Postdoctoral studies in tumor cell and extracellular matrix biology (scholarship)

Postdoctoral Studies In Tumor Cell And Extracellular Matrix Biology (Scholarship)

The Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC) at Karolinska Institutet conducts research and teaching within immunology, infection biology, cell biology and cancer. Our key words are multidisciplinary, bridging, national and international collaborations.

The Cancer–stroma crosstalk team led by Kaisa Lehti (within the research group of Margareta Wilhelm) studies the properties and functions of a cellular and cellular components of the tumour microenvironment, with a focus on both general and context-dependent mechanisms controlling the cancer phenotypes and outcomes. Embedded in a dynamic, multicultural environment at the Division of Tumor Biology, and with strong Nordic and international collaborations, our team provides an inspiring and highly interactive research setting. You will be supported to grow scientifically and creatively, contributing to ambitious efforts to understand and activate extracellular matrix related tissue surveillance pathways for improved cancer treatments.

The Division of Tumor Biology at MTC is a leading hub for cutting-edge cancer research. This division is dedicated to unraveling the complex mechanisms underlying tumor development, progression, and treatment resistance. The division's research is driven by a team of distinguished scientists, each contributing unique expertise and innovative approaches to the field.

Your duties will include sample preparation, systems-level data analysis and advanced imaging from molecular to cellular and tissue levels. For specific analysis, you will use publicly available multi-omics data and laboratory experiment-derived datasets (single cells, cell line models, clinical cohorts, tissue and organoid microarrays). You will collaborate with the team members to use the gained knowledge to test and validate molecular mechanisms, biomarker candidates and new therapeutic strategies in experimental-computational model systems for cancers generally and specifically for ovarian cancer.

As a postdoc, you will also contribute and take responsibilities in student supervision, meeting organization and data presentation in meetings. The duties also includes manuscript writing, other science communication, and grant applications.

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.

In addition to the aforementioned requirements for the position include following :

• Knowledge on cell and tumor biology.
• Experience with, or at least knowledge, of a range of modern biochemical and molecular biology techniques.
• Experience in advanced proteomics/secretomics, transcriptomics, genetics and/or histology data analysis.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.
• Demonstrated experience in the relevant use of AI as well as R/Bioconductor, Python or similar.
• Prior experience, or strong motivation, to learn computer modeling as well as the ability to assess critically the biological background.
• Demonstrated experience and strong ability to conduct research and deliver the results independently and as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Experience and motivation in supervising students.

Meritorious for the position :

• Experience and knowledge on the extracellular matrix biology, cell membrane biology, receptor signaling and protein degradation pathways, modern mechanobiology, 3D hydrogel models, and/or immunology.
• Experience in cell culture.
• Experience in isolating and culturing cells from patients.
• Good motivation and interpersonal skills to engage in multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Good communication and networking skills.
• Proactive approach and ability to convert plans into action as part of a team and independently.

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: Solna

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.

An application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:

• A complete curriculum vitae, including date of the thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions, and committee work
• A complete list of publications
• A summary of current work (no more than one page)

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