Postdoctoral position in Cell and Molecular biology of long non-coding RNAs involved in human diseases - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology is divided into seven research programs that focus on different areas within cell and molecular biology: computational biology and bioinformatics, microbiology, molecular biology, molecular biophysics, molecular evolution, molecular systems biology and structural biology. The scientific basis of what we do is in biology, but our research overlaps with other fields such as medicine, computer science, mathematics, chemistry, engineering and physics. The department has over 200 employees with around 60 PhD students. Please read more about the organization's work at https://icm.uu.se.

The postdoctoral fellow will work in Marco Marcia’s research group. Marco Marcia leads a research group in structural and cell biology and RNA biochemistry where RNA chemical probing, mutagenesis coupled to cellular functional assays, and RNA-protein interaction techiques are used in combination with complementary biophysical, structural and biochemical assays to understand structure-function relationships in long non-coding RNAs involved in cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders. The employee will work in an international and dynamic environment with great opportunities to learn new techniques. We will have a well-equipped lab and access to national SciLifeLab facilities in structural biology, proteomics, genomics, chemical biology, genetic engineering, and imaging in Uppsala, Stockholm, and Gothenburg.

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Duties
We are looking for a postdoctoral fellow with excellent credentials and strong motivation to identify and solve scientific problems. The employee will work in a project that aims to understand structural and mechanistic aspects of how lncRNA MEG3 regulates cellular signaling pathways to control cell cycle, imprinting in early development, and neurodegeneration, while also analyzing the conservation degree of this lncRNA and its interactants across species. Tasks include general RNA-based molecular biology techniques (in vitro transcription, RT-qPCR, RNA-FISH), RNA-protein interaction studies (pull downs, RNA-immunoprecipitation, cellular and biochemical characterization of ribonucleoprotein complexes), work with mammalian cell culture (including techniques such as transfection, gene editing, gene silencing, and gene reporter assays) and can be further complemented with microscopy techniques.

The researcher will co-supervise a doctoral student and work closely with researchers with partly complementary competences, but is expected to run their own project independently. A strong track record with documented laboratory skills, motivation and good collaboration skills is a prerequisite for the position.

Requirements
The candidate must have a PhD degree in molecular biology and/or biotechnology. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

• Documented experience working with mammalian cell cultures
• Documented experience working with protein-RNA interactions involved in gene expression regulation
• Documented experience analyzing the secondary structure of long non-coding RNAs
• Documented experience working with transcriptomics and proteomics approaches
• Good knowledge of English
• Good cooperation skills

Additional qualifications

• At least one-year experience in co-supervising a doctoral student.
• Experience studying the biological pathways that regulate the cell cycle in cancer is advantageous.
• Teaching experience is an advantage
• Experience in organizing and presenting at scientific meetings and in obtaining fellowships for research is advantageous
• Certified knowledge of French is an advantage, because the project involves a collaboration with French research groups

The application should contain:

• Personal letter
• A copy of the PhD degree certificate
• A CV with the complete list of publications and the contact details for three reference persons

About the employment
The employment is a temporary employment for 2 years according to central collective agreement. Scope of employment 100%. Starting date 1st of June 2024 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Marco Marcia, 0033-(0)476207759, mmarcia@embl.fr

Please submit your application by 24 November 2023, UFV-PA 2023/4090

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