Research Specialist in Pre-clinical LNP-based RNA delivery with a focus on preclinical work Full-time NEW

Research Specialist in Pre-clinical LNP-based RNA Delivery

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Department of Laboratory Medicine consists of seven divisions in which both research and teaching are conducted. The department is involved in advanced research in both basic and applied research. All divisions operate in close contact with clinics at Karolinska University Hospital. The activities of the Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine (BCM) focus on the use of modified biomolecules, cells and cell products as novel therapeutic agents and the identification and study of suitable biomolecular and cellular targets for therapy and diagnosis.

The EL Andaloussi's lab focuses on developing technologies for targeted intracellular delivery of RNA and DNA via engineered lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). While LNP-based mRNA vaccines and systemic delivery to the liver have demonstrated remarkable clinical success, their predominantly hepatic tropism remains a major limitation for broader therapeutic applications. To overcome this, we develop targeted LNP platforms designed to achieve cell- and tissue-specific delivery. By employing chemical conjugation strategies to functionalize LNP surfaces with targeting ligands such as antibodies, we aim to direct nanoparticles to defined cell populations. This enables the delivery of genome engineering tools, including Cas9, base editors, and guide RNAs, as well as other nucleic acid payloads, for precise in vivo gene modification and transgene expression.

LNPs with enhanced delivery efficiency and targeting specificity are systematically evaluated in in vitro systems and disease-relevant animal models. Collectively, our platform provides a translational framework for the discovery, development, and delivery of advanced RNA- and DNA-based therapeutics with potential applications in gene therapy and cell-based immunotherapy.

Your Mission

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Research Specialist with a solid background in pre-clinical work with RNA therapeutics to join our interdisciplinary research program focused on the development of next-generation in vivo delivery technologies for genome engineering and immunotherapy.

The overarching goal of the project is to develop and optimize advanced engineered nanoparticle platforms capable of efficient targeted delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids, with a particular emphasis on targeting hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow and immune cell populations. The majority of the work will be performed using primary cell culture systems and relevant animal models. Your primary focus will be to lead and execute the testing in relevant animal models.

The position is embedded in a translational research environment with strong links to clinical development, highly engaged with the ATMP center toward clinical application at Karolinska University Hospital.

Your Profile

Eligibility Requirements

For employment as Research Specialist at Karolinska Institutet, the eligibility requirements stated in the Guidelines for non-teaching positions at Karolinska Institutet are applied in relation to the established profile of employment.

To be eligible for employment as a Research Specialist, in addition to holding a Degree of Doctor, PhD, or having a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a Swedish doctoral degree, the applicant must have demonstrated research expertise as well as have documented postdoctoral research experience. For this role, we want you to have academic training in molecular pathology and medical physiology.

Assessment Criteria

It is particularly meritorious that the applicant has shown:

• Proficiency with in vivo gene delivery with preclinical animal models and humanized models, therapeutic effect evaluation, animal handling and operations, animal care
• Proficiency in primary immune cell or stem cell biology, primary cell culture
• Knowledge and experience in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) research and gene editing technologies (e.g., CRISPR/Cas systems), especially in an in vivo experimental context
• Ability to work independently as well as in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment, strong analytical and communication skills
• Strong interest in translational medicine and clinical application of gene therapies
• Previous experience working as a clinician in a relevant setting

It is meritorious that the applicant has shown:

• Experience working with CAR-T cell biology or T cell engineering
• Experience working with hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs)
• Experience in surgical orthotopic tumor animal modeling
• Experience in flow cytometry, cell sorting, functional immune assays, and standard molecular biology techniques

Furthermore, it is important that you are energetic and passionate, and you will fit in and contribute to our team. In this recruitment, we place great importance on personal characteristics with an emphasis on personalities enhancing collaboration and teamwork.

After an overall assessment of the expertise and merits of the applicants in relation to the subject area, Karolinska Institutet will determine which of them has the best potential to contribute to a positive development of the activities at KI.

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 successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical 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. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement.

Location: Flemingsberg

Application

We prefer that your application is written in English, but you can also apply in Swedish. An application must contain the following documents: PhD certificate, resumé, qualifications and description of planned research, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet's qualifications portfolio.

The application must be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.

Permanent position is initiated by a six months trial period.