Postdoctoral Researcher in Bacterial vaccines

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research in infection biology and microbiology?

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.

The research group

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 respiratory tract infections to develop vaccines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies infectious diseases as one of the greatest global health threats. Respiratory tract infections are major causes of morbidity and 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. Group A streptococci are major causes of milder respiratory tract infections such as tonsillitis, as well as skin infections, but also to more severe diseases such as septicemia, necrotizing fasciitis, and toxic shock syndrome. There is also a risk for sequelae including rheumatic heart disease. The research group focuses on pathogenesis and host-microbe interactions with a major interest in pneumococcal and streptococcal infections.

Your mission

This position includes studies of bacterial pathogenesis and vaccines with a focus on pneumococcal and streptococcal infections. Identified vaccine candidates will be evaluated using genetic, proteomic, and molecular microbiology technologies as well as using in vitro models. A production line for bacterial membrane vesicles will be set up. The major target is pneumococcal and streptococcal infections, but also other microbial infections may be targeted.

Your profile

To be eligible for employment as a postdoctor a phd or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a Swedish phd is required. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision. 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.

In addition to the aforementioned requirements for the position: 

• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in teams are essential.

Meritorius for the position:

• A PhD in microbiology (bacteriology) especially on pneumococcal or streptococcal infections will give priority. 
• Previous experience in bacteriology, especially on pneumococcal and streptococcal infections, and molecular microbiology and on vaccine development, are an advantage.
• Documented experience in relevant research areas will be prioritized, especially previous experiences in microbiology, immunology, bacterial vaccines, and of molecular techniques, and of 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.

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. At Karolinska Institutet, 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: Solna

Application

An employment application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:

• PhD certificate
• 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)

Welcome to apply at the latest 2024-12-10

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

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