Postdoctor in biomaterials and nerve regeneration - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The division and research group
The position is linked to the Section for Neuroscience, which have about 80 employees.
The research group is located at Karolinska Institutet, campus Flemingsberg, campus Solna and at SLU in Uppsala. We are currently five PhD students, two technicians, six post docs, two assistant professors, and two professors. We have developed the first biomimetic spinning method for production of artificial spider silk fibers. We have recently published several articles in high ranked journals (Andersson et al. Nat Chem Biol. 2017; Kronqvist et al. Nat Commun. 2017; Rising&Johansson. Nat Chem Biol. 2015). This project will be pursued with the Sköld/Risling laboratory at the Department of Neuroscience in Biomedicum at campus Solna. We now want to expand the group with a one year postdoc postition with possibility of extension.

The project and duties
Spiders spin the toughest fiber known to man, the fiber is well tolerated when implanted and over time biodegradable. This project aims at investigating if our artificial spider silk proteins (as coatings and fibers) can provide a suitable matrix for growing nerve cells and in the long run for nerve regeneration in animal models. Our group can produce artificial silk proteins in E.coli, purify them and make matrices and scaffolds. The main task of the applicant will be to evaluate the nerve growth supporting properties of these spider silk proteins. The material will be evaluated by culturing differentiated neuroblastoma, dorsal root ganglion nerve cells, hippocampal nerve cells and Schwann cells. Our group possesses a cell culture facilities, microscopic equipment and automated cell culture analysis tools that the applicant will use. The best scaffolds may then be tested in animal models of peripheral nerve injury.
The successful candidate is expected to have a large interest in molecular and cell biology and tissue engineering, preferably with a focus on nerve regeneration. Previous experience in culture and analysis of nerve cells is a requirement.
Experience of animal work is a merit. The successful applicant is expected to enjoy practical lab work and independently generate and analyze data in strong research environment. The applicant should, when required, supervise doctorial students and master students in the lab. We work in collaboration with other groups and very interdisciplinary, which demands the applicant to be independent, creative, have a positive attitude and be collaborative. The applicant is expected to work at both KI campuses with the main laboratory work being conducted at the Solna campus.

Entry requirements
Qualified to be employed as a postdoctor is one who has obtained a doctorate or has equivalent scientific competence. 
The applicant should have a doctoral degree in cell biology, medicine, biomedicine or similar topic. The successful candidate is expected to have a strong drive to pursue research, be organized and structured and have an ambitious and innovative attitude. The project is cross- disciplinary and pursued in collaboration with several research groups, and good collaborative skills are necessary. Previous documented and extensive practical experience of cell culture and analyses of cells or tissues derived from the nerve system is required. Experience of molecular biology and automated cell analyses are merits.
Emphasis will be put on personal skills in the evaluation process. Very good ability to speak and write English is a requirement.

Application process
An employment 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 through the Varbi recruitment system.