Postdoctoral research in space human physiology with a focus on meta-analysis research (scholarship)

Are you passionate about contributing to cutting-edge biomedical research and the future of space exploration?

Join the Space and Environmental Physiology Group at Karolinska Institutet and help advance our understanding of how the human body responds to spaceflight.

About the Group

The Space and Environmental Physiology Group is part of the Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, located at KI South Campus in Flemingsberg. Our research explores how spaceflight impacts skeletal muscle mass and function and its interactions with other physiological systems, like the immune system or the cardiovascular system.

We conduct human studies using state-of-the-art equipment to examine the functional, molecular, and metabolic responses to both increased and decreased muscle use. Our laboratory facilities are fully equipped for exercise, unloading, and invasive human studies, as well as non-invasive physiological assessments. Additionally, we operate molecular and cellular laboratories supporting a wide range of advanced experimental approaches. Our group also engages in collaborative animal studies (mice) with international partners to expand our translational research efforts.

Read about the Department of Laboratory Medicine

Read about the Space and Environmental Physiology Group

Duties

We are offering a one-year postdoctoral scholarship to a highly motivated researcher interested in conducting a meta-analysis of physiological changes during spaceflight analogs. Your primary task will be to synthesize data from at least seven bed rest studies to investigate musculoskeletal adaptations to both short- and long-term simulated microgravity.

Additional opportunities include participation in ongoing wet lab experiments and human research projects. You will work under the supervision of Dr. Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalo, who leads ESA-funded research and collaborates with an international network of experts in space physiology.

Your Profile

We are looking for a driven and independent postdoctoral researcher with the following qualifications:

• Proven expertise in data curation and meta-analysis techniques
• Strong foundation in human physiology, especially musculoskeletal biology
• Experience with molecular biology methods (e.g., qPCR, Western blotting) and/or human studies is highly desirable
• Demonstrated ability to lead research projects and contribute to study design, data analysis, and manuscript preparation

In addition, we value candidates who are:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Enthusiastic and curious about new scientific challenges
• Deeply interested in the mechanisms of human adaptation to spaceflight

Entry requirements

Postdoctoral scholarships may be established for foreign researchers seeking to develop their expertise in Sweden. A foreign researcher is a person living in another country who comes to Sweden with the intention of only staying in Sweden for all or part of their postdoctoral education at KI. Persons who are resident in Sweden and/or have carried out all or part of their academic education at KI or some other educational institution in Sweden cannot be considered for scholarships. The purpose of scholarships for postdoctoral qualification is to promote internationalization and contribute to research qualification after a doctorate or equivalent.

To be eligible for a postdoctoral scholarship, the person must have obtained a doctorate, or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctorate. Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the (intended) start date of the post-doctoral education.

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 innovative medical research and provide the largest range of biomedical 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. Students and employees have free access to our modern gym facilities with trained staff on site.

Location: Flemingsberg Campus

Type of scholarship

The amount is tax free and it is set for twelve months at a time, paid out on a six months basis. In exceptional cases, shorter periods may be acceptable.

Application process

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

• Cover letter outlining your motivation and suitability for the position
• Curriculum vitae (CV), including:
  • o Date of PhD defense and title of thesis
  • o Details of previous academic positions and current affiliation
  • o Academic distinctions, if applicable
  • o A list of meta-analysis and laboratory methods you are proficient in
• List of publications, with clear indication of which are part of your doctoral thesis
• Summary of current research activities (maximum one page)
• Contact information for three professional references

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

Applications will be screened continuously. Expected start date is August 15, 2025, or as agreed upon during negotiation.

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