Postdoctoral Scholarship in Seasonal Adaptation and Environmental Signaling

About the role

The Molecular Control of Growth Adaptation in Plants group led by Prof. Rishikesh Bhalerao at the Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), is offering a 2-year postdoctoral scholarship investigating how perennial plants decode fluctuating environmental signals to optimise seasonal development. The group uses trees as model organisms, combining molecular genetics, cell biology, and quantitative approaches. Deadline to apply: 1 July 2026.

UPSC is one of Europe’s leading plant science research centres, with over 30 research groups on a shared campus at Umeå University and SLU.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct experiments on temperature cue perception and signal integration in perennial plants.
• Apply molecular genetic, genomic, and transcriptomic approaches to understand seasonal transitions.
• Use microscopy and cell biology techniques to characterise developmental processes.
• Analyse and interpret large-scale datasets; communicate findings to the group and wider community.
• Contribute to writing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Participate in the UPSC graduate and postdoc seminar programme.

Requirements

• PhD in plant biology, molecular biology, or a closely related field, awarded no more than 2 years before the position start date.
• Strong publication record relative to career stage.
• Hands-on experience in at least one of: molecular genetics, genomics/transcriptomics, or microscopy/cell biology.
• Fluent English (written and spoken).
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.

Nice to have

• Experience studying perennial plants or seasonal regulation.
• Familiarity with conifer or woody plant model systems.
• Bioinformatics skills for RNA-seq or ChIP-seq analysis.

How to apply

Submit a single PDF including a cover letter, full CV, brief summary of previous research (max 2 pages), and the names and contact details of 2-3 references to the email address listed on the UPSC jobs page (link above). Email the application to Prof. Rishikesh Bhalerao directly as instructed on the job page. The position is available immediately; start date is flexible by agreement.