Principal Researcher in Molecular Immunology

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

NextGenNK is a specialized competence center at Karolinska Institutet focusing on developing next-generation NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies, established with funding from Vinnova. The Center is coordinated by Karolinska Institutet and collaborates with the Karolinska University Hospital and prominent national and international industrial partners. The center builds on Karolinska Institutet's four-decade history of NK cell research, aiming to transform cancer treatment by creating innovative, affordable, and advanced NK cell immunotherapies.

Description of the subject area

NK cell engineering is a rapidly evolving field combining cutting-edge molecular biology, immunology, and genetic engineering to create next-generation NK cell therapies that could revolutionize cancer treatment by offering more precise, adaptable, and potent immunological interventions.

Your mission

The successful candidate will lead research projects to develop and optimize NK cell-based cancer therapies. This role involves supervising and mentoring team members, securing research funding, and managing project budgets while designing experiments to elucidate and enhance NK cell functions, including all steps of genetic modification and novel chimeric receptor development. Collaboration with other research groups and clinical partners is essential to translate discoveries into clinically viable therapies. The Researcher will also contribute to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, oversee the development of next-generation NK cell products, and ensure compliance with GMP requirements. Publishing research findings in high-impact journals and presenting results at conferences will be key responsibilities, ultimately driving the vision to translate knowledge into effective NK cell therapies against cancer.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for employment as a Principal Researcher, in addition to holding a Degree of Doctor, PhD, or having a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a Swedish doctoral degree, the applicant must have demonstrated research expertise. The applicant must also be a Research Leader and have established their own line of research. The applicant should furthermore have shown documented, high-quality scientific production, particularly in the last six years and have the potential to energetically drive their research forward as well as be recognized nationally and internationally. The applicant should also have obtained good, long-term and preferably external funding and have the potential to obtain further external funding.  The applicant should have shown teaching and supervision experience and demonstrated good leadership qualities.

• The ideal candidate must hold a PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, or a closely related field, with a minimum of 5-7 years of postdoctoral research experience.
• They should possess an extensive background and expertise in immunology and molecular cell biology, along with specialized knowledge and experience in NK cell biology and cancer immunotherapy.
• A demonstrated track record in genetic modification techniques for NK cells is essential, as is hands-on experience with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) development.
• Proficiency in CRISPR technology and associated screening methods is required, along with expertise in lentiviral vector production and NK cell engineering techniques.This combination of expertise is crucial for advancing NK cell-based therapies and translating research findings into clinical applications.
• The successful candidate must demonstrate a proven ability to lead a research team and have a track record of securing research funding.
• Strong staff management and mentoring skills are essential, along with experience in supervising PhD, master's, and medical students.
• The ideal candidate must have experience in teaching and course development, with the ability to effectively teach immunology as well as cell therapy and molecular engineering concepts.
• An excellent publication record is required, as well as a strong focus on translating research findings into clinical applications.
• The candidate must possess excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Fluency in English is mandatory, while proficiency in Swedish is highly advantageous.
• The ideal candidate will possess significant industrial collaboration experience, demonstrating a proven ability to work with industry partners in translating basic research into clinical-grade therapies.
• Additionally, candidates should have prior involvement in planning, designing, or overseeing clinical trials, particularly phase I/II trials focused on cell-based immunotherapies.
• A strong background in bioprocess development is essential, including experience with scalable and GMP-compliant cell therapy manufacturing processes and protocol optimization for large-scale NK cell production.
• Proficiency in innovative research methods, particularly in analyzing high-dimensional data like CRISPR screening, and using these approaches to identify genetic or functional targets for NK cell enhancement, will be highly valued.

In addition to these qualifications, candidates with evidence of securing intellectual property rights, such as patents related to NK cell biology or cancer immunotherapy, will stand out. Furthermore, a strong global network through international collaborations with leading research institutions and the ability to work effectively across disciplines with bioinformaticians, molecular biologists, and clinicians will be advantageous. We look forward to receiving applications from highly motivated individuals eager to contribute to cutting-edge research and innovation in NK cell therapy. We put great emphasis on personal suitability. 

Assessment criteria

• Research Excellence and Innovation:
  Evaluate the candidate's track record of high-impact publications, successful grant applications, and innovative contributions to NK cell biology and cancer immunotherapy.
• Leadership and Management Skills:
  Assess the candidate's experience in leading research teams, mentoring junior researchers, and managing complex projects.
• Technical Expertise:
  Evaluate the depth and breadth of the candidate's technical skills in genetic modification of NK cells, CRISPR technology, CAR development, and other relevant techniques.
• Translational Research Capability:
  Assess the candidate's ability to bridge basic science with clinical applications, including experience in GMP requirements and collaborations with clinical partners.
• Communication and Collaboration:
  Evaluate the candidate's ability to effectively communicate complex scientific concepts, both in writing and verbally, and their track record of successful collaborations across disciplines and institutions.

It is particularly meritorious that the applicant has shown advanced expertise in:

• Acquisition of independent research funding
• Staff management capabilities
• Strong track record of scientific mentorship
• Ability to develop and lead innovative research strategies
• Advanced CRISPR technology applications, including sophisticated screening and gene editing techniques
• Complex lentiviral vector production methodologies with proven efficiency and reproducibility
• Industrial Collaboration Experience: Proven ability to collaborate with industry partners, particularly in translating basic research into clinical-grade therapies
• Expertise in Bioprocess Development: Experience in scalable and GMP-compliant cell therapy manufacturing processes, including protocol optimization for large-scale NK cell production
• Proficiency in both spoken and written English

It is meritorious that the applicant has shown

• Providing comprehensive academic and research supervision
• Developing students' experimental design and scientific thinking skills Innovative chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) development strategies for NK cell engineering
• Sophisticated flow cytometry techniques with expertise in advanced cell characterization and sorting
• Comprehensive molecular biology techniques, including advanced genetic manipulation and molecular analysis methods
• Fluency in Swedish is highly meriting

After an overall assessment of the expertise and merits of the applicants in relation to the subject area, Karolinska Institutet will determine which of them has the best potential to contribute to a positive development of the activities at KI.

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. 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 benefits through our collective agreement.

Location: Flemingsberg

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Application

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

Welcome to apply at the latest 2024-12-13

The applications will be reviewed by external reviewers.

The application must be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.

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