Group Leader in Data-Driven Epidemiology and Biology of Infection

Together with The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS) and the SciLifeLab & Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS), Umeå University is looking for two excellent young researchers to become Group Leaders. Fellowships are targeted towards applicants to start their first independent group within a few years of their PhD. We offer generous funding for up to 9 years, conditional upon favourable review after four years. Data-driven epidemiology and biology of infection covers research that will transform our understanding of pathogens, their interactions with hosts and the environment, and how they are transmitted through populations. Research will have a strong focus on computational analysis or predictive modeling of pathogen biology or host-microbe systems for which multidimensional, genome scale experimental data are now available, or it may use population scale genetic, clinical, or public health data from pathogen surveillance efforts and biobanks.

DDLS Fellows program
Data-driven life science (DDLS) uses data, computational methods and artificial intelligence to study biological systems and processes at all levels, from molecular structures and cellular processes to human health and global ecosystems. The SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS) aims to recruit and train the next-generation of data-driven life scientists and to create globally leading computational and data science capabilities in Sweden. The program is funded with a total of 3.1 billion SEK (about 290 MUSD) over 12 years from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) Foundation.

The DDLS program will recruit 39 high-profile young Group Leaders and launch over 210 postdoctoral positions and establish a research school for 260 PhDs, including industry PhDs and postdocs. Fellows will be recruited to the 11 participating host universities/organizations but brought together under a national DDLS program coordinated by SciLifeLab. The DDLS program has four strategic areas: cell and molecular biology, evolution and biodiversity, precision medicine and diagnostics, epidemiology and biology of infection. For more information, please see www.scilifelab.se/data-driven.

During 2022-2023, the first round of 20 young Group Leaders joined us as DDLS Fellows, and now we are looking to recruit an additional group of 19 fellows. Each DDLS Fellow will receive a recruitment package of 17 MSEK (about 1.6 MUSD) for a 5-year period, covering their own salary and other resources, such as two PhD students and postdoc positions.

The future of life science is data-driven. Will you be leading that change with us? Then join us in this unique program!

MIMS
Successful candidates in the respective field will also become Group Leaders at MIMS, which is hosted at Umeå University. MIMS is the Swedish node of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and part of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, with other partner institutes in Helsinki, Oslo, and Aarhus. The partnership provides excellent access to research infrastructure, including databases, computational facilities and instrumentation, as well as to clinical materials and networks and training activities. The four laboratories of the partnership adhere to the EMBL model for research organisation, mentorship and evaluation. Funded by the Swedish Research Council at Umeå University with its strong community of researchers in microbiology and infection, MIMS offers a stimulating scientific environment that excels in basic research, such as Emmanuelle Charpentier’s Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 mechanism, and benefits from proximity to one of Sweden’s major university hospitals.

Within the DDLS program, you can develop your full potential as a leading independent scientist in a flourishing academic campus environment that encompasses Umeå University, Norrland’s University Hospital and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. You will become part of the national DDLS program at SciLifeLab and the European network of MIMS, which includes EMBL and the European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) in Hinxton, UK. Relevant local environments include the Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM) and IceLab, a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Organisationally, the positions in question will be affiliated to either Faculty of Medicine or Faculty of Science and Technology. Departmental affiliation will be decided in consultations with the successful candidates, based on where their research best fits. Potential host departments include Department of Computing Science, Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics, Molecular Biology, Plant Physiology and Clinical Microbiology. More information regarding accessible research infrastructure can be found here. Please feel free to state your preferred department in the application.

The Group Leader package
DDLS and MIMS offer funding for up to two new Group Leaders (Researchers) to start in the coming year. 17 million SEK, for each Group Leader, are allocated for an initial five-year period, with the option of extension with 2 million SEK annually for up to a total of nine years conditional upon a successful external evaluation in the fourth year. New Group Leaders will be offered state-of-the-art office and laboratory facilities. The funded researcher will receive further support mechanisms to establish their own research group with members at postdoctoral and doctoral level. Successful applicants are also expected to be able to supplement their research budget by attracting national and international research grants.

Research subject area
The subject area concerns research in the general area of epidemiology and biology of infection with a strong computational profile. This research subject area aims to lead to innovative development and/or application of novel data-driven methods relying on machine learning, artificial intelligence, or other computational techniques. 

Read further and apply via our e-recruitment system: https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:644067

Deadline: October 15^th, 2023, 23:59 CEST
Contact information: Prof. Oliver Billker, Director, phone: +46 90 785 6778, oliver.billker@umu.se

We welcome your application!