Postdoctoral studies in RNA biology and metabolic disease (scholarship) Full-time

Postdoctoral Studies In RNA Biology And Metabolic Disease (Scholarship)

Do you want to contribute to better health for all?

The Department of Laboratory Medicine comprises six divisions and is active across many areas of Laboratory Medicine to promote human health in short and long term. The department collaborates closely with Karolinska Hospital and engages in advanced basic, clinical, and epidemiological research. It is also one of the largest teaching departments at Karolinska Institutet.

The research group of Dr. Ping Chen in the Division of Clinical Chemistry is seeking a postdoctoral fellow with expertise in RNA biology and wet-lab experiments. The Chen lab conducts systems biology to dissect the regulation of RNA diversity in human metabolic diseases, with the goal of advancing diagnostics and therapeutic strategies. The group works closely with multidisciplinary teams, integrating biobank resources, longitudinal clinical data, and multi-omics technologies with innovative computational approaches for biomarker discoveries. A two-year postdoctoral position will be available immediately in the Chen lab.

Division

The Division of Clinical Chemistry is carrying out research to elucidate the molecular basis of cardiometabolic disease integrating basic science, clinical medicine, and translational approaches.

Duties

The growing prevalence of obesity is increasing the global burden of metabolic disease. In this position, you will contribute to elucidating cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying obesity and related metabolic disorders, with a primary focus on RNA biology. You will design and perform wet-lab validation of biomarkers and regulatory mechanisms identified through high-throughput transcriptomic data analysis and apply perturbation strategies to link transcriptomic changes to functional phenotypes. You will work with human liver, adipose tissue and blood samples, as well as relevant cellular models. The role also includes maintaining rigorous experimental documentation and reproducible workflows, collaborating with clinical partners, contributing to figures and manuscript preparation, and communicating results through presentations and, where appropriate, through contributions to grant applications.

Entry Requirements

To qualify for this position, applicants must:

• Hold a PhD in molecular biology, cell biology, immunology/metabolism, genetics, or a related field with strong experimental training.
• Demonstrate hands-on expertise in molecular biology, particularly in RNA biology, including RT-PCR/RT-qPCR and assay/primer design. Have proven experience with isoform-level validation and quantification (e.g., ddPCR and/or targeted sequencing is strongly advantage).
• Have solid experience working with relevant experimental systems, including human biopsy-derived material, flow cytometry, and mammalian cell culture, as well as strong skills in experimental design, troubleshooting, and the use of rigorous controls.
• Have experience with at least one perturbation platform (e.g., siRNA/shRNA, CRISPRi/a/editing, antisense oligonucleotides) and downstream molecular readouts.
• Be able to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment, with strong communication skills and a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.
• Demonstrate high motivation and scientific curiosity, with the ability to drive a project forward independently while aligning with group priorities.

The following experience is considered an advantage:

• Ampliicon sequencing; RNase R; splice junction assays.
• RNA–protein interaction assays (e.g., RIP-qPCR, CLIP/eCLIP, RNA pull-down).
• Experience with immunometabolism models and/or primary immune cell/macrophage systems.
• Familiarity with single-cell and/or multi-omics data analysis and the ability to translate computational findings into targeted experimental validation plans.
• Strong publication record and demonstrated manuscript writing skills.

Postdoctoral scholarships may be established for foreign researchers who pursue their merit in Sweden. A foreign researcher is a person living in another country who comes to Sweden with the intention of only staying in Sweden for all or part of their postdoctoral education at KI. Persons who are resident in Sweden and/or have carried out all or part of their academic education at KI or some other educational institution in Sweden cannot be considered for scholarships. The purpose of scholarships for postdoctoral qualification is to promote internationalization and contribute to research qualification after a doctorate or equivalent. A scholarship for carrying out postdoctoral research can be granted for a maximum of two years within a four-year period following the receipt of a doctoral degree or equivalent. To be eligible for a postdoctoral scholarship, the person must have obtained a doctorate, or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctorate. Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the (intended) start date of the post-doctoral education.

What Do We Offer?

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Here, we conduct innovative medical research and provide the largest range of biomedical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Students and employees have free access to our modern gym facilities with trained staff on site.

Location:

The position is located within the Department of Laboratory Medicine, KI Campus Flemingsberg within the research group of Dr. Ping Chen at the Division of Clinical Chemistry.

Type Of Scholarship

The amount is tax free and it is set for twelve months at a time, paid out on a six months basis. In exceptional cases, shorter periods may be acceptable.

Application Process

An application must contain the following documents in English :

• Curriculum vitae and qualifications, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet's qualifications portfolio
• A motivation letter
• A summary of current work and achievements
• A complete list of publications

The application is to be submitted on the Varbi recruitment system.