Karolinska Institutet, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Group Wiman

At the Department of Oncology-Pathology basic, translational and clinical research and educational activities related to cancer is carried out. Approximately 300 people from over 40 nations are currently working at the department. About 30 research groups with various cancer research profiles are involved and we have around 110 PhD students. The Department of Oncology-Pathology is responsible for undergraduate courses in Pathology, Oncology and Forensic Medicine for medical students, as well as for Tumor biology courses for biomedicine students and Pathology courses for opticians.

Research group
The group is led by professor Klas Wiman. Ongoing research in the group is focused on the TP53 tumor suppressor pathway and development of novel cancer therapy. Wiman and colleagues have previously identified the p53 target gene Wig-1 (Zmat3) and shown that it encodes an RNA-binding protein that regulates levels of multiple mRNAs. Wiman's group has also identified the mutant p53-reactivating compounds PRIMA-1 and APR-246 (PRIMA-1Met). APR-246 is currently tested in phase II clinical trials.

Project description
A key question in the p53 field is how p53 exerts is tumor suppressor activity in vivo. The general assumption has been that upregulation of target genes such as p21 that triggers cell cycle arrest and Bax and Puma that promote apoptosis is responsible for p53-dependent tumor suppression. However, mouse in vivo studies have demonstrated that none of these genes are necessary for p53-mediated tumor suppression. Instead, emerging data suggest that Wig-1 (Zmat3), a gene first identified by Wiman's group, is an effector of p53-dependent tumor suppression. Wiman and colleagues have recently generated conditional Wig-1 knockout mice. The project is focused on studies of the conditional WIg-1 knockout mice, including the effect of whole body Wig-1 knockout as well as knockout in specific tissues by crosses with relevant Cre deleter mouse strains. The Wig-1 knockout mice will also be crossed with established mouse tumor models to see if lack of Wig-1 accelerates tumor development. The overall goal is to understand p53-dependent tumor suppression. The expected time for the project is 1-2 years.

Qualifications
We are looking for an ambitious, highly motivated and independent postdoctoral researcher with a solid background in molecular biology and/or tumor biology. The candidate should be well familiar with standard techniques such as cell culture, cell growth and cell death assays, PCR and Western blotting, and have experience with generation and study of mouse in vivo models for cancer.

Entry requirements
A person is eligible for a position as Postdoctoral Researcher if he or she has obtained a PhD no more than seven years before the last date of employment as postdoc. The term can be extended under special circumstances.

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

  1. 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
  2. A complete list of publications
  3. A summary of current work (no more than one page)

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

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment According to agreement
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Solna
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number 2-762/2019
Contact
  • Klas Wiman, 08 517 793 42, klas.wiman@ki.se
Union representative
  • Andreas Lundqvist, SACO, 08 517 768 84, andreas.lundqvist@ki.se
  • Helen Eriksson, OFR, 08 517 762 79
Published 04.Feb.2019
Last application date 13.Feb.2019 11:59 PM CET

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