Umeå University - with its 29,000 students and over 4,000 employees – is an organisation in constant change and development. The university’s researchers carry out excellence within several areas of research, and many of them are among the world’s elite. We are one of Sweden’s largest providers of education and offer a broad and attractive range of courses and programmes. Our campus constitutes an inspiring environment for everyone that studies and works here. We wish to co-operate with companies and organisations throughout the Umeå region and all over the world.

Postdoc position
at the Department of Odontology, Oral Microbiology

The Faculty of Medicine is one of five faculties of Umeå University.  The faculty is an organization for education and research groups in  the fields of medicine, odontology and health care. It comprises 13  departments, 2 research centers and 12 academic programmes. Within the faculty there are about 3 000 undergraduate and 500 graduate students. About 1 000 people are employed here, among them about 500  teachers/researchers.

At the Department of Odontology, the dentists, dental hygienists, and dental technicians receive their education and training. The Department of Odontology pursues research within the fields of cariology, endodontics, clinical oral physiology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, dental materials science, oral cell biology, oral microbiology, oral diagnostic radiology, orthodontics, periodontology, pedodontics and prosthetic dentistry. The students receive clinical experience in the student operated dental clinics, which are managed by the Västerbotten county council.

Work description: The postdoc participates in the research work carried out in the section of Oral Microbiology. The specific tasks include the following: - to independently search for literature, - to prepare experimental protocols, - to perform laboratory experiments on bacteria-host interactions, - to purify and identify secreted proteins of oral Gram-negative bacteria, - to run whole blood stimulation assays, - to quantify gene expression, and - to draft the results in manuscript form.

Time period: 1 year, fulltime (100%). Start date after agreement.

Qualification: - PhD examination (maximum 3 years old) in the area of the above mentioned work description.
- Education and prior experience for planning and accomplishing complicated experimental protocols. - Methodological proficiency in culturing bacteria, culturing and stimulation of eukaryotic cells, purification and analysis of proteins and surface components (e.g. LPS) of Gram-negative bacteria, 1D- and 2D-PAGE, various gel staining methods, Western blot, DNA extraction, PCR and real-time PCR, - Know-how to use computer software, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SPSS, and Photoshop. - Fluent English language skills.
The application should include a description of your specific areas of competence, a short description of why you are interested in the position, CV, and two references.

For more information, contact Dr. Jan Oscarsson, +46(0)90-785 61 47 or Prof. Sirkka Asikainen, +46 (0)90-785 61 66.

Union information is available from SACO, +46-(0)90-786 53 65, SEKO, +46-(0)90-786 52 96 and ST, +46-(0)90-786 54 31.

Applications will be discarded or, if the applicant so wishes, returned two years after the position has been filled. Documents sent electronically should be in MS Word or PDF format.

Your complete application, marked with reference number 315-239-09, should be sent to jobb@umu.se or to the Registrar, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden to arrive March 31, 2009 at the latest.

We look forward receiving your application!