Laboratory technician in molecular microbial ecology

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The Department of Biology and Environmental Science is part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. The research activities within this multidisciplinary department include the areas of aquatic ecology, cell and organism biology, evolutionary biology, microbiology, environmental science and environmental engineering as well as disease ecology.

The Linnaeus University centre in Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS) in Kalmar seeks a laboratory technician for studies in molecular microbial ecology.

Subject area for the position: Molecular microbial ecology
Location until further notice: Kalmar.
Hours: The employment is temporary (vikariat) 100% for 6 months.
Starting date: as soon as possible.

Job description
The laboratory technician will be an essential resource for our research area in environmental ecology. The overarching aim of our research is to study the organisms response to changing environmental conditions and interactions in ecosystems. Expertise in molecular techniques is essential for studying distribution, diversity, function and response of populations. The laboratory technician will contribute with generating novel high-quality data to address research gaps in the field.

Besides aiding with the molecular workflow, an important task for the laboratory technician will be to keep up to date with state-of-of the art protocols, optimize and troubleshoot. This requires an expertise and experience in evaluating protocols and keeping up to date with literature in the field in ways that go beyond an individual project. The technician is thereby a key resource in knowledge transfer and management of facilities and equipment used by multiple researchers (e.g., DNA and RNA extraction rooms, PCR machines, instruments to measure concentration and integrity of nucleic acids, and knowledge of best practices for down-stream analyses).

Description of needs and work tasks:
Sampling, handling, and preparation of nucleic acid samples from environmental samples.

Nucleic acid extractions: DNA and RNA, quantification and quality controls after extraction, and being able to assess the downstream application possibilities.

PCR and qPCR, including purifications, primer design, chemistry troubleshooting, and preparations for sequencing.

Use of flow cytometry to enumerate cells.

Methods development, optimization and state-of-the-art techniques.

Training of bachelor, master, PhD students, and postdocs in best-practice-protocols.

Writing of risk assessments, ordering of chemicals and reagents.

The research project is part of the Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems (EEMiS) at Linnaeus University that comprises expertise in ecology, evolution, and microbiology.

Qualifications
A person fulfils the general entry requirements if she/he has;
• Undergraduate studies in a related field.
• Experience of good laboratory practice.
• Documented experience of molecular microbial methods

Other assessment grounds;
• High proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to work independently to solve problems.
• Capacity to interact well in a research group (i.e. team work).

You are welcome to submit your application by February 15th, 2026. Mark your application with reference number HR-2026/79.

Contact

Biträdande prefekt Andreas Svensson (andreas.svensson@lnu.se ), +46-(0) 480- 447319

Forskningsledare Hanna Farnelid (Hanna.farnelid@lnu.se) tel: + 46-(0) 480-446296 

HR-representant Marianne Palmér (marianne.palmer@lnu.se), +46-(0)480-447303

Application must be written in English and include a CV (containing the applicant’s personal identity number, telephone number, and email address, as well as contact details including telephone number and email for two referees), a personal letter describing experience relevant to the position, a copy of the passport, documentation of exams, grades and certificates, and any other relevant documents the applicant wishes to present. Linnaeus University aims to make use of the qualities that gender balance and diversity bring to the organization. Register your application via the “Apply” button at the bottom of the advertisement. All documents must be attached digitally to the application. All documents referred to must be received by the university no later than 23:59 on the final application day. We kindly decline phone calls from advertisers selling job postings.

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