Postdoc in the field of cellular mechanisms for Alzheimer's disease

The Department of Public Health and Care Sciences is a department within the Faculty of Medicine at Uppsala University. Today, there are approximately 200 employees at the department, and an additional 150 researchers are affiliated with the department. The operations consist of 11 research groups and education is conducted at all levels.

The Molecular Geriatrics research group at the Department of Public Health and Care Sciences is based at the Rudbeck Laboratory. The research is primarily focused on cellular and molecular mechanisms that are central to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and is conducted in collaboration with other university groups both internationally and within Sweden.

Clear changes in the brain in Alzheimer's disease are due to the clumping of harmful proteins. Additionally, a chronic inflammation is ongoing that increases during the course of the disease. Despite knowing about these changes for a long time, many questions remain regarding the mechanisms that cause the disease to worsen and spread to new regions of the brain. Research in the field has for many years been focused on changes occurring in nerve cells, but increasing attention is now being directed toward the brain's various support cells. The astrocyte is by far the most common type of support cell and has a very large impact on brain health. Our results show that astrocytes are involved in disease progression and spread pathological protein aggregates to nearby cells through various mechanisms. The overall goal of the project is to understand how astrocytes contribute to the spread of pathology in Alzheimer's disease and thereby identify future treatment strategies.

Job Duties

We are seeking a qualified and motivated postdoc who will investigate new astrocyte-mediated spreading mechanisms, characterize how pathological deposits in astrocytes are affected by copper, and generate antibodies that recognize astrocyte-modified amyloid-beta. The work will primarily be focused on studies of pathological protein aggregates in hiPSC-derived cell systems, but will also include analyses of human material from patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Qualification Requirements

A doctoral degree in neurobiology, cell biology, or molecular biology, or a foreign degree assessed to correspond to a doctoral degree in neurobiology, cell biology, or molecular biology. The degree must be completed no later than the time the employment decision is made. Primarily, candidates who have completed their degree at most three years ago should be considered. When calculating the three-year period, the starting point is the last application date. If there are special reasons, such a degree may have been completed earlier. Special reasons refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, positions of trust within trade unions, etc.

For the current position, extensive experience in cell culture and molecular techniques is required. The applicant should also have:

• Documented experience of research in the field of cellular mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease.
• Good knowledge of English, both oral and written.
• At least two published first-author articles in well-known scientific journals in the field.

Great importance will be placed on personal qualities such as excellent collaborative skills, good initiative, and high independence to drive the project forward. Experience in the following techniques is a requirement:

Cell culture:

• Culturing and differentiation of human iPSC-derived astrocytes and nerve cells
• Culturing of organoids
• Cell models for Alzheimer's disease, including amyloid beta exposure

Immunostaining:

• Immunohistochemistry
• Immunocytochemistry
• Confocal microscopy

Protein analysis:

• ELISA
• Western blot
• Mass spectrometry
• HPLC
• Antibody development
• Studies of Cu-Aβ interactions
• Real-time quaking-induced conversion

Cloning, transfection, and genotyping

• Transfection
• Transformation
• Genotyping/PCR
• Plasmid purification

Other desirable/merit qualifications

Experience in the following techniques is desirable:

• Electrophysiology
• Multielectrode array (MEA)
• Real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC)
• SIMOA
• Solid phase peptide synthesis
• UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy
• Culturing of primary nerve cells and hippocampal slices-cultures

About the employment

The employment is time-limited for at least 2 years and at most 3 years according to the central collective agreement. The scope is full-time. Commencement December 1 or by agreement. Location: Uppsala

Information about the employment is provided by: Anna Erlandsson, e-mail: anna.erlandsson@uu.se

In this recruitment, we have replaced the personal letter with questions that you answer in connection with your application. The answers will be used as part of the selection process.

Welcome with your application no later than October 16, 2026, UFV-PA 2026/2827.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all 7,500 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of the country's most exciting workplaces.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University

https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/

The employment may be subject to security clearance. In the case of security clearance, it is a prerequisite for employment that the applicant is approved.

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Applications are received in Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Union representatives: Saco-S - saco-s@uu.se, Seko - seko@uadm.uu.se, ST (OFR/S) - ofr@uu.se