Research Specialist in Ubiquitin-mediated Protein Degradation and Drug Development

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

Karolinska Institutet offers a unique and highly collaborative research environment at the interface of fundamental biology and translational medicine. In the Sangfelt Lab at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, you will work at the forefront of ubiquitin biology, replication stress, and cancer drug discovery. The position provides the opportunity to develop independent research expertise, engage in international collaborations, and contribute to projects with clear therapeutic potential. You will be part of a multinational team located in one of Europe’s most advanced biomedical research facilities.

Description of the subject area

The subject area of the position is ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation in cancer, with a particular focus on SCF ubiquitin ligases, replication stress responses, and targeted protein degradation. The research combines molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, and computational approaches to identify and exploit cancer vulnerabilities.

Your mission

As a Research Specialist, you will lead and drive research projects focused on E3 ubiquitin ligase–substrate interactions and their roles in cancer biology and therapy. You will play a central role in developing and executing advanced experimental strategies and will be expected to contribute scientifically at a high, independent level. Your duties will include:

• Leading and coordinating defined research projects, including planning, execution, and reporting of results.
• Designing and conducting biochemical and cell-based screens targeting E3 ligase–substrate pairs.
• Structure-guided optimisation and functional characterisation of small molecules regulating ubiquitin ligases
• Integrating biophysical, computational, and cell-based datasets to guide hypothesis-driven research.
• Performing CRISPR-based genetic screens and validation studies to identify regulators of replication stress and DNA damage responses.
• Independent experimental design, data analysis, interpretation, and documentation of results.
• Contributing to manuscript preparation, grant-related activities, and presentation of results.
• Active participation in a multinational research team and international collaborations

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 the position, the applicant must:

• Hold a Degree of Doctor (PhD) or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a Swedish doctoral degree.
• Have demonstrated research expertise in the fields relevant for this position.
• Have documented postdoctoral research experience in ubiquitin research, with a clear focus on cancer biology and replication stress and/or DNA damage response mechanisms.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria form part of the overall evaluation of the applicant’s eligibility and suitability for the position. All criteria will be assessed collectively.

It is particularly meritorious if the applicant has demonstrated:

Advanced expertise in SCF ligases and protein degradation pathways Strong experience in cancer biology, replication stress, or DNA damage response mechanisms Independence in method development and execution of complex research projects A strong publication record with senior or corresponding authorships

It is meritorious if the applicant has:

Experience with high-throughput or compound screening approaches Bioinformatics or data-analysis skills (e.g. R or Python) Expertise in oncogenic SCF ubiquitin ligases and cancer-relevant signaling pathways 

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: Solna
https://ki.se/en/research/research-areas-centres-and-networks/research-groups/scf-ubiquitin-ligases-cell-cycle-transcription-and-cancer-development-olle-sangfelts-group

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!

The application must be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.

Permanent position is initiated by a six months trial period.

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