Postdoctor in Microbiology

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The Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, at the Institute of Medicine, conducts translational research primarily on metabolism, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease in order to improve health and healthcare in the community. The overall goal is to create an excellent translational research environment of a very high international standard.

We have more bacteria than our own cells in the body and these bacteria interact with each other in ecosystems, the microbiota, which can affect how we feel. By combining clinical samples and gnotobiotic animal models, we have shown that the gut microbiota affects our physiology and metabolism. We are now looking for a postdoctoral researcher who can analyze the gut microbiota and isolate specific microbial modulators for metabolic diseases by quantifying and characterizing bacterial species, strains, and genomes with a focus on diet-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions within the gut microbiota.

Read more about the research group here: https://backhedlab.org/

Subject area

Microbiology

Subject area description

The gut microbiota contains approximately 1,000 times more genes than the human genome and constitutes a complex ecosystem that influences host physiology through the production of bioactive metabolites. Despite major advances in microbiome research, it remains largely unknown how individual bacterial species and strain-level genetic variation contribute to microbiome function and the development of metabolic diseases.

This project aims to identify and characterize bacterial species and strains within Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae, and particularly the genus Faecalibacterium, one of the most abundant and functionally important bacterial groups in the healthy human gut microbiota.

Duties

The successful candidate will investigate the functional diversity of Faecalibacterium and its interactions with other gut bacteria using an integrated experimental and bioinformatic approach. The project combines comparative genomic and bioinformatic analyses to determine how strain-level genetic variation shapes bacterial metabolism and functional capacity with physiological characterization of bacterial growth, substrate utilization, and production of bioactive metabolites under defined anaerobic culture conditions.

Building on our observation that Faecalibacterium abundance is associated with increased stability of the gut microbial community, potentially through interactions with members of the Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae families, the candidate will also isolate and characterize novel bacterial strains from faecal samples obtained from healthy donors. These isolates will be used in experimental models to investigate microbial interactions, cross-feeding mechanisms, and their effects on host metabolism.

The project integrates clinical cohort data, large-scale genomic analyses, anaerobic cultivation, metabolomics, and experimental model systems to identify microbial mechanisms and bioactive metabolites that contribute to metabolic health and may provide the foundation for future microbiome-based treatments for cardiometabolic diseases.

Eligibility

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree in a relevant subject, or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made.

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.

Assessment criteria

Documented experience in the preparation, optimisation and development of culture media for strictly anaerobic human gut bacteria, including YCFA fatty acid medium, as well as cultivation and isolation of strictly anaerobic gut bacteria under anaerobic conditions, particularly using Coy chambers or equivalent anaerobic cultivation systems, is required.

Documented experience in genome-based phylogenetic identification and functional characterisation of bacterial species and strains is also required, including analyses using tools such as Protologger, phylogenetic analyses and phylogenetic tree reconstruction, average nucleotide identity (ANI), digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH), and functional genome annotation using software such as Prokka and COGs/EggNOG. Experience in programming and statistical data analysis using R, together with excellent written and spoken English, is also required.

Experience in the isolation, cultivation and physiological characterisation of human gut commensals belonging to the Lachnospiraceae and Oscillospiraceae families, particularly butyrate-producing and/or fibre-degrading bacteria, is considered highly meritorious. Experience with faecal cultures derived from human samples, including selective and enrichment-based isolation strategies under strictly anaerobic conditions, is also considered highly meritorious.

Additional merit will be given to applicants with experience in assessing bacterial metabolism of dietary components, including dietary fibres, complex carbohydrates and other diet-derived substrates. Experience in the physiological and functional characterisation of strictly anaerobic gut bacteria, including the use of API kits or other phenotypic methods for bacterial characterisation, particularly of Faecalibacterium and related human gut anaerobes, is also considered meritorious. International research experience, for example through doctoral or postdoctoral training abroad, is also considered meritorious.

Great importance will be attached to the applicant's ability to collaborate and interact effectively with researchers and clinicians in a multidisciplinary research environment. Great emphasis will also be placed on personal suitability, including the ability to take initiative, work independently, demonstrate flexibility, and apply strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Employment

Employment type: Fixed-term, 36months.
Extent: 100%
Location: Institution of medicin, Gothenburg
Start date: 2026-11-01 or by agreement

Contact information

Fredrik Bäckhed
Professor
+46(0)702182355
Fredrik.Backhed@wlab.gu.se

Malin Levin
Head of department
malin.levin@gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply-for-a-position#collective-agreement-and-union-representatives

Information for International Applicants

Visit the webpage Join us - jobs and career (skapa länk till sidan: https://www.gu.se/en/medicine/about-us/join-us-jobs-and-career) for more information on the Institute of Medicine and what opportunities we have for you. Discover our world-class research and research infrastructure, as well as what the benefits are for you and your family.

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/

Application

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by clicking the "Apply" button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

Please attach PhD certificate with the application, if the PhD certificate has not yet been issued, it needs to be attached latest at the time when the employment decision is to be made.

Applicants should attach a cover letter including a brief description of previous experience in anaerobic cultivation, isolation and characterization of human gut bacteria, as well as bioinformatic/genome-based analysis.

Applications must be received by: 2026-09-07

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden's regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.