Assistant Professor in basic research and drug development in neurodegenerative diseases

Applications are invited for a position as Assistant Professor in drug research and development in neurodegenerative diseases, in the group of Associate Professor Lars Tjernberg in collaboration with Professor Bengt Winblad. We are investigating the pathological pathways leading to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease and exploring novel treatment strategies. The group works in an inspiring and interactive research environment in BioClinicum, KI Campus Solna.

Your mission 

This position will include responsibilities in projects focusing on the development of novel drug candidates for Alzheimer disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, including in vitro target validation, evaluation in cell cultures, pharmacokinetic studies, and in vivo evaluation in animal models. The candidate will form his/her research line and be involved in all parts of the projects ranging from applying for funding, planning and performing experiments, project and data management, and dissemination of results including publications. You will interact closely with other members of the research group and supervise doctoral students and master’s students in their projects. The position also involves teaching assignments on advanced- and doctoral education levels.

The employment as Assistant Professor is limited for 6 years with the possibility to apply for promotion to Senior Lecturer.

Eligibility requirements 

Those eligible for employment as an Assistant Professor are individuals who have been awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence. Preference should be given to those who were awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence no more than five years prior to the expiry of the application period for the position as assistant professor. 

Those who have been awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence earlier may however be considered if special grounds exist.  

Special grounds refer to: 

• parental leave, 
• positions of trust in trade union organizations 
• mandatory service in the total defense forces 
• long-term illness 

Ground, dates and extent must be clearly specified in the application and verified with relevant documentation. 

Appointment to the position of assistant professor requires good scientific skills and good pedagogical skills. (See the instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure for Teachers at Karolinska Institutet dnr. 1-721/2024). 

It is a requirement that you have completed three weeks of courses on teaching in higher education, or have gained equivalent competence, as indicated in the recommendations of the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institution. If you lack such education at the time of employment, you must undergo such education during the first two years of employment. 

You also meet the following requirements

• Applicants should have finished a postdoctoral period and have a solid expertise in basic research and drug development of small molecules.
• Applicants should have documented experience in molecular biology, bioanalysis, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies. This includes protein production, in vitro assays to detect protein-protein interactions, primary cell culturing, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of neurotransmitters and xenobiotic compounds, pharmacokinetic studies, establishment of animal models, genotyping, stereotactic injection, animal behavioural tests, immunostaining and imaging. We also require documented qualifications in laboratory animal science and confocal microscopy.
• Applicants should demonstrate their scientific ability, including received research funding and well-documented scientific production (such as published peer-reviewed articles and completed manuscripts).
• Applicants should be able to work independently, take own initiatives, have good collaborative skills, demonstrate good leadership qualities, and be fluent in written and spoken English.

Bases of assessment 

For employment as Lecturer at Karolinska Institutet, the eligibility requirements and assessment criteria stated in the Instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure are applied in relation to established profile of employment. 

Scientific expertise will be most important when assessing applicants. 

It is particularly meritorious that you have demonstrated 

• Proven interest in drug development targeting protein-protein interactions in Alzheimer disease.
• International postdoctoral experience in a different research environment than for the doctoral studies.

What do we offer? 

A creative, international and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Here, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several good benefits through our collective agreement.  

Location: Solna

Choose to work at KI – Ten reasons why

Application

We prefer that Your application is written in English, but You can also apply in Swedish. An application must contain the following documents: Resumé, qualifications and description of planned research, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet’s qualifications portfolio.

Welcome to apply at the latest November 20th 2024.

The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system

Permanent position is initiated by a six months trial period.

Particular assessment for promotion to Senior Lecturer

An Assistant Professor employed in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 4 Section 12a shall be promoted to Senior Lecturer if he or she is eligible for an employment as Senior Lecturer in accordance with the Instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure for Teachers at Karolinska Institutet and is assessed to be suitable for such employment in accordance with the assessment criteria that KI has decided should be applied when being promoted to Senior Lecturer. The assessment criteria stated in the Instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure for Teachers at Karolinska Institutet that was valid at the time of appointment as Assistant Professor will be applied when applying for promotion to Senior Lecturer.  Current assessment criteria is found here. Such promotion results in a permanent position as Senior Lecturer. 

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