Postdoctor in microbiome and metabolism

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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.

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. 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.

Read more about the research group here: backhedlab.org

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.

Duties

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.

The project involves working 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. The candidate will 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.

The project includes metabolic phenotyping of mouse models exposed to microbial metabolites, including glucose and insulin tolerance tests. A central part of the work is to perform hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studies with arterial blood sampling. This involves both microsurgical procedures for the implantation of catheters in the jugular vein and carotid artery and the performance of the clamp experiments. Furthermore, the candidate will perform ex vivo experiments to investigate insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in different tissues, including skeletal muscle, in order to study tissue-specific effects of ImP on insulin sensitivity and insulin signaling. The work also includes quantification and histological analysis of atherosclerotic plaques. Additional types of microsurgical procedures, such as bariatric surgery, may also be relevant.

ImP is produced by gut bacteria, and previous studies have shown that exogenously administered ImP can, among other effects, induce atherosclerosis and inhibit insulin signaling. The project will therefore also involve working with germ-free mice that are colonized with gut bacteria to enable endogenous production of ImP. This involves working with gnotobiotic and colonized mouse models under germ-free or controlled microbial conditions in isolators and Isocage systems. The candidate will also perform microsurgical procedures under these conditions to investigate the effects of endogenously produced ImP on, among other things, insulin sensitivity.

Eligibility

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree in a relevant subject, or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made.

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.

Assessment criteria

Documented experience in advanced experimental work with mouse models is required. This includes metabolic phenotyping with blood sampling, glucose and insulin tolerance tests, and the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for body composition analysis. Furthermore, documented experience in performing hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studies in mice, including microsurgical catheterization of the jugular vein and carotid artery, is required.

The candidate must also have experience in advanced dissection techniques, including dissection of the aorta from mice for the analysis of atherosclerosis, perfusion and dissection of organs such as the heart and lungs for histological analysis, and rapid dissection of skeletal muscle for ex vivo experiments assessing glucose uptake. Experience in working with and analyzing radioactive isotopes, such as carbon-14 (¹⁴C) and tritium (³H), is also required.

The candidate must be able to work independently with gnotobiotic and germ-free mouse models. Documented experience in working with mice in isolators is required, including blood sampling in an isolator environment and performing surgical procedures under germ-free conditions, such as blood vessel catheterization and implantation of minipumps.

Experience in working with and establishing transgenic mouse models, including genotyping, breeding, and validation of new mouse strains, is highly meritorious. Experience in additional advanced microsurgical techniques, such as cannulation of the portal vein and lymphatic vessels, as well as bariatric surgery in mice, is meritorious. Other meritorious experience includes histology, immunohistochemistry, isolation of different types of primary cells, and performing metabolic in vitro analyses, such as mitochondrial stress tests using Seahorse technology.

Great emphasis will be placed on the applicant's ability to collaborate and interact effectively with researchers and clinicians in an interdisciplinary research environment. Great emphasis will also be placed on personal suitability, including the ability to take initiative, work independently, demonstrate flexibility, and possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Employment

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, 36 months
Extent: 100 %
Location: Institute of Medicine, Gothenburg
First day of employment: 2027-01-01

Contact information

Fredrik Bäckhed
Professor
+46(0)702-182 355
fredrik.backhed@wlab.gu.se

Malin Levin
Head of Department
malin.levin@wlab.gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: How to apply for a position

Application

Please attach PhD certificate with the application, if the PhD certificate has not yet been issued, it needs to be attached latest at the time when the employment decision is to be made.

Applicants should attach a cover letter including a brief description of previous experience in anaerobic cultivation, isolation and characterization of human gut bacteria, as well as bioinformatic/genome-based analysis.

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

Applications must be received by:2026-11-24

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