Postdoctoral Researcher in Chromatin Biology and Transcriptional Regulation

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

Come and join us at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. In the research group led by Laura Baranello, we are particularly interested in the molecular mechanisms defining the crosstalk between transcription, DNA topology and chromatin folding, with the aim to design improved strategies for anti-cancer treatment.

Your mission

The Baranello Lab - Drawing from our expertise in the fields of topoisomerase and cancer biology, we aim to answer fundamental questions about how transcription, replication and DNA topology are functionally coordinated in human cells. We use state-of-the-art approaches to assess transcriptomic, epigenomic and replisomic profiles, as well as molecular biology, advanced microscopy and drug screens to understand how topoisomerase regulation affects fundamental nuclear processes (key lab references: Baranello et al. Cell 2016; Wiegard et al. Molecular Cell 2021; Das et al. Molecular Cell 2022; Cameron et al. Science Advances 2023). The overall aim is to reveal novel cancer therapy targets and improved strategies for personalized treatment.

Recently we have identified a protein complex called “topoisome” in which the oncoprotein MYC recruits and increases the catalytic activities of both Topoisomerase 1 and 2 to promote high rates of transcriptional (Das et al. Molecular Cell 2022). The successful candidate will play a leading role in a full-time research project funded by the European Research Council Consolidator Grant, focused to address the functional role of the topoisome during transcription. Specifically we want to study the coordination of the topoisome and the transcriptional machinery. The outcome of this work is predicted to inspire a new strategy to target MYC in cancer, which will be tested in MYC-driven cancer models. This multidisciplinary project involves master biochemistry, master molecular biology, proteomics/genomics, and computational analysis. The postdoc will plan and execute experiments, analyze data, interpret, and present the results, supervise students as well as write scientific articles, initially under partial supervision but with greater independence going forward.

We are a young and dynamic research team with a well-established collaborative network. Our lab is located at Biomedicum, a top modern research building with a large repertoire of researchers and access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities. Our group is also associated to the laboratory of Dr. Levens at the National Institutes of Health (US) and Dr. Shiraige at Tokyo University (JP). The candidate will greatly benefit from this interdisciplinary environment, immersion in a highly stimulating and supportive research community, unique infrastructure, a buzzing capital, and scenic nature at your doorstep.

Your profile

To be eligible for employment as a postdoc, 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. Completion of your doctoral degree within the last three years is considered an advantage. If there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier.

We are looking for a highly motivated, driven, enthusiastic person interested in our area of research, and ready to explore new avenues in science. The candidate should have a strong collaborative approach to research, be a team player as capable of working independently and contribute to a good social environment in the laboratory. The candidate must have a PhD in medical sciences, biochemistry, molecular biology or equivalent.

Requirements:

• Strong expertise in biochemistry
• Strong expertise in molecular biology 
• Expertise in proteomics and/or genomics 
• Expertise in transcription regulation and DNA topology 
• Proficiency in scientific programming (e.g., R/Bioconductor, Python, UNIX) 
• Interest in solving intricate scientific questions and willingness to help PhD/master students
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (in English written and verbal). Emphasis will be also placed on personal suitability, fitting well into the current research group.

What do we offer?

Our lab is eager to provide the fellow with an opportunity to develop and/or apply state-of-the-art methodologies to solve timely biological key questions. Necessary training on Mass Spectrometry, sequencing technologies and computational analysis will be given to the fellow. We are eager to give the candidate the opportunity to become fully independent researcher in interdisciplinary science within years.

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.

Visit Baranello Lab: https://ki.se/en/research/groups/topoisomerases-chromatin-biology-and-cancer-laura-baranellos-group

Visit Department of Cell and Molecular Biology: https://ki.se/en/cmb/department-of-cell-and-molecular-biology

--- [Video about a Karolinska Institutet, how we work towards "a better health for all"] --

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 (maximum 3 pages)
• A complete list of publications
•  A letter describing previous accomplishments, technical expertise and why you want to work with us (no more than one-page, generic letters not accepted)  
•  Names and contact details of two scientists for reference letters 

Welcome to apply! Applications will be continually assessed.

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!