Research Specialist in Adipocyte lipid quantification method development - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Unit for Metabolism and the Patient Research Centre focuses on understanding how changes in adipocyte function and origin are related to cardiometabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. The unit consists of 18-22 members, across two research groups; the Mikael Rydén and Niklas Mejhert lab and the Alastair Kerr lab. All the necessary infrastructure to conduct advanced translational research, including a fully equipped pre-clinical laboratory and a clinical research unit is located onsite.

The Mikael Rydén & Niklas Mejhert lab

Alastair Kerr Research Group

Description of the subject area and your mission

Research Role: Developing high throughput lipid species quantification in human adipocytes.

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Specialist to join our team at The Unit for Metabolism and the Patient Research Centre. The Research Specialist will develop high resolution polar and non-polar lipid species measurements in differentiated human adipocytes and white adipose tissue biopsy samples to investigate how specific classes of lipid affect adipocyte function. The methodology will be established using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) with the aim to optimize the measuring of different lipids in cell models and patient biopsy samples to understand how these molecules contribute to adipocyte dysfunction and cardiometabolic disease. The research specialist is expected to advance lipid species measurement using the HPTLC machine and so a very specialised knowledge and expertise is required to push the boundaries of current applications.

This is a special fixed-term employment with an initial contract period of 6 months. The employment may be extended, but the total duration under this form of contract may not exceed 12 months.

Key Responsibilities of the Selected Applicant

•  Develop and optimise high-throughput lipid profiling workflows using the CAMAG HPTLC platform.
• Advance HPTLC methodology to incorporate radiolabelled isotope tracing for metabolic flux studies.
• Apply the optimised methodology to human adipocytes and white adipose tissue biopsy samples.
• Perform comparative lipid profiling using complementary analytical methods (e.g., LC-MS, GC-MS, GC-FID). 
•  Ensure rigorous data quality control, reproducibility, and method validation.
• Collaborate with other researchers in the group and contribute to broader project goals.
• Present findings in internal meetings and contribute to manuscript preparation and dissemination of results. 

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, in addition to holding a Degree of Doctor, PhD, or having a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a Swedish doctoral degree, the applicant must have demonstrated research expertise as well as have documented postdoctoral research experience.

Assessment criteria

Essential qualifications and experience

•  A PhD degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated expertise in lipid profiling using thin-layer chromatography (TLC/HPTLC).
• Experience with at least one complementary lipid analysis technique, such as LC-MS, GC-MS, or GC-FID.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail in experimental design and data interpretation.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment. 

Desirable qualifications and experience

•  Previous experience working with adipocytes or human adipose tissue samples.
• Familiarity with method development and optimisation for high-throughput lipid analyses.
• Experience in the use of radiolabelled tracers for studying metabolic pathways.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written, with a track record of scientific publications.  

After an overall assessment of the expertise and merits 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

The Department of Medicine, Huddinge

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 at the latest 12 september 2025.

The application must be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.

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