Postdoctoral Researcher in Enteric Neurobiology (scholarship) - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in Enteric Neurobiology in Ulrika Marklund’s group at the division of Molecular Neurobiology. The lab’s research focus is on the enteric nervous system (ENS) in the gastrointestinal tract - an essential, yet under-investigated, part of the nervous system. There is thus immense potential for new fundamental insights to be discovered.

Research Team and the Division

The Marklund lab addresses principal questions in ENS biology with a focus on neural cell diversity. The team has recently identified molecularly distinct neuronal cell classes in the ENS as well as a new conceptual model for they emerge during the development (Morarach et al., 2021). These discoveries form the basis for an ERC-funded project, requiring an expansion of the team. The new project seeks to uncover molecular programs controlling cell fate decisions during embryonic and adult enteric neurogenesis and thereafter apply these insights to engineer specific neuron types within the adult gut wall. A wide range of transcriptomic, epigenetic, cellular, and imaging methodologies will be utilized to meet these aims. By resolving mechanisms of ENS development, the lab hopes to pave the way for a better understanding, characterization and treatment of prevalent gut disorders.

More information can be found at: https://ki.se/en/mbb/ulrika-marklund-group and www.marklundlab.org

The Marklund lab is part of the Unit of Molecular Neurobiology, today inhabited by 7 research group with expertise in developmental biology, advanced omics and imaging technologies, neuroscience, cancer and stem cell biology. The unit has a strong collaborative structure and a highly stimulating and dynamic research atmosphere. The Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics resides in a new research building for Biomedical Research, Biomedicum, providing modern technological platforms and an open environment for interactions across departments and disciplines. For further information on the research unit: https://ki.se/en/mbb/research-division-of-molecular-neurobiology.

Your mission

Your aim will be to unravel regulatory mechanisms and gene regulatory programs that determine cell identities within the developing and adult enteric nervous system. The work will include the establishment of an adult neurogenesis mouse model to study neural fate potential of resident stem cells. The recruited postdoctoral fellow is expected to play a leading role in experimental design, experimentation, analysis, as well as presentation/publication of results. You will analyse omics if possible or work closely with collaborating bioinformatician. Further information about the ERC project: https://news.ki.se/ki-researcher-ulrika-marklund-awarded-the-erc-consolidator-grant

Your profile

The applicant shall hold (or expected to hold within 6 months) a PhD degree in the field of developmental biology, transcriptomics or molecular neurobiology. Skills in at least one of the following areas are required: RNA/chromatin omics, bioinformatics, computational biology, transgenic animal models and histochemical methodologies. Prior experience in adult neurogenesis and/or cell fate determination are meritorious. The applicant needs to have a high degree of independence and motivation but should have no problems to work in a team given the collaborative nature of the project. Fluency in English is a requirement.

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: Solna, Biomedicum

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 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 personal letter highlighting previous accomplishment and expertise, research interests and motivation to apply (about one page)
• Reference letters (to be uploaded directly if available or send directly to Ulrika.Marklund@ki.se after the first selection round)

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

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