Postdoctoral scholarship (2 years) within Bioinformatics

The Department of Medical and Translational Biology is offering a postdoctoral scholarship in bioinformatics within the project “Transposable elements and the aging human brain: Functional Insights and therapeutic opportunities”. The scholarship is full-time for two years with access starting in September 2026 or by agreement.

Are you interested in knowing more about what it means to be a scholarship holder, read more here: Postdoctoral scholarships

The research will be carried out in the Horváth lab at the Department of Medical and Translational Biology, which offers an international, dynamic, and stimulating multidisciplinary research environment. Please visit the lab’s website for more information: https://horvathlab.com.

The Horváth Lab is part of the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM) at Umeå University, a national initiative funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation to strengthen molecular life science research in Sweden. WCMM at Umeå University hosts research programs spanning neuroscience, cancer, infection biology and metabolic disease. WCMM builds on strong collaboration between basic scientists and clinicians and shares a close collaboration with Region Västerbotten and other WCMM centres in Lund, Linköping, Gothenburg and SciLifeLab. As a research group funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Horváth Lab is also part of the Program for Academic Leaders in Life Science network. The postdoctoral fellow will become an integral part of this international, collaborative, and stimulating research environment.

Project description

Human brain aging is one of the main risk factors for the development of neurodegenerative disorders, therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms behind healthy brain aging is extremely relevant. Our group approaches this question from a novel perspective, by studying the role of transposable elements (TEs) in this process. TEs occupy 50% of the human genome and are known to be very strong gene regulators. Therefore, to avoid their harmful effects, in adult tissues they are silenced by epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation. Dr. Horváth’s previous research has uncovered several mechanisms by which TEs regulate gene expression in the human brain, including through interaction with their epigenetic repressors such as DNA methylation. Importantly, our preliminary data revealed significant alterations in this epigenetic repression as we age, posing one of the group’s main research questions: How do age-related changes in epigenetic repression alter the impact of TEs in the elderly brain?

In this project we will aim to answer this question by focusing on the white matter in the brain, known to be greatly affected during aging, and its main cell type, oligodendrocytes. Using post-mortem human brain samples, we will generate an integrated multi-omics dataset to characterize changes in DNA methylation, chromatin regulation, and TE and gene expression during aging. To achieve this, we will combine large-scale complementary bulk and single-cell approaches, including 10x Genomics single-nuclei RNA sequencing, Oxford Nanopore long-read DNA and RNA sequencing, Illumina RNA sequencing, and CUT&RUN profiling. These datasets will then be integrated using advanced TE-tailored bioinformatics methods to provide a comprehensive view of age-associated molecular alterations in oligodendrocytes.

The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to:

• Analyze and integrate data generated using a diverse range of cutting-edge sequencing technologies.
• Develop expertise in multi-omics data integration with a TE focus.
• Expand their theoretical knowledge in neuroscience, epigenetics, genome regulation, transposable element biology, and computational genomics.
• Participate actively in lab meetings, journal clubs, seminars, and interdisciplinary scientific discussions.
•  Attend national and international conferences, workshops, and specialized training courses to broaden their scientific expertise and professional network.
• Develop transferable skills in scientific writing, project management, research leadership, communication, and collaboration.

Our offer

In our lab, we strive for scientific excellence while fostering a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and inclusion. This involves communicating effectively across differences, demonstrating a collaborative spirit and the ability to work well with others.  We engage with and support colleagues from diverse backgrounds and perspectives and promote a healthy work-life balance. Additionally, as a postdoctoral fellow in our team, you will receive dedicated mentorship and will have the freedom to pursue your innovative ideas. 

Our local and international collaborations will provide the opportunity to expand your own professional network. Furthermore, the Umeå Postdoc Society (https://umeapostdocs.com), will provide a platform for skills development through workshops and courses, and to develop social interactions through networking and social events.

Qualifications

To qualify as a postdoctoral scholarship holder, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirement must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the decision about scholarship recipient.

Priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree before that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organisations, military service or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area. 

Doctoral degree should be in bioinformatics, computer science, neuroscience, genome biology, molecular biology, biomedicine, genetics, or a related field.

For this project, we seek candidates with the following expertise:

• Documented experience in analyzing genomics, epigenomics, and/or transcriptomics datasets using R, Python, and shell.
• Experience in processing and analyzing high-throughput sequencing data using bioinformatics tools and packages such as edgeR, DESeq2, bedtools, and related genomic analysis software.
• Experience integrating complex omics datasets and translating bioinformatics results into biological insights.
• Documented scientific productivity through publications in international peer-reviewed journals or in form of pre-prints.

Furthermore, the following skills are desirable:

• Capability of using supercomputing clusters
• International experience
• Expertise in analysing single cell and long-read datasets
• Experience in studying epigenetics and/or transposable element biology
• Experience in genome assembly or genome organization

As the project involves close collaboration with members of the research group and external partners, excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are essential. We are seeking highly motivated, organized, and curious candidates who are eager to work in an interdisciplinary environment. Candidates should demonstrate initiative, strong problem-solving skills, and the ability to organize and drive their project forward.

Application

The application should be written in English or Swedish, and attached documents should be in Word or PDF format. The application should be registered via Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi and submitted by the deadline 11-09-2026.

A full application should include:

• Cover letter in which you clearly describe your research experience, motivation and how your expertise matches the requirements
• Curriculum vitae (CV, max. 2 pages) and publication list (max. 5 pages)
• Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained
• Copy of doctoral thesis if available
• Contact information to two references

Further information

For more information, visit, https://horvathlab.com, Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medical and Translational Biology,

For questions contact Vivien Horváth, [email protected]

We look forward to receiving your application!