Postdoctoral Researcher in regulatory genomics in neuroscience

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Llorens laboratory offers a vibrant, stimulating and international environment. We are part of the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, one of the world’s leading medical universities. The lab is located in Biomedicum, one of Europe's largest laboratories with ultramodern facilities and rich opportunities for collaboration and career development.

Division

Our lab is interested in stimulating regeneration in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). We aim to uncover the principles of gene expression regulation during development and repurpose them for regeneration. We use a multidisciplinary approach that involves stem cell biology, systems biology, computational biology, molecular engineering and animal models of disease.

In recent work, we discovered a latent regenerative potential in adult spinal cord stem cells using single cell multiomics and designed a targeted intervention to elicit such potential (Llorens-Bobadilla et al. Science 2020). In parallel, we also develop novel technologies for spatially-resolved multiomics (Llorens-Bobadilla et al. Nature Biotech 2023) and programmable cell state targeting using stimulus-responsive enhancers (Zamboni et al. Nature Neurosci 2025).

The current projects aim at using computational modelling of multiomic single cell and spatial genomics datasets, to uncover principles of gene expression regulation during CNS injury and repurpose them for regeneration using synthetic genomics.

Link to the lab website: https://ki.se/en/cmb/enric-llorens-group

Duties

We are seeking a talented and enthusiastic postdoctoral fellow to apply cutting-edge single-cell and spatial genomics approaches in combination with advanced computational methods to uncover mechanisms of neural circuit repair and regeneration. The candidate will integrate large-scale transcriptomic and epigenomic datasets with state-of-the-art deep learning models to link sequence to function, supporting the design of regenerative therapies in the nervous system. The position will combine hands-on neuroscience experimental approaches with data-driven analysis.

Your profile

We are looking for a highly motivated, self-driven neuroscientist with a strong track record and relevant experience from PhD and/or previous postdoctoral work. A strong publication record and a recently completed PhD will be considered advantageous. The successful applicant is expected to have a background and strong interest in one or several of the following areas: single-cell and/or spatial genomics, computational biology, machine learning, bioinformatics, and systems neuroscience. Prior experience with deep learning applied to biological data is a plus. Practical experience with neuroscience experimental methods (e.g., surgical approaches, viral or genetic manipulation, circuit tracing, or related techniques) will be considered a strong advantage. Good communication skills in spoken and written English are required.

• You hold a PhD degree in Neuroscience, Bioinformatics, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Bio-engineering, or an equivalent discipline.
• Experience with high performance computing.
• Experience with machine learning (e.g., TensorFlow/Keras/PyTorch) will be considered an advantage.
• Experience with single-cell or spatial genomics will be considered an advantage.
• Hands-on neuroscience laboratory expertise will be considered an advantage.

To be eligible for employment as a postdoctoral researcher, 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. Completion of your doctoral degree within the last three years is considered an advantage. If there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier.

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: Stockholm

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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)

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

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