Karolinska Institutet,

The Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (MMK) carries out both preclinical and clinical research within numerous fields. Linked to the department are approximately 450 researchers, postgraduate students, teachers and technical & administrative staff and we currently have about 150 PhD students. The department is conducting undergraduate courses for medical students, physiotherapist students, biomedicine students and biomedical laboratory students.

Division
The Vascular Surgery research group lead by Prof Ulf Hedin, MD, PhD is dedicated to translational research on cellular and molecular processes in atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms, vascular repair mechanisms and inflammation in association with interventional procedures. The group is situated at the new BioClinicum building and consists of ~20 members including researchers, clinicians, PhD students and technical staff. For more information about the group and research activities, please visit: https://ki.se/en/mmk/vascular-surgery
Vascular diseases comprise a broad spectrum of conditions such as atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease as well as restenosis after vascular interventions. Altogether these conditions contribute to the high overall cardiovascular mortality, dominated by complications of atherosclerosis such as myocardial infarction or stroke. In order to better understand the development and progression of vascular disease, our aim is to dissect and explore the cellular behavior and molecular pathways in complex vascular tissues, on single-cell level. Over the past decade we have, in collaboration with the Department of Medicine and Vascular Surgery Clinic, assembled several large biobanks focused on human and murine vascular diseases (i.e. BiKE-Biobank of Karolinska Endarterectomies; BIRCA-Biobank of Rat Carotid Artery Injury, etc.). Our platform enables large-scale multivariate analyses of gene and protein expression from human and murine vascular lesions and blood, combined with patient genetic and clinical parameters, as well as follow up studies in animal and cell culture models of vascular injury and disease.
The project and duties of the postdoc
The proposed project, with Prof Ulf Hedin and Assistant Prof Ljubica Matic as project leaders, is centered around molecular mechanisms of cell plasticity in vessel wall biology, pathology and in healing reactions. The overarching goals of this project are to:
1) finely map the spectrum of cellular subphenotypes coexisting in vascular disease tissues in order to understand how cell trans-differentiation is affected by, and in turn modulates, the local environment of the tissue.
2) we also aim to assign the full transcriptional potential with rare and novel RNA transcripts to various cell species, dependent on the symptomatic or asymptomatic nature of the disease.
Importantly, the work will practically encompass setting up methodology for conducting single-cell sequencing of murine and human vascular tissues using several different approaches, as well as setting up CRISPR/Cas9 technology for gene editing and introducing SNP mutations. The project will be conducted in a multidisciplinary environment with expertise in animal surgery, clinical material processing and bioinformatics available, however excellent methodological skill and dedication will be necessary for successfully conducting the project.
The project holds translational potential in opening new opportunities for improved treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease, but also carries considerable novelty in the research field. We offer a position in one of the leading groups in the field of vascular disease with an excellent network of collaborators and longstanding experience in translational science.  
Entry requirements
Qualified to be employed as a postdoctor is one who has obtained a doctorate or has equivalent scientific competence. Individuals eligible to be employed as a postdoctoral researcher should have completed their PhD studies within the last three years. Individuals who graduated earlier may be considered under special circumstances.
Specific qualifications and abilities
The suitable candidate should have a biomedical or molecular biology background and interest in complex pathophysiology of vascular diseases. We are looking for a highly motivated person that should be dedicated to full time experimental research and have the potential to work both independently and within a translational team. The daily work is laboratory-based and includes a number of in vivo, in vitro and in situ molecular techniques used in modern laboratories. Willingness to work with animals is a requirement and previous practical experience in animal and cell culture experimentation will be considered necessary. Additional experience in bioinformatics analyses and tissue processing will be assessed as highly meritorious.
The appointed person will be expected to plan, perform, analyze and interpret experimental results independently and within the Team, present at congresses, and participate in national/international collaboration networks. Willingness to work flexibly in order to achieve project demands and targets as agreed within a Team is necessary. Being able to organise and prioritise own work, as well as organising research within the project timetable is essential. Maintaining accurate and up to date records is necessary. Fluency in English is a requirement, knowledge of Swedish is not necessary but will be considered advantageous. Good social and analytical skills are essential. Ability to travel to other countries is essential. 
Assessment criteria
A selection will be made among qualified applicants on the following basis proposed by the Karolinska Institutet: 

- Documented research experience and analytical skills
- Documented subject knowledge of relevance to the area of research
- Scientific articles and a track record of publications in international peer-reviewed journals
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to work both independently and within collaborations, particularly at the interface between clinical and laboratory staff
- Experience and ability to undertake the various teaching activities
The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis. Personal suitability is an important criterion. 


Application process
An employment application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:

  1. A personal letter  and  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
  2. A complete list of publications
  3. A summary of current work (no more than one page)

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

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
Salary månadslön
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Solna
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number 2-1501/2019
Contact
  • Ulf Hedin,Professor/ Research Group Leader, ulf.hedin@ki.se
  • Ljubica Perisic Matic, Ass Prof/ Team leader, Ljubica.Perisic@ki.se
Union representative
  • Biborka Bereczky Veress, SACO, 46 70-173 85 75
  • Elisabeth Noren-Krog, OFR, 08- 517 70478
Published 04.Mar.2019
Last application date 01.Apr.2019 11:59 PM CEST

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