Post doctoral researcher in viral pathogenesis, cellular metabolism and cancer research

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Department of Medicine, Solna, is one of the largest departments at Karolinska Institutet. The department consists of several units that are separated into different research groups. The core activities of the department are research, doctoral education and undergraduate education for medical and biomedical students. The research has three main profiles: allergy, cardiovascular medicine and inflammatory diseases.

Your mission

Two post doc positions are now open for scientists with a strong background in virology and/or metabolic research. The project focuses on understanding how cytomegalovirus (CMV) alters cellular metabolism and contributes to the development of cancer. CMV is present in most brain tumors. The major aim of this work is to understand, in mechanistic terms, how CMV subverts normal cellular metabolism to the Warburg effect for purpose of controlling cell growth and how the virus thereby contributes to cancer development. These studies will involve cell and molecular biology as well as virology approaches and will utilize methods to assess metabolic changes in human primary cells, grown cell cultures.

One of the post docs will work 30% in a clinical trial, VIGAS2, that aims to assess the effect of the antiviral drug valganciclovir to improve survival of glioblastoma patients. This work includes analyses of clinical blood and brain tumor tissues specimens from patients included in the trial. CMV will be detected with immunohistochemistry staining of tissue samples, serological analyses, PCR and sequencing analyses. The other post doc will work 30% with administrative duties concerning the trial. The positions are one year project employments with possibilities for extensions.

Your profile

The applicant should have a strong background in virology, cell or molecular biology or metabolic research. This project will involve studies of CMV, wherefore previous work with CMV is of high merit. Likewise, competence and experience from studies of cellular metabolism is also of high merit for the position. CMV has been difficult to detect in brain tumor samples with PCR and sequencing methods. Therefore, strong skills in molecular biology is of high merit for one of the positions as it concerns method development of Sure Select and nanopore sequencing approaches to detect viral genome sequences in tumor specimens. You should specify in your application which position you are interested in and motivate your choice concerning your skills in administrative work or assessments of clinical patient samples, respectively.

Qualified to be employed as a postdoctor is one who has obtained a doctorate or has equivalent scientific competence. 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) date of employment. This must be substantiated by the applicant's main supervisor, director or equivalent.

What do we offer?

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 better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct innovative medical research and provide the largest range of biomedical education in Sweden. Karolinska Institutet is a state university, which entitles employees to several benefits such as extended holiday and a generous occupational pension. Employees also have free access to our modern gym and receive reimbursements for medical care.

Location

The position is located within the Department of Medicine, Solna. The department consists of twelve divisions and each division consists of several research groups. The position is located within the research group Cell and Molecular Immunology, Unit for Microbial Pathogenesis

Application

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

A complete resumé, 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.

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