A postdoctoral fellowship is available in the group of Dr Sandra Jämtgård in collaboration with Professor Stéphanie Robert at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC) in Umeå. We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher with skills in cell biology including confocal microscopy and plant physiology.
Last day to apply: 16 November 2026
Research in Jämtgård’s group focuses on how tree root microbial interactions affect nitrogen availability. Rhizosphere microbes – fungi and bacteria in the immediate vicinity of the root – influence the root’s access to nitrogen. The aim of this postdoc project is to characterize root cell anatomy in roots of boreal tress species, in the combined research environment of cell biology and ecophysiology of the two groups of Prof Robert and Dr Jämtgård. The project will be lab-based and will involve methods like cultivation of tree seedlings in vitro and in soil and foremost microscopy.
The postdoc will be placed at the Department of Forest Ecology and Sustainable Management, FEM, at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU in Umeå, Sweden and will do experiments there and at Umeå Plant Science Centre, UPSC, Sweden. These two multicultural institutes with close to 300 people from over 40 nations, encompass a broad area of expertise from the FEM department’s mission to advance the understanding of forest ecosystem processes and to progress the principles of forest ecosystem management to UPSC’s research focuses on plant molecular biology, plant physiology, cell biology, tree biotechnology, ecophysiology and forest genetics. This brings a large choice of specialist-driven technical platforms. UPSC has excellent facilities for microscopy that will support the researcher. For more information about the departments go to http://www.slu.se/en/departments/forest-ecology-management/ and https://www.upsc.se/. The postdoc will be supervised by Sandra Jämtgård, with experience in root-microbial interactions and Professor Stephanie Robert, with experience in cell biology and confocal microscopy.
Your profile
Required:
- A PhD in biology, with a focus of cell biology, plant physiology, or a related subject
- Documented experience in confocal microscopy
- Documented experience of cultivation of plants
- Demonstrated ability of good cooperation skills, problem solving, analytical skills and work independently
- Fluent in English, and be able to write, communicate and interact in an English-speaking environment
A postdoc is part of the career-path for junior researchers, therefore we are searching for candidates with a doctoral degree less than three years old (excluding parental leave).
Place of work: Umeå, Sweden
Form of position: The postdoc is a two-year scholarship available for persons with no previous employment at SLU.
Starting date: According to agreement
Application:
The application should contain the following written in English:
- A cover letter, in which you describe the reasons why you are applying for the position, your research interests and relevant skills (max. 2 pages, in English)
- CV describing your education, publications and relevant work experience
- Copy of your PhD certificate
- Names and contact information for three references
Please submit your application to:
Deadline: 2026-11-16
For further information contact: Sandra Jämtgård at the Department of Forest Ecology and Management, SLU, Umeå
About the Research Environment at UPSC
Umeå Plant Science Centre (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, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and Umeå University. About 200 people from more than 45 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.
Umeå has a strong postdoc community organised in the Umeå Postdoc Society (UPS). UPS fosters networking amongst postdocs, organises social and career development events and works towards improving the postdoc experience in Umeå. Check out their website https://umeapostdocs.com/ and do not hesitate to get in contact with them!
We look forward to receiving your application!