Postdoc in Pathway-CETSA based functional proteomics of cancer drug mechanism and resistance (Scholarship)

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research? 

The Department of Oncology-Pathology conducts basic, translational and clinical research and educational activities related to cancer. It offers an international leading research environment, including around 300 scientists, students, administrative and technical personnel. The Department resides in the new biomedical and clinical research building BioClinicum in Solna, close to central Stockholm. BioClinicum encompass scientist from both Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital and offers a creative and open environment that enables meetings and synergies between pre-clinical and clinical research including translational sciences. 

Division

In spite of major advances in oncology in recent decades, many cancers cannot be controlled with current therapies and resistance often develop, being the main cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Improved understanding of cancer processes and mechanisms for cancer drug efficacy and resistance is therefore urgently needed. Proteins are key players in most cellular processes but detailed understand of protein action in many cellular processes and during cancer drug therapy is often lacking.

Pär Nordlund’s research group is developing novel approaches to study proteins in intact cells and developed the transformative CETSA (Cellular Thermal Shift Assay) method (Martinez Molina, Science, 2013, 41:84; Dai, Cell, 2018, 173:1481). The mass-spectrometry implementation of the method (MS-CETSA) allows for interactive studies of the proteome in action while cells transfer through a process or when a drug acts in the cell. When systematically implemented, the method, Pathway-CETSA, gives unprecedented information on activation of cellular pathways, thereby providing new means for functional studies of cellular pathways for cancer drug action and resistance (Liang et al., Cell Chem. Biol. 2021, 2451:00306, Ramos et al. Cell Reports, 2024 22:114784, Liang at al., Nat Commun. 2025 16:4234). The group is now exploring this novel approach, in parallel with other omics and cell biology approaches, to understand cancer related process as well as the action and resistance of clinical and novel cancer drugs.

Duties

We are looking for a Postdoc with a strong MS based proteomics background to join Pär Nordlund´s research group. The project encompasses studies of cytotoxic, targeted and immune regulating cancer drugs in model systems as well as in clinical samples.  You will explore a range of different methodologies but Pathway-CETSA will serve as a core discovery strategy. The project will identify novel key proteins and pathways in cancer drug action and resistance and generate a comprehensive overview of how different families of cancer drugs act. Ultimately the projects aims to identifying novel drug targets and mechanistic biomarkers with implications for cancer therapy.

The position will be financed by funds from the Swedish Cancer Society administrated by the Karolinska Institutet.

Entry requirements

Postdoctoral scholarships may be established for foreign researchers who pursue their merit in Sweden. A foreign researcher is a person living in another country who comes to Sweden with the intention of only staying in Sweden for all or part of their postdoctoral education at KI. Persons who are resident in Sweden and/or have carried out all or part of their academic education at KI or some other educational institution in Sweden cannot be considered for scholarships. The purpose of scholarships for postdoctoral qualification is to promote internationalization and contribute to research qualification after a doctorate or equivalent.

A scholarship for carrying out postdoctoral research can be granted for a maximum of two years within a four-year period following the receipt of a doctoral degree or equivalent.

To be eligible for a postdoctoral scholarship, the person must have obtained a doctorate, or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctorate. Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the (intended) start date of the post-doctoral education.

Qualifications:

• We are looking for a highly motivated scientist with a doctoral degree and strong background in MS-based proteomics, where experiences in proteomics sample preparation, data collection, processing and analysis are essential.
• Hands-on experience in mass spectrometer operation and maintenance is highly valued.
• Previous experiences in basic cell biology is also required.

Merits

• Experiences with other techniques such as imaging, cell sorting and molecular biology techniques is considered a plus.
• Previous experiences in the cancer field is also considered a plus.
• Applicants are expected to work independently but as part of a multidisciplinary team and to be proficient in English.
• They are expected to play a leading role in the design and execution of their experiments as well as the analysis and the presentation/publication of the results.
• Before and while being in the lab, the applicant will be encouraged to apply for competitive national and international postdoctoral fellowships and career grants and will receive support in those endeavours.

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 innovative medical research and provide the largest range of biomedical 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. Students and employees have free access to our modern gym facilities with trained staff on site.

Location: Department of Oncology and Pathology, Bioclinicum, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden 

Type of scholarship

The amount is tax free and it is set for twelve months at a time, paid out on a six months basis. In exceptional cases, shorter periods may be acceptable.

Application process

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 (no more than one page)

The application is to be submitted on the Varbi recruitment system. At the latest 7^th February.

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