Employer: Umeå University
Host Department: Department of Chemistry
Research Environment: Chemical Biological Centre (KBC) & Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR)
Location: Umeå, Sweden
Position Type: Full-time Postdoctoral Fellowship
Duration: 2 years
Salary: 360,000 SEK per year (tax-exempt; total 720,000 SEK)
Application Deadline: 29 March 2026
Start Date: As soon as possible

About Umeå University

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s leading research-intensive universities, with over 35,000 students and 4,200 staff. It is internationally recognized for world-class discoveries in life sciences, including the elucidation and repurposing of the CRISPR–Cas9 system, work originating at Umeå University and awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

The host laboratory is embedded within the highly interdisciplinary Chemical Biological Centre (KBC) and affiliated with the Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), providing access to exceptional infrastructure and a vibrant international research environment.

Research Environment & Facilities

The research environment offers state-of-the-art facilities, including:

• Protein Expertise Platform

• X-ray crystallography

• Proteomics platforms

• NMR spectroscopy (850–400 MHz)

• Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM)

• Biochemical Imaging Centre (confocal, SIM, FLIM, spinning disk, TIRF, STORM)

The environment fosters close collaboration across disciplines, creating outstanding conditions for cutting-edge biochemical and molecular biology research.

Project Description

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved cellular recycling process essential for development, ageing, and homeostasis, and is implicated in diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and infection. In addition to canonical autophagy, emerging evidence highlights noncanonical autophagy pathways, collectively referred to as CASM, which play crucial roles in immune regulation, inflammation, host–pathogen interactions, neuronal signaling, and anti-cancer immunity.

Using a combination of cell biology, structural biology, and chemical genetics, the host laboratory has made major contributions to understanding autophagy regulation, including:

• Mechanisms of bacterial interference with host autophagy (eLife, JCS, JCB)

• Discovery of novel autophagy-modulating chemotypes (Angew. Chem., Nat. Chem. Biol., Autophagy)

• Identification of CASM-inducing compounds (ChemBioChem 2023, PNAS 2024)

• Discovery of the STIL pathway and TECPR1–ATG5–ATG12 as a novel E3-like ligase for ATG8 lipidation (EMBO Reports 2023, EMBO Journal 2026)

This project will combine biochemical, cell biological, and chemical approaches to dissect molecular mechanisms underlying canonical and noncanonical autophagy.

Methods & Techniques

The project will involve, but is not limited to:

• Protein expression and purification

• Biochemical characterization and in vitro reconstitution

• Peptide synthesis and protein/peptide chemistry

• Cell imaging and microscopy

• Western blotting

• Gene knock-out and knock-down approaches

Qualifications

Required

• PhD (or equivalent) in Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, or a closely related field

• Doctoral degree completed (or expected) by the time of fellowship decision

• Strong ability to work both independently and collaboratively

• Excellent written and spoken English

Merits

• Experience in protein expression and purification

• Molecular cloning and membrane biochemistry

• In vitro reconstitution

• Cell imaging and biochemical assays

• Gene knock-out/down techniques

• Strong publication record

Preference will be given to applicants who obtained their PhD within the past three years, though older degrees may be considered under special circumstances (e.g. parental leave, illness, clinical duties).

What We Offer

• A 2-year, tax-exempt postdoctoral fellowship

• Access to world-class infrastructure and interdisciplinary collaborations

• A stimulating, creative, and international research environment

• An exciting project with strong relevance to human health and disease

• Excellent career development opportunities in academia and beyond

Application Instructions

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF with the subject line “Postdoc application” and include:

• Curriculum Vitae

• Motivation letter (max. 2,000 characters, including spaces) describing research interests and motivation

• Publication list (including preprints with DOI or web links)

• Names and contact details of at least two referees

• Verified PhD certificate or documentation of expected degree completion

• Any additional supporting documents (optional)

📧 Submit applications to:
yaowen.wu@umu.se

📅 Application deadline: 29 March 2026

Apply Now!

Contact

For further information, please contact:
Prof. Yaowen Wu
Department of Chemistry, Umeå University

More opportunities link here!