Researcher in Psychoneuroendocrinology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Women’s and Children’s Health is an international and multi-professional department focused on the health and welfare of women, parents and children. The global health perspective is always present and we collaborate across professions and clinical fields in both education and research.

The position is placed in the research group Neuropsychopharmacology at the Department of Neuroscience. More information about the Department and its’ activities are available at https://www.kbh.uu.se/ and https://www.scilifelab.se/researchers/erika-comasco/.

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Duties
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate interested in pursuing research within the field of psychoneuroendocrinology. Mental illness is a growing problem in today's society, but there is a lack of knowledge about its etiology and especially in women, children and young adults. The project aims to contribute to the understanding of the importance of telomere length, given its potential as a biomarker of lifetime disease risk, and early life stress in relation to mental illness during critical phases of life, i.e. peripartum and adolescence. By employing genetic, endocrine, neurophysiological, psychological and social measures, we aim to characterize potential risk factors of mental illness and contribute to an early identification of vulnerable groups.

The researcher will investigate the relationship between telomere length (TL), early life events, telomere-related genotype, and mental health in two independent cohorts of i) pregnant women and ii) adolescents. Laboratory and statistical data analyses, interpretation of results and writing reports and scientific articles will be the primary responsibility of the successful applicant. Additionally, participation to the general duties of the team and collaboration with other team members are expected.

Requirements
A PhD in Neuroscience, Molecular biology, Genetics or equivalent is required. The candidate is expected to have very strong background in basic molecular biological methods (i.e. nucleic acid isolation, qPCR, SNP genotyping). Prior experience in advanced statistical models (i.e. GLM, mediation/moderation analysis) is required. Excellent organizational and proficiency in written and spoken English are a requirement. A strong motivation to work in a multi-disciplinary and collaborative environment is expected.

Additional qualifications
A strong background within the field of early-life stress impact and/or mental health is a merit. Previous experience with gene-by-environment interaction studies is advantageous.

The project will rely partly on data already available in the group and partly on generation of new data. The candidate will also be encouraged to develop original approaches to study relevant questions in the field of Psychoneuroendocrinology. For this reason, problem solving skills and a structured approach combined with an interest in state-of-the art molecular techniques and spirit of inventiveness would be very welcome. 

Your application should include
Cover letter (no more than 3 pages) describing why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement and what makes you suitable for the project in question.

A curriculum vitae, including date of the thesis defense, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions, committee work, and bioinformatics skills A complete list of publications A summary of current work (no more than one page) Copy of PhD thesis Letters of recommendation Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position, 12 months. Scope of employment 50 %. Starting date as soon as possible. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Erika Comasco, erika.comasco@neuro.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 1 February 2022, UFV-PA 2022/154.

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