University of Gothenburg Postdoc in Microbiome and Metabolism, Gothenburg, Sweden (PAR 2026/836)

The University of Gothenburg, Institute of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, is hiring a postdoctoral researcher in microbiome and metabolism in Gothenburg, Sweden. Applications must be received by 24 November 2026.

Job Details

Company: University of Gothenburg (Göteborgs universitet), Institute of Medicine / Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine

Position: Postdoctor in microbiome and metabolism

Reference number: PAR 2026/836

Employment: Fixed-term employment, 36 months, 100%

First day of employment: 01 January 2027

Location: Gothenburg, Sweden (Institute of Medicine)

Experience: Postdoctoral appointment

Qualification: PhD (doctoral degree) in a relevant subject area for microbiome / metabolism / cardiometabolic research

Application deadline: 24 November 2026 (applications must be received by this date)

Contact: Professor Fredrik Bäckhed

Project Details

We are now seeking a postdoctoral researcher who can work with animal models to investigate how metabolites produced by the gut microbiota may contribute to cardiometabolic diseases. The project focuses on establishing causal relationships between the microbially produced metabolite imidazole propionate (ImP) and cardiometabolic phenotypes, such as glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis.

Subject area: Microbiome and metabolism

Subject area description: The gut microbiota contains approximately 1,000 times more genes than the human genome and constitutes a complex ecosystem that influences host physiology through the production of bioactive metabolites. Despite significant advances in microbiome research, how these metabolites affect the development of various cardiometabolic diseases remains largely unknown. One such metabolite is ImP. This project aims to investigate causal relationships between microbially produced ImP and cardiometabolic phenotypes using mouse models, with a particular focus on insulin resistance and glucose metabolism.

Job Description

The candidate will investigate how microbially produced metabolites affect cardiometabolic phenotypes in mouse models. Previous research has shown that the microbially produced metabolite ImP is associated with both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the project is to establish causal relationships between microbially produced ImP and the development of cardiometabolic diseases.

Key Responsibilities

  • Investigate how microbially produced metabolites affect cardiometabolic phenotypes in mouse models.
  • Work with conventional, gnotobiotic, and colonized mouse models to investigate how the production of ImP affects different aspects of cardiometabolic disease, such as glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis.
  • Work with and be responsible for various transgenic mouse strains relevant to the project, both to investigate underlying molecular mechanisms, such as p38 signaling, and to study disease development in models such as ApoE knockout mice.
  • Carry out metabolic phenotyping of mouse models exposed to microbial metabolites, including glucose and insulin tolerance tests.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility requires a doctoral degree in a relevant subject (or foreign equivalent) before the employment decision. In the first instance, applicants who completed the degree no more than three years before the end of the application period are considered (exceptions for parental leave, illness, clinical service and similar special grounds).

Required Skills

Required assessment criteria include:

  • Documented advanced mouse-model experimental experience (metabolic phenotyping, GTT/ITT, MRI body composition).
  • Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp with microsurgical catheterization.
  • Advanced dissection (aorta/atherosclerosis, organ perfusion, skeletal muscle for ex vivo glucose uptake).
  • Radioactive isotope handling (¹⁴C, ³H).
  • Independent work with gnotobiotic/germ-free mice in isolators, including isolator surgery.

About the University of Gothenburg

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, at the Institute of Medicine, conducts translational research primarily on metabolism, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease in order to improve health and healthcare in the community. The overall goal is to create an excellent translational research environment of a very high international standard.

Additional Information

We have more bacteria than our own cells in the body, and these bacteria interact with each other in ecosystems, the microbiota, which can affect how we feel. By combining clinical samples and gnotobiotic animal models, we have shown that the gut microbiota affects our physiology and metabolism.

Read more about the research group here: https://backhedlab.org/

CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL NOTIFICATION / APPLY ONLINE

Applications must be received by 24 November 2026.