Research Assistant in Lipid Cell Biology and Advanced Imaging

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

Join us in Veijo Salo’s Research Group at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet to support a new research program investigating how hepatocytes regulate lipid storage and secretion, processes central to fatty liver disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes. You will be part of a collaborative, international research environment at Biomedicum and contribute to experimental workflows that advance our understanding of lipid flux and organelle biology in human cells.

Your mission

The Nanoscale Lipid Flux Architecture research group, located in the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (MBB) at Karolinska Institutet and led by Assistant Professor Veijo Salo, aims to uncover the molecular logic of lipid flux and organelle biogenesis in metabolic health and disease. We study how cells build, remodel and regulate membrane-bound compartments, and how nanoscale structures coordinate the flow of lipids in their native context. Our work integrates cell biology, advanced imaging and in situ cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to reveal membrane architectures and protein assemblies inside intact cells.

As a research assistant, you will contribute to experiments aimed at understanding how hepatocytes regulate lipid storage and secretion. You will work with cell culture, molecular biology, fluorescence microscopy, live-cell imaging and quantitative analysis. Depending on interests and project needs, you may also learn correlative imaging workflows, including in-cell cryo-ET.

You will be an active member of the research group, supporting ongoing projects, maintaining laboratory routines and working closely with colleagues in an international research environment.

Your profile

The ideal candidate should recently have obtained a MSc degree in cell or structural biology or a related field.

Required qualifications:

• Curiosity for understanding cellular mechanisms and enthusiasm for experimental discovery
• Hands-on experience in molecular or cell biology, or structural biology
• Experience with mammalian cell culture, or a strong motivation to learn
• Ability to plan, perform and document experiments carefully
• Good communication skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Good command of English, spoken and written

Desirable qualifications

• Experience with organelle biology, membrane dynamics or cell-based functional assays
• Experience with fluorescence microscopy or quantitative image analysis
• Familiarity with basic molecular biology techniques
• Interest in advanced imaging approaches, including correlative or cryogenic imaging

Personal suitability is important. We are looking for a colleague who is collaborative, organized and enthusiastic about experimental research.

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. At KI, you will meet researchers working across diverse fields, with strong opportunities for collaboration and skill development. Biomedicum offers state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, modern imaging platforms and a vibrant international research community.

Location: Solna

Application

Welcome to apply at the latest 12th of January 2026. 

The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.In this recruitment, you will apply with your CV without a personal letter. Instead, you will answer some questions about why you are applying for the job in the application form. 

Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all