Research Technician in Translational Metabolism and Adipocyte Research NEW

Research Technician in Translational Metabolism and Adipocyte Research

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

Our research seeks to understand how impaired function of human adipose tissue contributes to cardiometabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Healthy adipose tissue safely stores excess energy as fat and releases it when needed. In many individuals, however, this capacity becomes compromised, leading to dysfunctional fat storage and mobilization that contribute to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

To uncover the mechanisms underlying these processes, we conduct deeply phenotyped clinical studies in which adipose tissue biopsies are collected from research participants and analyzed using state-of-the-art experimental approaches. By combining human intervention studies with functional analyses of freshly isolated adipocytes, we generate unique datasets that directly link human physiology to the cellular mechanisms driving metabolic disease.

The successful candidate will be primarily based at the Clinical Research Center, Karolinska University Hospital, Flemingsberg, and will become an integral member of a multidisciplinary team working at the interface of clinical and experimental metabolic research.

Your mission

As a research technician in our group, you will be a central part of our clinical research activities and work with biological material obtained from participants enrolled in our studies. A major focus of the position is the processing and functional characterization of adipose tissue biopsies. Using freshly isolated human adipocytes, you will perform experiments aimed at understanding how fat cells respond to hormones, pharmacological agents, and other physiological stimuli, generating data that help us understand the cellular mechanisms underlying obesity, insulin resistance, and related metabolic diseases.

The work spans the entire process from handling freshly collected biopsy material to generating, documenting, and quality-controlling experimental data. You will also be responsible for processing and biobanking samples for downstream molecular and omics-based analyses and will contribute to maintaining the infrastructure and workflows that support our clinical studies and laboratory activities.

The position is based at the Clinical Research Center in Flemingsberg and involves close interactions with researchers, clinicians, research nurses, and study participants in a highly collaborative and translational research environment.

Your profile

To qualify for this position, you should hold a degree in biomedicine or a related field. You should have previous experience working in an experimental laboratory and be comfortable handling biological samples and performing independent laboratory work.

Experience with human tissue samples, metabolic assays, or clinical research is considered advantageous. Familiarity with biobanking, sample documentation, and laboratory quality systems is also meritorious.

Since the work involves close interactions with researchers, clinicians, research nurses, and study participants, we place great emphasis on personal qualities. The successful candidate is structured, responsible, and able to maintain a high level of quality when working with valuable clinical samples. You should be comfortable planning and prioritizing your work independently while contributing positively to a collaborative team environment.

Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken, are required. Knowledge of Swedish is advantageous as the position is embedded within an active clinical research environment.

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. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several good benefits through our collective agreement. And you get to practice freely in our modern wellness facilities, where trained staff are on site.

Location: Flemingsberg

Visit: Center for Clinical Metabolic Research in Diabetes