Researcher in Structural Biotechnology and Sustainable Agriculture

Reference number PAR 2026/646 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. At the Department of Conservation, professional preparatory education and research are conducted with a focus on cultural heritage issues, landscapes and cultural environments, buildings, gardens and objects. Collaboration between the department’s various areas of expertise, as well as with the surrounding national and international community, forms an important component of its activities. The subject of conservation brings together expertise within a broad field of knowledge that encompasses the natural sciences, humanities and social sciences. Research in Conservation has developed within a range of areas and themes. For more information about the Department, go to: [Department of Conservation](https://www.gu.se/en/conservation) ## **Duties** **Subject areas:** Structural biology, biotechnology, microbial physiology, controlled-environment agriculture, sustainable food production A researcher position is available within the Department of Conservation at the University of Gothenburg to establish a new interdisciplinary research programme investigating structure-guided biological nutrient delivery for sustainable food production. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research group working across microbial ecology, algal biotechnology, fungal biotechnology, hydroponics, aquaponics, microbial protein production. The structural biology programme will complement existing expertise in microbial cultivation, metabolomics, microbiome analysis, nutrient physiology and biotechnology. The position therefore provides a unique opportunity to apply advanced structural biology to commercially relevant challenges in sustainable food production while developing an independent research profile. We are seeking a candidate who is independent and self-motivated; details of the project can be adjusted based on a candidate’s skills and interests. The candidate will be expected to lead their project but i) develop and discuss their ideas with team members and the PI; ii) initiate and carry out their work within a collaborative environment; iii) write well-formulated reports and academic articles. The candidate will be working in a multidisciplinary team of aquatic science researchers, engineers and food scientists involving several international research groups, thus good team skills, effective communication in English and the ability to travel are required. The position will examine how microorganisms regulate micronutrient availability across microalgal cultivation, hydroponics, aquaponics, as well as microbial and fungal biomass production. The successful candidate will establish a research programme aimed at identifying the molecular mechanisms responsible for efficient micronutrient delivery for biotechnology applications. The work will integrate structural biology, microbial ecology, metabolomics, microbial biotechnology, and applied food production systems to develop next-generation nutrient delivery technologies for sustainable agriculture. The ultimate objective is to replace inefficient synthetic nutrient media formulations with biologically optimized targeted delivery systems to improve productivity across a wide range of commercial cultivation platforms. The successful candidate will connect molecular biotechnology with research in aquatic biotechnology, aquaculture, aquaponics, microalgal systems, microbial and fungal production, controlled-environment agriculture, nutrient recovery and circular food systems. The successful candidate will help establish micronutrient transport applications for nutrient delivery across multiple platforms, thus providing the structural foundation for next-generation sustainable food production technologies. The role combines scientific expertise with responsibility for planning, coordinating, and driving multidisciplinary research projects from concept to delivery. This includes developing and structuring research projects by translating scientific ideas into clear objectives, work plans, priorities, milestones, and experimental strategies, while coordinating multiple parallel activities to ensure that experimental, computational, analytical, and collaborative workstreams remain aligned across objectives. The role also includes setting research priorities and coordinating project direction, adapting plans in response to scientific results, identifying emerging opportunities and technical challenges, as well as available resources. It requires coordination and management of multidisciplinary teams. A key component of this position is the interface between academic research and industry, including the coordination of externally funded and collaborative projects requiring translation of research findings towards practical and commercially relevant applications. This includes aligning scientific objectives with partner needs, communicating across academic and industrial environments, and supporting the implementation of novel biotechnology applications from research results. Responsibilities include planning and coordinating complex research campaigns, monitoring project progress and adjusting research plans where necessary to maintain progress and delivery. The role further involves project management, including supporting other researchers in planning and executing their work, and contributing to strategic directions. The position requires high-level communication skills to convey results to collaborators, research partners, funding bodies, and industry stakeholders, as well as driving project outputs from research activities and data generation. Exp