Postdoctoral Researcher in Bacterial genetics, pathogenesis, and vaccines

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC) at Karolinska Institutet in Solna conducts research and education in immunology, infection biology, cell biology and cancer. Our keywords are interdisciplinary, clinically based basic research and national and international cooperation.

Your mission

We search for a postdoctoral researcher that together with Professor Birgitta Henriques Normark, her research group and her collaborators will work on projects in bacteriology and on respiratory tract infections.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies infectious diseases as one of the greatest global health threats. Lower respiratory tract infections are a major cause of death globally. Pneumococci are a major contributor to both morbidity and mortality and being the most common causes of milder respiratory tract infections such as otitis media and sinusitis as well as of severe diseases such as pneumonia, septicemia and meningitis. However, pneumococci are also common colonizers of the upper respiratory tract of healthy children. It is still not totally clear what determines whether the bacteria will cause a disease or just stay colonizing healthy individuals. The research group focuses on host-microbe interactions with a major interest in pneumococcal infections.

This position includes studies of bacterial genetics and vaccine development in major respiratory tract bacterial pathogens with a focus on pneumococcal infections. The CRISP-R technology will be set up for pneumococci. Genomic characterization of clinical pneumococcal isolates will be performed, and mutants will be created in identified proteins from genetic screens for pathogenesis studies. A production line for bacterial membrane vesicles will be set up. A major target is pneumococcal infections, but also other microbial infections (such other bacteria and viruses) may be targeted.

Your profile

Qualified to be employed as a postdoctor is one who has obtained a doctorate or has equivalent scientific competence. It is considered as an advantage if you have completed your doctoral degree within the last three years, if there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier. 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.

A PhD in microbiology (bacteriology) including bacterial respiratory tract pathogens will give priority. Previous experience in bacteriology, bacterial genetics, immunology, molecular microbiology, of the CRISP-R technology, and in genomics is favorable, especially previous experience on working with bacterial respiratory tract pathogens such as pneumococci. Documented experience in relevant research areas is an advantage, especially previous experiences of molecular techniques, bacterial genetics, RNA studies and in vitro model systems. Experience with international collaborations, as well as experience in project management are of advantage in addition to social skills, creative thinking, and language skills, especially in English and Swedish. Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in teams are essential.

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: Solna

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.

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