Postdoctoral fellow in public health science with a specialisation in bioinformatics

Postdoctoral fellow in public health science with a specialisation in bioinformatics

Postdoctoral fellow in public health science with a specialisation in bioinformatics

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Karlstad University / Department of Environmental and Life Sciences

Sapere Aude – dare to know – is our motto. Our students and employees develop important knowledge that enrich both the individual and the community. Our academic environment is characterised by curiosity, courage and openness, with a close connection between people, professional roles, disciplines and research. Gender equality, diversity and a democratic approach form the foundation of our organisation. Located in Värmland, a scenic region with a rich cultural life, we are committed to promoting sustainable development in close collaboration with the wider community.
 
Karlstad University has a total of approximately 1,400 employees and 18,700 students spread across two inspiring campus environments in Karlstad and Arvika. More information at: kau.se/en/work-with-us

Description

Public Health Science belongs to the Department of Health Sciences within the Faculty of Health, Science and Technology at Karlstad University. Research and education are conducted with a focus on children’s lives and health within three medical tracks: an environmental health track focusing on early-life environmental factors and their significance for children’s health and development; a public health track focusing on vulnerable children, domestic violence and health-promoting environments; and a medical science track including anatomy, physiology and pathology.

The subject’s renowned and experienced researchers generate a high academic output together with the subject’s doctoral students, currently comprising seven students. Of particular relevance to the

 postdoctoral appointment is the SELMA study, a pregnancy cohort study that follows more than 2,000 mother-child pairs from early pregnancy, through childbirth and into school age, with a focus on environmental factors, genetics/epigenetics and children’s health and development (https://www.kau.se/forskning/var-forskning/halsa/selma-studien). Our research within the SELMA study is conducted in close cooperation with world-leading institutions in Sweden, Europe and the US, where we integrate our epidemiological studies with experimental investigations in cellular and animal models to enhance molecular understanding and develop improved risk assessment systems for hazardous chemicals. The study is funded by research councils in Sweden (Swedish Research Council and Formas), the EU and the US (National Institutes of Health).

Duties

The appointment is central to two projects within the framework of the SELMA study. The first project is a major EU-funded initiative, RE-MEND, in which we collaborate with 15 international partners to investigate protective and resilience factors that influence mental health during endocrine-sensitive stages of life. The second project, Epi-Clock, examines whether the prenatal environment can affect epigenetic clocks in children, as well as whether such changes in the epigenetic clock are associated with children’s neurodevelopment.

Karlstad University’s role in these projects is to analyse and interpret data collected from the SELMA cohort based on biologically relevant research questions. As a postdoctoral fellow, you will play a key role in establishing analytical pipelines based on relevant SELMA data, working closely with physicians and other experts required for the interpretation of the results, and developing new research projects based on the SELMA study and other cohorts.

You are expected to collaborate with the wider community for a mutual exchange, as well as work towards ensuring that the knowledge and expertise available at the university is of benefit to society.

To contribute to a positive work environment and further the department’s activities, we expect you to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community.

This position offers the opportunity to devote 100% of your time to research in an international environment and to contribute to successful research projects. Teaching within relevant areas may also be included in the duties.

Qualification requirements

To be eligible for the postdoctoral appointment, applicants are required to hold a PhD in bioinformatics, or another related subject, or have equivalent qualifications from abroad. The PhD must be completed before a decision to appoint an applicant is made. The candidate must have completed the degree no more than three years before the application deadline. Qualifications obtained earlier may be considered if there are special grounds, such as sick leave, parental leave, clinical service, service as a union representative, military service or similar, or service/assignment of relevance to the appointment.

We are looking for candidates with practical experience in computational biology, with a focus on the statistical analysis of large clinical datasets, as well as extensive expertise in multiple omics technologies and their analysis and integration. Another requirement is experience in DNA methylation analysis using both array-based and sequencing technologies, as well as DNA sequence analysis.

In addition, applicants need to be proficient in English, both in speech and writing, as the work is conducted in an international research environment.

Assessment criteria

Research and technical expertise will be assessed on the basis of scientific publications, documented experience from research projects and contributions to open-source projects, such as a GitHub portfolio.

Special weight will be given to

• The ability to independently plan, conduct and develop bioinformatics analyses of large clinical datasets, including DNA methylation data, with a focus on predictive modelling, programming, the development of reproducible bioinformatics workflows, and knowledge of molecular biology tools and sequencing technologies
• Experience and proficiency in at least one programming language (preferably R or Python), strong skills in data cleansing, visualisation (e.g., pandas, matplotlib, ggplot or plotly), and experience with scripting in a Linux environment (Bash)
• Practical skills in statistical analysis (dimensionality reduction, clustering, hypothesis testing, batch effect correction, FDR control), as well as previous practical experience in predictive modelling and machine learning
• Experience with methods and tools that support reproducible research and high-quality code, such as version control, workflow management systems, containerisation and structured documentation
• As data from the SELMA study will be compared with data generated within the RE-MEND project, experience in working with data produced using Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology is also required.

Considerable weight will be given to

• The ability to communicate research findings and complex issues clearly and effectively to a range of audiences
• Excellent collaborative skills and the ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary research environments
• The ability to independently plan, prioritise and drive work forward with sound judgement, a strong sense of responsibility and commitment
• A positive and professional approach towards colleagues, students and partners
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to work in a structured and thorough way

Valuable qualifications

• Basic understanding of human physiology and molecular biology
• Experience of interdisciplinary collaborations with clinical professionals, such as physicians
• Experience of participating in national or international research networks and collaborative projects

Terms

This is a full-time, fixed-term postdoctoral appointment for two years, with a possible one-year extension, starting in November 2026 or as agreed by both parties.

Application

Submit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.

The application should include:

• CV/list of qualifications
• Cover letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and research interests in relation to the duties of the position
• List of publications (in multi-authored publications, the role of the applicant must be specified)
• Copy of PhD degree or information on when it is expected to be completed
• Copy of doctoral thesis and other relevant publications
• An account of language proficiency
• Two references, at least one of which is a current or former supervisor

Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (do not just provide links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.

Documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as books or publications, should be sent to:

Karlstads universitet
HR-administratör
651 88 Karlstad

State the reference number: REK2026/198

Application deadline: 10 October 2026

We look forward to your application!

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.

HR Excellence in Research
Karlstad University received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research award September 2020. The award is issued to employers with a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and its continuous improvement. The award also conveys the university’s commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers. Read more: kau.se/hrs4r

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