Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.
The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.
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We are now looking for a postdoctoral researcher to spend 2 years studying potential strategies for early detection of cancer, with special emphasis on brain tumors and pancreatic cancer. The project aims to establish a prediction of different cancer subclasses by combing multiomics with diagnostic examinaions such as CT, MRI or hybrid imaging with PET/CT or PET/MRI. The project is interlinked with two large infrastructure projects; EUCAIM and PREDICT. EUCAIM, a flagship project in the Europe´s Beating Cancer Plan, is a large infrastructure project in the DIGITAL program in Horizon EU aiming to deploy a hybrid federated infrastructure to power up AI and imaging to beat cancer. PREDICT is a precision health study, using health data and stored blood biobank samples to identify predictors for early disease and understand how diseases develop. As a postdoctoral researcher in our team you will work together with the PREDICT team and the brain and pancreatic tumor research groups, and you will be part in the EUCAIM task forces (https://cancerimage.eu). Umeå University and Region Västerbotten have unique opportunities to study how diseases arise by using blood samples collected long before diagnosis through the Västerbotten intervention project.
Project description and work responsibilities
The causes of brain tumours (gliomas) and pancreatic cancers are not well understood, and there are no specific blood tests to discover glioma nor pancreatic cancer. We believe that if we understand how tumours arise, we can also find new opportunities for early diagnosis or new targets for treatment. More information about our publications and the research group can be found here.
The project involves analysing imaging from CT scans and MRI, together with -omics data such as quantitative metabolomics performed on blood samples, and clinical information, using advanced bioinformatics. The tasks include detailed bioinformatic analyses of imaging data and blood sample -omics data from the patients that later developed glioma or pancreatic cancer. Tasks also include literature searches, compiling results and writing manuscripts. Some administrative tasks, such as convening group meetings may be included, as we usually rotate this in the group.
You will be part of the work with data incorporation of use cases in EUCAIM, and in the definition of platform use cases to demonstrate and validate the platform’s usability to promote secondary use of FAIR data for R&D. There is also possibilities to get involved in other tasks in EUCAIM.
Eligitibility
Eligible to be employed as a postdoctoral researcher is a person who has obtained a doctoral degree, or a foreign degree as a deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree, in a relevant subject such as biotechnology, bioinformatics, biostatistics or equivalent. This entry requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the recruitment decision.
You are proficient in image analyses and bioinformatics and have experience in working and driving intradisciplinary projects. Good verbal and written skills in English are a requirement. Experience of analysing biological samples using different types of statistical methods is also required.
Additional useful qualifications
As the postdoctoral position is a merit-based position for junior researchers, we mainly target those with a doctoral degree no older than three years from the deadline for applications. If there are special reasons, those who have completed a doctoral degree earlier may be considered. Special reasons refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, clinical service, positions of trust in trade unions or other similar circumstances, as well as service/assignments relevant to the subject area.
Previous work with multivariate clinical datasets is considered a merit, as is programming proficiency in at least one language (such as R or Python).
More about the job
The position is a full-time, fixed-term employment for 2 years according to the terms of the agreement on fixed-term employment as a postdoc from 1 February 2022. The work location is Umeå University.
The application
The application must contain:
– A brief description of your research interests and justification of why you are interested in the position.
– CV
– List of publications
– Diploma from postgraduate programme and other relevant degrees.
– Contact information for two reference persons
The application must be written in Swedish or English. Applications must be submitted via our e-recruitment system Varbi and be received by 15th of January 2025.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Beatrice Melin (beatrice.melin@umu.se) or Katrine Riklund (katrine.riklund@umu.se).
Welcome with your application!
