Postdoctoral researcher in proteomics and plant immunity

Department of Molecular Sciences

This position is funded by a Wallenberg Academy Fellows project from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and ERC Consolidator grant (DETOXPEST) and aims to establish a public, cross-species “pan-terminome” knowledge base of plant proteoforms and to uncover how conserved proteolytic processing of chloroplast proteins contributes to immune responses in plants and crops. Protease- and substrate-centered proteomics will be performed in close collaboration with the SciLife lab for Chemical Proteomics (Stockholm, Sweden) and the candidate will benefit from a strong (inter-)national network of collaborators in protease biology and computational proteomics. The successful candidate for this position will join the Stael Lab, part of The Plant Catabolism Laboratories, at the Department of Molecular Sciences, Uppsala BioCenter, SLU.

About the position

The host laboratory has previously uncovered a signaling pathway in the plant wound response that relies on damage-activation of metacaspases and cleavage of immunomodulatory signaling peptides (doi/10.1126/science.aar7486). Proteolysis is a powerful regulatory mechanism that generates novel protein fragments (proteoforms) with specialized biological functions. In plants, proteolysis is emerging as a key regulator of immune and wound responses, yet the global landscape and evolutionary conservation of protease-mediated cleavage events remain poorly understood. Chloroplast proteins are particularly attractive candidates due to their high abundance, deep evolutionary conservation, and central role in plant immunity through defense signaling and retrograde communication with the nucleus. This position offers a strong opportunity to expand advanced computational and integrative (proteo-)omics expertise in the lab, guided by leading experts in terminomics, systems-level data analysis, and structural bioinformatics.

Your profile

• A PhD in biology, biochemistry, proteomics, bioinformatics, or a related field
• Strong experience and a passion for mass spectrometry-based proteomics, computational biology, and large-scale data integration
• Interest in plant immunity, chloroplast biology, or protease biology
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an international research environment, with a strong drive to take ownership of the project and develop their own scientific direction within it.

A postdoctoral position is a career-building opportunity for early-career researchers, so we are primarily looking for a candidate who earned their Ph.D. no more than three years ago.

About us

Uppsala BioCenter brings together scientists and students from the Departments of Molecular Sciences, Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Plant Biology, and Aquatic Resources. The Departments share advanced technological platforms, enjoy both basic and applied research across all kingdoms of life, and have access to national facilities such as SciLifeLab and Swedish high-performance computing resources, thus offering a stimulating environment for scientific development and education.

Department of Molecular Sciences conducts research and education in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, food science and microbiology with a focus on fundamental biological processes as well as development of applications for a sustainable life.

Read more about our benefits and working at SLU by visiting: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Location:

Uppsala

Form of employment:

Temporary employment 24 months, with the possibility of extension.

Scope:

100%

Start date:

1^st of September 2026 or as agreed

Application:

Please submit your application before deadline 4 May 2026. You can submit your application by clicking the button below.

Union representatives:

https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

 

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden. SLU has around 4,000 employees, 6,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 4,5 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.