'Excellence by Choice' Postdoctoral Programme in Life Science call 5
Two Swedish Centres of Excellences; Umeå Centre for Microbial Research and Umeå Plant Science Centre at Umeå University are running the ‘Excellence by Choice’ Postdoctoral Programme in Life Science offering a highly interactive and multidisciplinary research environment. In this fifth call, up to two postdoctoral fellowships are open to all nationalities.
'Excellence by Choice' Postdoctoral Programme in Life Science
The programme aims to encourage new synergies in life science with a focus on molecular and translational research, training outstanding young researchers, and stimulating cutting-edge research in Umeå. Patron for the programme is Nobel laureate Emmanuelle Charpentier, who discovered the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology during her time as a scientist and group leader in Umeå.
The ‘EC’ Postdoctoral fellow will:
Develop a collaborative project under supervision of at least two PIs
Obtain a fellowship over a minimum of 21 months as well as a career development grant (25,000 SEK). In addition, the ‘EC’ postdoctoral project is supported with a grant to cover running costs (320,000 SEK).
Get opportunities to participate in career development activities aiming at developing soft skills and at strengthening networks and collaborations in academics and industry.
Be part of a strong postdoc community. The Umeå Postdoc Society fosters networking, and organizes social and career development events.
List of projects in call 5:
Candidates are encouraged to consider one of the project ideas listed. The candidates' merits and motivation for choice of project idea will be assessed by the PIs of each project respectively. For detailed information about every project, click the link.
To qualify as a postdoctoral fellowship holder, you have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This is usually fulfilled after successfully completing all the requirements of the doctoral programme, including passing their dissertation defence. Candidates should have completed their doctoral degree, no more than three years before the closing date of the application. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area. Candidates who have worked in the lab of the main PI or Co-PI during their PhD and postdoc are not eligible.
Step 1: Application
The application should include:
1. A Curriculum Vitae, CV
2. A motivation letter including research interests, qualifications, and motivation for applying for the position with the specific project idea selected from the list (max 2,000 characters with space)
3. A publication list including both published papers and preprints with web/DOI
4. A description of up to a total three (3) of your publications and/or preprints that you consider at present to represent your scientifically most valuable work, answering the following questions (max 3,000 characters with space):
a. Why is one particular publication considered scientifically most valuable? b. What was your specific contribution(s) to this published research work? c. What was your role in the manuscript writing and publishing of the work?
5. Names and contact details of at least two references
6. A verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that attests completing all the requirements of the doctoral programme, including passing the dissertation defense. If not available at time of submission, a proof of completion of the doctoral degree must be submitted at the latest together with the PDF presentation one week before the final interview (1 October, see step 2 below).
The application must be submitted electronically. The online application deadline is 17 August 2025.
A short list of candidates will be invited to the final Zoom interview and beforehand prepare a PDF for the interview presentation. The interviews are performed by a panel of UCMR and UPSC researchers. The date of the final interview is 6-7 October 2025.
Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest institutions of higher education with over 35,000 students and 4,200 faculty and staff. The university is characterised by world-leading research in several scientific fields and a multitude of educations ranked highly in international comparison.
Umeå University wants to offer an environment where open dialogue between people with different backgrounds and perspectives lay the foundation for learning, creativity and development. In each recruitment we aim to increase diversity and the opportunity to affirmative action. We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising help.
