Research Assistant for the development of CRISPR related therapies - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

The Department of Laboratory Medicine consists of seven divisions in which both research and teaching are conducted. The department is involved in advanced research in both basic and applied research. The Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine focuses on the use of modified biomolecules, cells and cell products as novel therapeutic agents and the identification and study of suitable biomolecular and cellular targets for therapy and diagnosis.

Currently, Assistant Professor Joel Nordin's research group is looking for a research assistant for a 4- month fixed-term position (full-time).

Description of the subject area

Our research in the Nordin laboratory focuses on one of the biggest challenges of modern therapy, namely delivery. Despite the knowledge of diseases and their mechanisms, many promising therapeutic approaches are still clinically unavailable. There is no effective way to deliver these therapies to the right organ at the right dose. Such therapies are proteins for replacement therapy or antibodies for antiinflammatory treatment and nucleic acids for gene therapy of diseases. The Nordin Group develops innovative cell and gene therapies for advanced applications. In this project we aim to gene edit immune cells and stem cells.

Your mission

As a research assistant, you will work on the development of biotechnological targeted nanoparticles. Most of the research will be carried out using cell lines and animal models. The overall goal of the project is to develop natural nanoparticles efficiently loaded with specific macromolecules such as Cas9 and used to edit hematopoietic stem cells and immune cells. In this project, we will use extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are natural non-toxic nanoparticles released by all cells. EVs contain macromolecules, such as mRNA and proteins, and can be engineered to be loaded with different types of cargo, such as mRNA, siRNA and CRISPR/Cas9. Here they will be used to delivery editing proteins to recipient cells.

Your profile

To be eligible for the position of Research Assistant, in addition to holding a doctoral degree, you must have demonstrated research competence and have documented post-doctoral research experience. A good command of English, both spoken and written, is required.

In addition, it requires:

• A very strong background in molecular biology
• Practical laboratory experience in the following areas is essential: PCR, cloning (restriction enzyme, infusion cloning and Gibson cloning), cell culture, lentivirus production, CRISPR work (gRNA design, knock-in template and ways to increase knock-in rates)

It is particularly advantageous that you have

• Extensive experience in PCR and PCR primer design and purification of DNA and RNA from different tissues and cells

It is advantageous that you have:

• Experience in the field of EVs or viruses and in molecular cloning as well as in the development of CRISPR-related tools

As a person, we would like you to be an energetic and passionate person who fits in and actively contributes to our team. In this recruitment we put great emphasis on personal qualities.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. 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 a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several good benefits through our collective agreement. And you get to practice freely in our modern wellness facilities, where trained staff are on site.

Location: Flemingsberg, Huddinge

Application

Welcome to apply at the latest 17 June.

The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system. In this recruitment, you will apply with your CV without a personal letter. Instead, you will answer some questions about why you are applying for the job in the application form. 

Permanent position is initiated by a six months trial period.

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