Research Specialist in translational molecular virology in chronic viral latent infections focused on HIV and HBV persistence and their cure

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

We are looking for an ambitious researcher with solid skills in molecular virology with special reference to HIV and HBV latency / persistence and their cure to join our highly accomplished team. We offer a stimulating environment in a rapidly moving research frontier. The successful candidate will be part of a translational research team working on these topics.

Description of the subject area

Our research group has a strong focus on pathogenesis, treatment, and cure of HIV and HBV infections, respectively. Of special interest is our strategy for using clinical samples in a true translational fashion. The experimental research is focused on identifying and/or evaluating novel agents which can activate latent HIV and kill the virus in vitro. A complementary important topic is developing methods for the assessment of the amount of persistent HIV in different reservoirs in humans and assess the persistence of HIV drug resistant strains in these reservoirs.

Your mission

You will be a member of the experimental research group of Senior Professor Anders Sönnerborg who conducts innovative studies on virus-host interactions in chronic viral infections; HIV, HBV, with special emphasis on HIV latency. The group has a strong focus on delineating the principle biological factors underlying viral persistence, using in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo models, on material from persons living with HIV (PLHIV). The studies involve the usage of cutting-edge bulk- and single cell technologies, including high-parameter flow cytometry, gene-knock-in and knock-out, protein expression, analysis of HIV DNR and RNA by NGS, and proteomics analysis. Especially, the studies are translational in nature and involve advanced ex-vivo and in vivo models, and wildtype HIV isolation/cultivation in BSL3 labs. Through these platforms, we study different aspects of the molecular aspects on the interaction between HIV, the target cell, and the immune system with special focus on HIV persistence and focus on developing HIV cure. Also, another focus in developing and implementing techniques for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of HIV in the latent reservoirs in PLHIV who are treated with antiretroviral drugs. These assessments also include the studies on HIV drug resistant strains, both on a fundamental/molecular level as on an epidemiological level by means of database analysis and molecular phylogeny. A parallel track is to study the mechanism of HBV infections, especially the relation between chronic HBV infection, HBV transcriptional regulation, and HBV infection related carcinogenesis. You are expected to perform the research projects independently within the framework of Senior Professor Sönnerborg´s HIV projects.

The research specialist will work in close collaboration with all members of the team to continue successful lines of ongoing investigations. Additional key tasks are to give intellectual, practical and administrative support to other members of Senior Professor Sönnerborg´s research group. The research specialist is also expected to supervise master and Ph.D students within the framework of the projects. Other tasks are to independently apply for external grants and to take the lead on writing manuscripts. Extracurricular activities and active outreach, within and outside academia, are expected.

The research specialist will be employed at the Centrum for Infectious Diseases, subunit Clinical Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, which is a nationally and internationally competitive division for infectious diseases research. The laboratory research group consists presently of two research specialists, four post-docs, and one PhD student. The laboratory facilities are situated at top modern facilities at ANA Futura Laboratory, Campus Flemingsberg, Stockholm. The research specialist will also collaborate closely with researchers/clinicians at Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital and at Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Laboratory, respectively.

Eligibility requirements

We are looking for an individual with a PhD and several years of post-doctoral international research experience. The candidate should have an interest in molecular experimental and translational virology, and work as an integrated research specialist in our team, being involved in several ongoing projects. Excellent communication skills and fluency in English is essential.

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

It is particularly meritorious that the applicant has shown

• Profound knowledge in biology with a focus on microbiology, molecular virology and the relationship to the pathogenesis and persistence of viral diseases. 
• Experience of setting up molecular virological models and assays in vitro to study viral persistence, and ex vivo using human material from infected persons
• Experience in performing animal studies, including transgenic mouse models
• Skills in the following techniques: i) cell culture systems; both cell lines, primary cells and co- cultures, immune cell isolation from peripheral blood, cellular functionality assays, transfections, transduction; ii) antiviral assays; iii) other techniques; CRISPR-CAS gene knockout, gene knock-in, DNA/RNA isolation from tissues and cells, ELISA, immunofluorescence microscopy, immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter assays, PCR, Western blotting; iv) NGS v) single cell analysis using FACS
• Experience of supervising studies, including Bachelor, Master and PhD students,
• Experience of writing and publishing manuscripts in peer-reviewed international journals including positions as first and last-authorships.
• Experience of oral and/or poster presentation at international English-speaking conferences
• Excellent knowledge in English, written and spoken, is an absolute requirement.
• The person should be well organized, service-oriented and flexible.
  
  

It is meritorious that the applicant has shown

• A deep knowledge of phylogenetic analysis of viruses.
• Experience of collaborations with clinical researchers and/or clinicians.
• Capability to receive grants in competition
• Knowledge in Swedish in addition to English
• Experience of working with large databases and real-life cohorts
• Experience of interacting with civil society, especially patient-organizations, e.g. through lectures or other kind of knowledge transfer.
• Knowledge in statistics including R.
• Experience from international collaborations preferably with the EU-environment and involvement in EU-sponsored projects.

A positive and collaborative attitude is a pre-requisite for working in the Sönnerborg group and a great emphasize is put on the collaborative attitude of the applicant. Thus, personal suitability to work in this environment is of great importance including that the candidate is well acquainted with collaborative work in a dynamic environment which includes strong social skills.

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

Links: Department of Medicine, Huddinge
           Anders Sönnerborg´ s research 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 at the latest 20 January 2026.

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!