Postdoctoral Researcher in Neuroendocrinology

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

The research group of Ivan Nalvarte is looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to study how the neuroendocrine axis affects the developing and aging brain. The research focuses on understanding how altered sex hormone signaling modulate synaptic functions during neurodevelopment, aging and dementia. To address the research questions, the group utilizes both animal models and complex 3D cell models in combination with advanced genomic techniques.

The research group is located at the division of Neurogeriatrics, within the department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society at KI, Solna. The division conduct top experimental and clinical research on neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, offering ample expertise in the topic of your research field and opens up for collaborative developments.

Your mission

Sex hormones do not only regulate reproduction, they also participate in healthy brain aging and in well-being. Still, it is not well-known how sex hormones regulate molecular processes that shape our brain and how they interact with risk and resilience factors that may account for sex differences in healthy brain aging. You will take a leading role in a project that explores the interaction between aberrant sex hormones signaling, genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease, and the synaptic plasticity in hypothalamic, hippocampal, and cortical circuitrires. You will use cerebral and hypothalamic organoid models, and analyses include epigenomic, transcriptomic, electrophysiologic, and histologic analyses. We work multidisciplinary by integrating experimental data (both in vivo and in vitro) with human epidemiological data. You are expected to be part of the group and to work and develop in accordance with the common group goals and research interests.

The position is for temporary employment for 7 months.

Your profile

We seek a highly motivated and team-oriented postdoctoral researcher with a background in neuroscience. You must have experience in 2D and 3D cell culturing techniques and be well acquainted with modern genomic technologies. It is highly advantageous if you have experience in hypothalamic organoid culturing and in neuroendocrinology, as well as in handling rodents. Successful candidates are enthusiastic, responsible, able to work independently performing their own experiments and analyses. They are expected to provide support in experimental design and experimentation to other members of the group and are willing to take on lab-administrative tasks. Fluency in written and spoken English is a requirement.

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. 

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

Read more about Ivan Nalvartes research group here

Choose to work at KI – Ten reasons why

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 August 8th 2025.

The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system. Interviews may begin before the end of the application period.

Permanent position is initiated by a six months trial period.

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