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.
The project will involve the integration of genomic data (e.g. chromatin accessibility, gene expression and methylation data) with experimental approaches to validate candidate regulatory elements and gene regulatory mechanisms. Emphasis will be placed on establishing robust and reproducible workflows for functional assays in spruce and pine.
Within this framework, the position provides strong opportunities to develop expertise at the interface between experimental molecular biology and bioinformatics. The project will make use of transformation and functional validation platforms available at UPSC, enabling direct testing of candidate regulatory elements in conifer systems. This project is particularly suited to candidates with a strong interest in experimental method development and optimisation. Experience with reporter assays, transient expression systems or genome editing approaches is particularly relevant.
Work tasks
The doctoral student will be trained to:
- Develop and implement experimental approaches for functional validation of regulatory elements
- Perform molecular biology experiments, including nucleic acid extraction and sequencing library preparation
- Contribute to the generation, processing and interpretation of genome-wide datasets
- Integrate experimental results with computational analyses
- Develop reproducible workflows for experimental and analytical procedures
- Participate in scientific communication through presentations and publications
Eligibility
To fulfil the general entry requirements, the applicant must have qualifications equivalent to a completed degree at advanced level (second cycle), or completed course requirements of at least 240 ECTS credits including at least 60 ECTS credits at advanced level, or has otherwise acquired essentially equivalent knowledge within Sweden or abroad. The faculty board may, in the case of a specific applicant, consent to an exemption from the general entry requirements if there are special reasons to do so. (cf. Higher Education Ordinance)
To fulfil the specific entry requirements to be admitted to doctoral studies in Plant Science, the successful candidate must have completed 90 ECTS in Biology or other subjects relevant to the research area, such as Chemistry, Physics, or Computer Science/Bioinformatics. Of these, at least 15 ECTS must be in a subject directly relevant to the research topic and at least 15 ECTS from an individual project course. Good knowledge of English, both written and spoken, is also required.
The requirements for prior knowledge as described above are also considered to be met by those who have otherwise acquired essentially equivalent knowledge.
Qualifications
Required qualifications
- Practical experience of molecular biology techniques
- Good ability to work experimentally in a structured and reproducible manner
- Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken
Meriting qualifications
- Experience with high-throughput sequencing methods (e.g. RNA-seq, ATAC-seq or similar)
- Experience of working with plant material
- Experience with bioinformatics tools, scripting or data analysis
- Experience of method development and optimisation
About the employment
The position is intended to result in a doctoral degree. The main task of the PhD student is to pursue their doctoral studies, which include participation in research and postgraduate courses. The duties can include teaching and other departmental work (up to a maximum of 20%). The employment is limited to four years full-time or up to five years including teaching part-time. Salary is set in accordance with the established salary ladder for PhD position.
The expected starting date is October 5, 2026, or according to agreement.
Application
You apply through Umeå University's recruitment system Varbi following this link: https://www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/open-positions/phd-position-in-plant-science-with-focus-on-functional-genomics-of-conifers_936654/.
Last day to apply is 31 July 2026. Registration number: AN 2026/681
The application should be written in English (preferably) or Swedish.
A complete application should include:
- A personal letter (max 2 pages) describing your qualifications and motivation for applying for the position
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Copies of degree certificates and documentation of completed university courses and grades
- Contact details of 2–3 referees
- Other documents the applicant wishes to submit
Contact
If you have questions regarding the position, please contact Nathaniel Street,
About the Research Environment at UPSC
The Department of Plant Physiology at Umeå University is part of Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC). UPSC is a centre of excellence for experimental plant research and forest biotechnology in Northern Sweden. Our mission is to perform excellent and innovative basic research and generate knowledge that benefits forestry, agriculture, environment and society. We work across a wide range of disciplines in plant science reaching from cell biology to ecophysiology and from basic research to industrial applications. Our common goal is to understand the plants’ ability to grow, adapt and acclimate to a changing world and how we can breed better plants.
UPSC belongs to two universities, Umeå University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). About 200 people from more than 40 different nationalities work here. We host some 30 principal investigators, and our researchers have access to state-of-the-art analytical platforms, unique tree germplasm resources and plant growth facilities. We strive for a collaborative work environment and support our scientists throughout all career stages by providing professional training opportunities and individual career mentoring.
About Umeå University
Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 41,500 students and about 4,600 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.
The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.
Are you interested in learning more? Read about Umeå university as a workplace
We look forward to receiving your application!