Postdoctoral researcher in bioengineered extracellular vesicles for genome editing

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Department of Laboratory Medicine consists of seven divisions that conduct both research and teaching. The department is involved in advanced research, encompassing both basic and applied research. All divisions operate in close collaboration with clinicians at the Karolinska University Hospital. The Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine (BCM) focuses on the use of modified biomolecules, cells, and cell products as new therapeutic agents, as well as the identification and study of suitable biomolecular and cellular targets for therapy and diagnostics. The division is also connected to the Karolinska ATMP Center.

Our research efforts in the EL Andaloussi´s lab focus on one of the greatest challenges facing modern therapeutics; the delivery of macromolecules to target cells in vivo. Despite the unprecedented knowledge of diseases and their mechanisms due to advances in biomedical sciences; many promising therapeutic approaches are still clinically unavailable. This is simply because there is no efficient means of delivering these therapeutics to the right organ with the right dose. Our research performance involves developing novel and innovative drug delivery technologies that can carry proteins, RNAs, or gene therapies to the target tissues safely and efficiently. Thus, we engineer exosomes with enhanced delivery and targeting capacities and screen our wide array of exosome designs in disease-relevant cellular and animal models.

Another growing area of research in the Andaloussi lab pertains to the delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that are used to either silence genes or induce splice switching. To enhance the delivery of these to specific tissues, different bioconjugation strategies to lipids, peptides or monoclonal antibodies will be employed. A major focus is on enhancing delivery of therapeutic ASOs to heart and CNS to treat genetic diseases. In addition to enhancing functional delivery to these tissues, the lab also exploits single cell RNA sequencing to accurately determine tissues distribution within organs on single cell level.

In addition, projects that investigate the use of targeting vectors on the surface of lipid nano-particles (LNPs) are also of interest. This includes the development of novel conjugation approaches and characterization methods for complex mixtures of biomacromolecules and lipds. Bioconjugation techniques will be applied broadly across projects to enable the study of structure-function relationships of a wide range of delivery vectors.

Your mission

As a Postdoctoral Research fellow, you will work on the design and synthesis of biological/ synthetic ligands and improved strategies for bioconjugation of ligands to ASOs,  and siRNAs and LNPs.

Most of the research will exploit methods used in general organic chemistry laboratories including: synthesis, analysis and purification strategies (Flash column chromatography, MS/NMR spectroscopies, HPLC purifications). The work will additionally involve synthesis of peptides and ASOs using solid phase approaches, their modifications and bioconjugations to various entities. The methods used for bioconjugation include amide bond formation, a number of click chemistry approaches, solid support functionalization and enzymatic reactionsmore.

Your profile

The eligible candidate for this postdoctoral researcher position should hold a PhD degree awarded no more than 7 years prior to the final date of postdoctoral employment. This period may be extended under special circumstances.

The eligible candidate for the above-mentioned Postdoctoral Researcher position should hold a PhD degree dated no more than 7 years before the last date of employment as postdoc. The term can be extended under special circumstances.

The applicant should have a solid background in organic chemistry and bioconjugation. The position requires practical lab experience in the following areas; organic synthesis, analysis and purification strategies of organic compounds from small molecules to bioconjugates.

Secondly, experience from peptide- and oligonucleotide synthesis using automated solid phase approaches are needed. The ideal candidate should furthermore have experience within the click chemistry bioconjugation strategies.

Excellent proficiency in both spoken and written English is a prerequisite. We are looking for an energetic and passionate person who fits in, and actively contributes to our team.

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: Flemingsberg

Application

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

• A complete curriculum vitae, 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 (maximum one page)
• A sumary of current work

Welcome to submit your application no later than 14 October.

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

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