Postdoctoral position in gut microbiome epidemiology and cardiometabolic health

Are you interested in understanding how perturbations of the gut microbiome may influence cardiovascular and metabolic health? We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher with documented experience in human gut microbiome epidemiology to join the Molecular Epidemiology research group.

The position is based in the Molecular Epidemiology research group at the Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University. The group investigates the determinants and consequences of variation in the human gut microbiome by combining large population-based cohorts, molecular data and epidemiological methods. The workplace is at EpiHubben, an interdisciplinary research environment bringing together researchers in epidemiology, statistics, genetics, omics and population-based research. The working language is English.

The research group is part of the Department of Medical Sciences, a large clinical department with approximately 250 employees and more than 900 affiliated staff through Uppsala University Hospital. The department has a broad research profile, with strong research groups across a wide range of fields. Research is conducted in close connection with clinical activities at Uppsala University Hospital and spans both basic studies of disease mechanisms and the development and evaluation of improved diagnostic methods and new treatments. More information about the department and its activities is available at https://www.uu.se/en/department/medical-sciences/.

The postdoctoral researcher will work on projects investigating the consequences of perturbations of the gut microbiome for cardiovascular and metabolic health. The projects will primarily use large population-based cohorts with gut microbiome data linked to detailed phenotyping, longitudinal exposure information, metabolomics, genetic data and national health registers. Particular emphasis will be placed on longitudinal and causal epidemiological approaches to investigate whether microbiome perturbations contribute to changes in cardiometabolic risk factors and disease. Depending on the applicant’s interest and competence, this may include repeated microbiome measurements, genetic epidemiology and Mendelian randomization.

Duties

The postdoctoral researcher will take a central role in designing, conducting and publishing epidemiological studies of the gut microbiome and cardiometabolic health. Duties will include:

• Design of epidemiological studies of gut microbiome perturbations and cardiometabolic health
• Analysis of large-scale cohort data integrating microbiome, clinical, lifestyle, metabolomic, genetic and register information
• Apply longitudinal and causal epidemiological methods to strengthen causal interpretation
• Lead the preparation of scientific manuscripts and presentations
• Collaborate with epidemiologists, microbiologists, clinicians, geneticists, bioinformaticians and other researchers within national and international collaborations

The position is suited to researchers who already have established experience in human gut microbiome epidemiology and who are interested in using longitudinal, molecular and genetically informed approaches to investigate the relationship between the gut microbiome and cardiometabolic health.

Requirements

A PhD degree in epidemiology, microbiology, medicine or closely related field, where a substantial part of the doctoral research focused on the human gut microbiome in epidemiological studies. The degree must be obtained by the time the employment decision is made. Preference will be given to applicants who obtained their PhD no more than three years prior to the application deadline. The three-year period is calculated from the application deadline. The period may be extended due to special circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave or duties within labour unions.

In addition, the applicant must have:

• Documented research experience in independently analysing gut microbiome data in population-based or clinical human studies
• Documented research experience related to cardiometabolic health
• Documented experience integrating microbiome data with phenotypic, clinical, lifestyle or register-based data
• Strong statistical skills, preferably using R
• At least one first-author original research article in human gut microbiome epidemiology
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

Additional qualifications

Experience in one or more of the following areas is considered an advantage:

• longitudinal or repeated microbiome measurements
• genetic epidemiology, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) or Mendelian randomization
• metabolomics or integration of microbiome and other omics data
• causal epidemiological methods
• epidemiological studies of antibiotics, medications or other factors that perturb the gut microbiome
• national health or quality registers

About the employment

The employment is a temporary postdoctoral position of two years according to the applicable central collective agreement. The position is full time. Starting date according to agreement. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact Professor Tove Fall, tove.fall@medsci.uu.se.

Please submit your application by October 21, 2026 , UFV-PA 2026/3007.