between their plasma membrane and cell wall.
Last day to apply: 22 June 2026
Project description
The goal of this project is to discover how plant cells build and reinforce the vital connection between their plasma membrane and cell wall.
Plant cells are surrounded by a strong but flexible structure called the cell wall. This wall gives the cell its shape and protects it, while also regulating growth, adhesion, cell-to-cell communication, and signaling. The plasma membrane is a key interface within which a variety of receptors and other protein sit, integrating and mediating signal transduction from the outside (cell wall) to the inside of the cell. This machinery critically depends on a robust and responsive connection between the plasma membrane and the surrounding cell wall. This tight contact is essential for healthy plant growth, development and stress adaptation.
The postdoctoral scholarship holder will have the opportunity to use advanced microfluidic, optical tweezers (c-trap) and live-cell microscopy, with mutants and fluorescent reporter lines, to characterize this adhesion and aim to discover the genes and dynamic processes that allow stable attachment at this essential interface.
The Department of Plant Physiology seeks a Senior Staff Scientist in Bioinformatics. The position is full-time and permanent with starting date during September 2026, or according to agreement. A probationary period of up to 6 months may be applied.
Last day to apply: 30 June 2026
Description and tasks
The bioinformatic support group of UPSC (UPSCb) supports researchers at UPSC with bioinformatic analysis, and interpreting large datasets from metabolomic, proteomic, or genomic experiments. The goal is to get maximum information from the datasets in collaboration with the individual researchers. The projects can be small (e.g. mRNA sequencing) and take a few hours to complete or very extensive, spanning over several years. The group currently consists of five staff scientists, all of whom have a PhD in Bioinformatics or a related discipline.
Your role as a Senior Staff Scientist will be to lead and develop the UPSCb support group. You will be responsible for the professional development of the group and the individuals in your team, both as bioinformaticians and as coworkers. You will have strategic responsibility for the platform, so it is important to closely follow the field's development.
The department is also hosting other similar groups that support researchers from other departments, as well as a large group of bioinformatics researchers and PhD students. Together with the research groups, about 30 biotechnicians work at the centre. Your role will also be to coordinate local bioinformatics seminars and workshops in cooperation with Nathaniel Street, Professor in Plant Bioinformatics.
A postdoctoral scholarship is available at the Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre: a stimulating research environment at Umeå University. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate for Nathaniel Street´s research group, where the goal is to investigates the role of transposable elements (TEs) as drivers of regulatory innovation in conifers (Norway spruce and Scots pine).
Last day to apply: 3 July 2026
Project description
Establishing robust single-cell methods in technically challenging plant systems represents a central challenge in modern plant genomics. While single-cell and single-nucleus sequencing approaches have transformed research in model organisms, their application in conifers remains limited due to challenges associated with tissue structure, nuclei isolation and sensitivity to inhibitory compounds.
This project aims to develop and optimise experimental workflows for single-nucleus sequencing in Norway spruce and Scots pine, including the isolation of high-quality nuclei and the establishment of reproducible protocols for library preparation and sequencing.
The Department of Plant Physiology at Umeå University that is part of Umeå Plant Science Centre invites applicants for a PhD position in plant science to join the research group of Nathaniel Street. The expected starting date is on the 5 October 2026 or according to agreement.
Last day to apply: 31 July 2026
Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC) is one of the strongest research environments for basic plant research in Europe. Research at UPSC covers a wide range of disciplines in plant biology including ecology, computational biology, genetics, physiology, biochemistry, cell biology and molecular biology.
Project description
Conifer genomes are exceptionally large and rich in transposable elements, yet the functional consequences of TE insertions on gene regulation remain poorly understood. The Con-TEki project aims to understand how TE-derived regulatory elements contribute to gene expression divergence and adaptive responses in conifers.
This doctoral project focuses on the development and implementation of approaches for functional validation of regulatory elements in conifer systems. The work will bridge large-scale regulatory genomics with experimental molecular biology to directly test hypotheses generated from genome-wide datasets.
https://www.upsc.se/undergraduate/1430-undergraduate-education.html
UPSC group leaders: https://www.upsc.se/research/research-groups.html
UPSC associated group leaders: https://www.upsc.se/research/associated-research-groups.html