Researcher in Microfluidics with focus on Plant-on-Chip

at the Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Uppsala University
Temporary full-time position (100%) for 12 months, starting as soon as possible or as agreed upon.
Join us!
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering aims to be an environment for successful and valuable research and education with a focus on materials science solutions for important societal challenges. Our department is an exciting workplace with research in a broad technology-related area, from basic research to large-scale applied research, and close contacts with students through the department's involvement in engineering, bachelor’s and master's programs. Our research and teaching are conducted within six divisions with different research focuses, a state-of-the-art cleanroom laboratory, as well as a division that provides support and administration. The department is an international place to work and has around 200 co-workers.
Read more about us here

About the division

The Division of Biomedical Engineering is part of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Ångström Laboratory. We conduct research within the development and evaluation of new materials in interaction with biological systems to understand the underlying principles. For us, it is equally important to study the impact of materials on biological processes as well as the impact of biological processes on materials. Our ambition is to foster a dynamic teaching and research environment that is internationally recognised for its excellence in connecting basic research with clinical applications.
The position is located at the Division of Biomedical Engineering in the interdisciplinary research group EMBLA, which is led by Professor Maria Tenje. The group conducts successful and internationally recognised research in organs-on-chip and droplet-based microfluidics in collaboration with research teams at several different Swedish and international universities. Research funding has been obtained through several prestigious grants, including from the Knut och Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and European Research Council (ERC).
Further information about the research group is available on our website.

Project description

Our research group is part of the Wallenberg-funded FATE project, which aims to increase our understanding of how plant cells acquire their “identity”, that is, the mechanisms that ensure that different cell types develop in the right place and at the right time during plant development.
The project is led by SLU Umeå and also involves a research group at Linköping University.
The EMBLA group contributes to the project by developing and investigating new microfluidic methods that enable plant cells to be cultured and studied under carefully controlled conditions. The project is now entering its final phase, and we are therefore looking for a motivated and dedicated researcher who would like to contribute to completing the remaining research activities and generating the final results.

Duties

Your duties will consist of research in microfluidics with the aim of developing miniaturized systems in which plant cells can be cultured and stimulated under controlled conditions in so-called plant-on-chip systems. This work will be carried out in collaboration both within the EMBLA research group and with the other project partners. The research is primarily experimental.
A particular focus is on using the microfluidic systems to study how cell differentiation is affected by the environment in which the cells are placed and by the external stimuli to which they are exposed. Such external stimuli may, for example, include pressure or chemical substances. The evaluation is mainly performed using high-resolution microscopy techniques.
You are expected to work safely and independently in a laboratory environment, while also contributing effectively within a large multidisciplinary research team.
In addition to research, the position also includes some involvement in the supervision of doctoral students, master’s students, and project students. Communicating research results through scientific articles in well-established peer-reviewed journals and through presentations at international conferences are also included as important aspects of the employment.

Qualification requirements

This position requires a PhD degree in biomedical engineering, biotechnology, engineering physics, materials science, mechanical engineering or a closely related field.
Documented knowledge and several years of research experience in:
High-resolution microscopy e.g. FRET and FLIM
Image analysis
Cell culture
Plant cell biology
We require good oral and written skills in English, as well as excellent skills in writing scientific publications.

Additional qualifications

As the project is entering its final phase, it is important that you are able to work methodically, in a structured manner, and with a clear focus on well-defined objectives, and that you are able to bring ongoing projects to completion efficiently.
Experience in one or more of the following areas is considered an advantage:
Development of new experimental methods for studying plants
Mechanobiology
Molecular biology and cloning
Developmental biology and hormonal cross-talk
Fabrication of microfluidic systems
We attach great importance to your personal qualities and you must be self-motivated and proactive, have the ability to independently plan and run projects as well as possess excellent analytical ability and skill with practical handling of experimental equipment. You must also have good teaching skills, be structured and be able to work effectively both individually and in groups, as well as have the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with people from different disciplines.
When assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on your ability to publish scientific work in high-quality journals and to give presentations at scientific meetings.
Your application must include
A short letter describing yourself, why you are interested in joining this project, and why you consider yourself suitable for this position
CV (maximum 2 pages)
Copy of the PhD-diploma (or equivalent) and academic transcripts
A list of publications. Please highlight the publications most relevant to the position and describe your contribution to each of them.
Names and contact details (e-mail and telephone number) to at least two people who have agreed to act as referees. Please also state your relationship with each referee
During the application period, we will continuously read application documents and call for interviews

About the employment

The position is a fixed term position for 12 months
Scope of employment: 100%
Starting date: As soon as possible or as agreed upon
Placement: Uppsala
For more information about salary ranges and how Uppsala University determines salaries, as well as other working conditions, please read more here.
For further information about the position, please contact:
Prof. Maria Tenje, maria.tenje@angstrom.uu.se
Please submit your application no later than December 2, 2026, UFV-PA 2026/3414
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