项目介绍

2026年1月30日

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Institute of Clinical Sciences is one of six Institutes within Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg. We conduct research and education that puts people’s health and quality of life in focus. We represent 16 different research areas and are divided into four sections. Through a fruit-ful collaboration with the healthcare and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, we have developed joint projects and meeting places that benefits both health care and research

The Institute of Clinical Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sahlgrenska Academy, is seeking a Postdoctor for perinatal medical wet and dry lab research at the Perinatal laboratory. The Perinatal laboratory is a research laboratory with extensive research activity of a high interna-tional level. The main languages are English and Swedish, the working environment is stimulating and developing with high productivity and the research group is inter-professional.

The Perinatal laboratory and research group is led by Professor Bo Jacobsson. Our research group is located at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Oslo). We investigate genetic and environmental factors affecting human gestational age at pre-term birth. We work with unique genomic data containing thousands of family trios from Norway, complemented by extensive collections of medical and questionnaire-related variables, validated environmental exposures, and a birth registry covering over four million pregnancies from Sweden.

Preterm delivery and the duration of gestation are heritable traits. Our group has recently published the largest GWAS meta-analysis of gestational duration and preterm birth to date. As Postdoctor you will contribute to ongoing efforts moving our genetic discoveries to biological and mechanistic understanding. We expect to characterize and understand some of the loci known to be associated with gestational duration and preterm birth.

Subject area 

Perinatal medical research 

Subject area description 

Preterm delivery and the duration of gestation are heritable traits. Our group has recently published the largest GWAS meta-analysis of gestational duration and preterm birth to date. As postdoc fel-low you will contribute to ongoing efforts moving genetic discoveries to the lab to gain biological in-sights into preterm delivery. Our group has started mapping variants to specific gene targets in en-dometrial stromal cells (2d cell culture). The postdoc’s project will focus on modelling the genetics of gestational duration in pregnancy on-a-chip systems, expanding the 2d cell culture system to a mul-ti-cell type co-culture system that better recapitulates pregnancy anatomy, functions, and responses. 

Duties 

The main task is to conduct high-quality research in perinatal medical research. There will be great opportunities to expand focus within the framework of the specified projects and the researcher’s interests. The Postdoctor is also expected to contribute to other projects (from collaborators or oth-er researchers at Perinatal laboratory). The position includes responsibility to contribute to high im-pact level publications. The Postdoctor is expected to conduct specialized laboratory tasks in rela-tion to the genetics of gestational duration and using microphysiological models. This includes cell co-culture assays in pregnancy-on-chip models (i.e., feto-maternal interfaces on-chip or lower re-productive tract on-chip), in vitro cell-differentiation as well as loss- and gain- of function experi-ments involving human samples, among other cell biology techniques.

The employment include a planned research stay abroad of at least one year at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas (USA). This research stay constitutes an integral part of the Postdoctor position and aims to develop the techniques and acquire skills required to implement pregnancy-on-chip models.

The position involves contributing to various types of important administrative work for the PI and the needs of the whole group related to academic research, such as grant applications, writing sci-entific reports and project proposals, writing ethics applications, as well as co-authoring research manuscripts, including submission to the journal process and other tasks. 

Eligibility 

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree, a doctoral degree in art or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made. 

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.   

Assessment criteria 

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field, such as molecular or cell biology, devel-opmental biology, molecular biosciences, biochemistry, bioengineering, or a closely related disci-pline. The applicant should have demonstrated experience in experimental cell biology, as well as proven expertise in molecular biology techniques, including cell culture.

Excellent oral and written English language skills. The successful candidate must also demonstrate a proven ability to write clear and coherent scientific text with at least one published manuscript where the applicant is first author and wrote a major part of the text.

Meritorious for the position:

• Experience with primary cell culture, particularly endometrial/ cervical cells and/or placental cells
• Experience with gene editing
• Experience with organ-on-chip/microphysiological systems or microfluidics, particularly pregnancy on a chip
• Experience with molecular techniques including siRNA knockdown and gene editing (CRISPR/Cas9)
• Experience with molecular biology techniques (qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence)
• Understanding of pregnancy and fetal biology
• Experience with co-culture systems
• Experience in student supervision 

Employment 

The employment is limited (temporary) for 24 months, 100 % of full-time and is placed at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Starting date: As agreed

Selection process 

 The selection process will be composed of interviews, reference taking and work tests in English. 

Contact information 

If you have questions regarding the position please contact Professor Bo Jacobsson via Unit manager Ylva Folkesson e-mail: ylva.folkesson@vgregion.se or Co-PI Pol Solé Navais, e-mail: pol.sole.navais@gu.se 

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande 

Application 

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. We kindly ask you to write your application in English as the application may be reviewed by English-speaking staff.

The application should contain:

• A cover letter giving a brief description of previous research experience, how this experience and your qualifications are suited to the research project proposed
• A CV (including a selected list of publications, max. 3 pages)
• Proof of completed PhD
• Contact details of two references who may be contacted

It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.  

Applications must be received by: 2026-02-22