The Department of Biosciences and Nutrition performs research and education in several areas of medical science including aging, Alzheimer, bioorganic chemistry, biomaterial, molecular endocrinology, cancer biology, functional genomics, systems biology, epigenetics, structural biochemistry, immunology, and nutrition. It offers an excellent international research and working environment, including around 250 scientists, students, administrative and technical personnel. The Department resides in Neo at Campus Flemingsberg, a biomedical research building, aimed at being a creative and open environment that enables meetings, synergies, and exploration of areas of mutual interest across disciplines.

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

Our research is devoted to exploring the epigenetic mechanisms underlying immuno-metabolic diseases. We are seeking two highly motivated postdocs to join our efforts to better understand the role of chromatin-modifying corepressors (Project 1) and of cis-regulatory enhancers and silencers (Project 2) in these mechanisms. A strong emphasis will be on identifying and modulating potentially causal alterations associated with type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Division

The two positions will be placed at the Department of Biosciences and Nutrition at the Karolinska Institutet South Campus. Our research team (led by Professor Eckardt Treuter and Assistant Professor Rongrong Fan) conducts pre-clinical research to better understand how key components of the epigenome, such as transcription factors, corepressors and cis-regulatory elements, control metabolic and inflammatory pathways in the context of obesity, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis (Nat Med 2016, Cell Rep 2018, Nat Comm 2019, Mol Met 2020, Mol Cell 2021).

For a detailed description of our laboratory and projects, please see our website;
https://ki.se/en/bionut/epigenetic-mechanisms-underlying-metabolic-inflammatory-diseases-eckardt-treuter

Duties

We offer separate projects for two postdocs and encourage all applicants to express their preferences and own ideas in their personal motivation letter.

Project 1 (mentor: Eckardt Treuter) will investigate the role of chromatin-modifying corepressor complexes that contain the signal-regulated subunit GPS2. Emphasis will be on identifying hitherto enigmatic mechanisms (involving signaling molecules, PTMs, interactomes) that trigger alterations of corepressor (sub-)complex function and target selection (i.e. transcription factors, enhancers, silencers) during disease progression. The postdoc will apply latest -omics profiling and genome-editing methods along with biochemical investigations, and utilize mainly in vitro models (cultured monocytes, macrophages and hepatocytes) along with samples derived from mouse models and humans.

Project 2 (mentor: Rongrong Fan) will investigate epigenetic mechanisms involving enhancer and silencer alterations in human metabolic disorders. The postdoc will explore new methods, and in combination with our existing epigenetic analytical techniques, he/she will explore the molecular features and disease-relevance of enhancer and silencer remodeling in both human samples and animal models. This project involves collaborations with clinicians from the adjacent Huddinge Hospital. The postdoc is also expected to perform combinative analysis to extract the clinical-relevant information from the multi-omics data.

Qualifications

We are inviting applications of highly motivated and talented candidates with a successful PhD (publications) in molecular biology, biomedicine, biochemistry, genetics or related fields. For both positions, a thorough understanding of transcription, chromatin and epigenetic mechanisms along with documented lab-wet skills in genomics and epigenomics approaches are essential. Additionally, biocomputational expertise to analyze -omics data is desired or expected to be acquired within the initial project stages (with help from more experienced lab members). For Project 2, previous experience in working with human primary cells and/or mouse models would be an advantage. Above that, the successful candidates will have excellent communication and organizational skills and can work both independently and as team players.

Entry requirements

Scholarships for postdoctoral qualification can be established for foreign researchers who place their qualifications in Sweden. The purpose of scholarships for postdoctoral qualification is to promote internationalization and contribute to research qualification after a doctorate or equivalent.
A scholarship for carrying out postdoctoral research can be granted for a maximum of two years within a four year period following the receipt of a doctoral degree or equivalent.
To be eligible for a postdoctoral scholarship, the person must have obtained a doctorate or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctorate. Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the (intended) start date of the post doctoral education.

The head of the department determines whether their previous training and scholarly qualifications correspond to a Swedish doctorate or higher.

Location: Karolinska Institutet South Campus Flemingsberg

Type of scholarship

The amount is tax free and it is set for twelve months at a time, paid out on a six months basis. In exceptional cases, shorter periods may be acceptable.

Application process

An application must contain the following documents in English:

  • A complete curriculum vitae, including date of the thesis defence, and brief summary of the PhD thesis, previous and current academic positions, academic title, academic distinctions, and committee work
  • A complete list of publications (with highlighting up to three most significant papers and explaining your individual contribution to each of them with 3-4 sentences)
  • A personal motivation letter with expressing your choice of the project and some ideas (no more than one A4 page)

The selection will be made among eligible applicants on basis of their qualifications and their suitability for the projects. All applicants will be informed when the recruitment process is completed.

This position will be financed by a tax-free postdoc scholarship paid out by Karolinska Institutet. The scholarship position is initially offered for one year but can be extended. There might also be a possibility to apply later for a postdoc position on salary depending on funding and after approval from Head of department.

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

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

Reference number STÖD 2-2959/2021
Contact
  • Eckardt Treuter, Professor, +46-70-7563805
  • Rongrong Fan, Assistant Professor, +46-70-062 35 85
  • Thomas Tinglöv, Head of Administration, +46-8-524 835 49
Union representative
  • Anders Lindholm, OFR, +46-8-524 810 12
  • Henry Wölling, SEKO, +46-8-524 840 80
Published 31.Aug.2021
Last application date 07.Oct.2021 11:59 PM CEST

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