Research Specialist in Lipid Biology and Laboratory Infrastructure

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

Join us at Veijo Salo’s Research Group at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet to help build a new research environment dedicated to understanding how hepatocytes regulate lipid storage and secretion, processes central to fatty liver disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes. You will play a key role in establishing laboratory infrastructure and developing advanced experimental workflows that enable cutting-edge research in lipid biology and metabolism. We are seeking a research specialist with up to two years of postdoctoral research experience and a strong background in systemic metabolism, cellular lipid handling and molecular and cell biology in the context of metabolic disease.

Your mission

The Nanoscale Lipid Flux Architecture research group, located at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (MBB) at Karolinska Institutet, led by Assistant Professor Veijo Salo, aims to uncover the molecular logic of lipid flux and organelle biogenesis in metabolic health and disease. You will contribute to both scientific research and laboratory infrastructure development within the group. Scientifically, your mission is to contribute to a broad research program investigating how cells control lipid flux, organelle biogenesis and membrane architecture in metabolic health and disease. Projectsinclude studies of lipid droplet formation, hepatocyte lipid handling, lipoprotein secretion pathways and the nanoscale organization of membrane bound compartments, as well as support for emerging directions as the laboratory grows.

In parallel, you will take a leading role in establishing and maintaining laboratory operations. This includes planning and organizing laboratory space, overseeing safety procedures, coordinating equipment procurement, supporting experimental workflows and contributing to ethical permits and documentation. The position is ideal for a candidate who enjoys combining hands-on experimental research with responsibility for laboratory infrastructure and logistics.

Your profile

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for this position, the applicant must hold a PhD degree and have demonstrated research expertise for up to two years after defending their doctoral dissertation. Documented experience in lipid biology, metabolism, molecular biology or closely related fields is required.

High proficiency in the Swedish language is required, as the position includes responsibility for laboratory setup, safety routines and documentation.

Required skills and qualifications:

• Documented expertise in lipid biology, including cellular lipid uptake, metabolism and lipid droplet biology
• Extensive experience with mammalian cell culture, including primary or immortalized models relevant to metabolic research
• Experience with cellular transfections and gene knockdown approaches
• Proven ability to design, perform and quantify metabolic assays including fatty acid uptake, glucose handling, lipid droplet formation and live-cell metabolic assays such as Seahorse
• Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques including FACS, PCR, western blotting, immunocytochemistry, qPCR, cloning and vector construction
• Experience with advanced imaging methods such as confocal microscopy and two-photon imaging
• Demonstrated ability to write scientific manuscripts
• Experience in project coordination and collaborative research environments
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous documentation habits
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Familiarity and experience with Swedish regulatory frameworks relevant to laboratory operations, including GMO regulations, chemical safety and ethical permit processes

Additional preferred qualifications:

• Experience establishing laboratory infrastructure, including spatial and equipment planning
• Experience supporting or coordinating multiple research projects
• Ability to troubleshoot and optimize metabolic or imaging workflows
• Interest in lipid metabolism in the context of metabolic disease

Personal suitability is of great importance. We are looking for a proactive, collaborative and open-minded colleague who contributes to a positive and supportive research environment.

Assessment criteria

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. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement. You will have access to modern laboratory facilities at Biomedicum and to a supportive and collaborative research community.

Location: Solna

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 13st of December 2026

The application is submitted through the Varbi recruitment system. In this recruitment, you will apply with your CV without a personal letter; instead, you will answer motivation questions in the application form.

A permanent position is initiated by a six-month trial period.

The application must include:
• PhD certificate
• CV

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