Research Assistant

Research Assistant

Are you interested in working with bee-pollinated plants and bee-size robots? We are now looking for a Research Assistant to join us at the Plant Ecology and Evolution program, Department of Ecology and Genetics. This is a short-term (6 months) position supported by a grant from the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP). The recruited research assistant will become part of a Sweden-USA collaborative research team currently composed of two PIs, one PhD student, and a researcher.

About the Department: The Department of Ecology and Genetics (IEG) is an international environment with staff and students from all over the world. Our Department is part of the Evolutionary Biology Center (EBC), a research-oriented, internationally recognized center that brings together evolutionary biologists across study systems and levels of organization from molecules to ecosystems. EBC was funded in 1999 and currently comprises two research Departments and several Programs, the Biology Education Centre, and the Evolution Museum. Learn more about our department at www.ieg.uu.se.

The Plant Ecology and Evolution Program comprises several independent research groups working at the interface between ecology and evolution, with plants as central study systems. We strive to nurture a welcoming and friendly research environment, and value collaborations and interactions across the program, and across career stages.

Duties
The main task is to conduct a series of experiments with real flowers and miniature-sized robots to study pollen release in response to bee-like vibrations. This experiment is part of a larger project combining biology and electrical engineering for studying buzz pollination.

The duties of this post include plant growth and maintenance, setting up experiments with small, delicate, high-voltage, robotic actuators (robobuzzers), and collecting and counting pollen (with the aid of a particle counter). The experiments involves working with custom-made electronic equipment and software, as well as laser vibrometers and high-speed cameras.

As time allows, after the completion of the experiments, the employee will contribute to data analysis and manuscript preparation.

Requirements

• MSc degree in biology, electrical engineering, or related fields.
• Experience with working with delicate, fine-scale systems either biological or electrical
• Ability to use simple programs and run pipelines in R, MatLab, or similar.
• Extremely good attention to detail and organization
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, including attending weekly meetings with engineering collaborators overseas
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback
• Independence and problem-solving skills
• Ability and willingness to conduct on-site, lab-based work
• Good analytical skills
• Good writing and presentation skills
• Ability to effectively communicate in English

Additional qualifications

• Quantitative skills
• Programming experience with R
• Programming experience with MatLab
• Experience with conducting research with plants and/or pollinators
• Familiarity or willingness to learn simple principles of mechanics and/or electronics
• Evidence of their ability to carry out and complete (to publication) research projects

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position, 6 months. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 3 March 2026 or as agreed. Placement: Plant Ecology and Evolution Program, EBC, Uppsala University.

For further information about the position, please contact: Prof. Mario Vallejo-Marin. mario.vallejo-marin@ebc.uu.se

In this recruitment we have replaced the cover letter with questions that you are asked to answer when making your application. The answers will be used as a part of the selection process.

Please submit your application by 17 February 2026, UFV-PA 2026/277.

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