Research specialist in oral microbiome and translational research

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

We are seeking a highly motivated research specialist to join the Division of Pathology and Professor Margaret Sällberg Chen´s research group at the Department of Laboratory Medicine. He or she will be part of an interdisciplinary team of clinical-, biomedical scientists at various career stages. Our focus is around the human oral and gut microbiomes and to developing novel tools for advancing this research area. You will work closely within networks of recognized scientists contributing to translational research in a highly collaborative environment. Our lab is located at ANA Futura, a state-of-the-art facility offering access to cutting-edge infrastructure and resources for translational research.

Description of the subject area

The position focuses on investigating the role of the oral microbiome in chronic diseases and cancer, with emphasis on its biomarker and therapeutic potential. The successful candidate will contribute to ongoing research projects by supporting bioinformatics analysis as well as sample processing and quality assessments. Additional responsibilities include assisting doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, contributing to manuscript writing and grant applications, and teaching at undergraduate and graduate level.

Your mission

We are looking for an experienced researcher with a strong background in NGS workflows and microbiome analysis of oral and gut samples. This role requires both strong computational expertise and organizational skills. The successful applicant will actively participate in research projects, help train students and team members and support scientific communications.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong computational skills, with proficiency in Python, machine learning, and Linux environments

• Proven experience in bioinformatics, including clinical and multi-omics data integration

• More than 3 years of postdoctoral research experience in microbiome studies, including targeted (bacterial and fungal) and shotgun metagenomic sequencing

• Hands-on experience in clinical biobanking, including the processing of oral and stool microbiome samples.

• Practical expertise in RNA/DNA extraction and QC.

• A strong track record in scientific communication and recent publications in this area.

Eligibility requirements

For employment as Research Specialist at Karolinska Institutet, the eligibility requirements stated in the Guidelines for non-teaching positions at Karolinska Institutet are applied in relation to the established profile of employment.

To be eligible for employment as a Research Specialist, candidates must:

Hold a PhD in human microbiome research. Have documented experience in human oral microbiome studies. At least 3 years of postdoctoral research in this field.

Assessment criteria

It is particularly meritorious that the applicant has shown

• Competence in microbiome research workflows
• Proficiency in targeted- as well as shotgun metagenomic analyses of microbiome
• Proficiency in Python, machine learning, and Linux environments
• Familiarity with RNA/DNA purification and quality assessment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Ability to work both independently and in an organized, collaborative manner
• Publication record in this area

It is meritorious that the applicant has shown

• Experience in genomics and transcriptomics
• Experience with machine learning algorithms applied to microbiome data
• Proven ability to integrate clinical and multi-omics datasets
• Practical experience in biobanking and processing of oral and stool samples
• Successful supervision of students, preferably within Karolinska Institutet´s programs.

After an overall assessment of the expertise and merits incl. personal characteristics 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

Professor Margaret Sällberg Chen´s research group

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!

The application must be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.

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