Postdoctoral studies in adipose tissue biology or insulin signalling (scholarship), prolonged application period - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB, https://ki.se/en/cmb/department-of-cell-and-molecular-biology) is one of five departments conducting advanced experimental research under one roof in the new building of Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet (https://ki.se), one of Europe's largest laboratories with ultramodern facilities. CMB is a department with a strong focus on basic science and conducts research and education in cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, stem cell biology, cancer and infection biology.

Division

The successful applicant/s will join the research group of Dr. Kirsty Spalding, currently comprising of a lab manager, lab technician, postdoctoral fellow, two PhD students and two master’s students. The research lab has recently moved to a new laboratory space in quarter A7, where it joins other groups working on different aspects of biology, including genomic integrity/DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, metabolism and protein ubiquitylation. The Spalding lab uses pioneering approaches such a single cell sequencing, radiocarbon dating, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry to investigate fundamental questions in human adipose tissue biology.

Research Project 1 – for applicants with a research background and interest in insulin signalling

Senescent cells alter their phenotype and are highly metabolically active, releasing increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. This secretory profile, termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), is becoming well established as a negative regulator of tissue and whole-body health. The postdoctoral project will investigate the factors driving senescence in human adipose tissue and why specific adipose depots are protected against senescence. Preliminary studies identify insulin as a key driver of senescence and this project aims to elucidate the insulin signalling pathways involved in this phenomenon (by investigating the molecular pathway/s promoting insulin-stimulated senescence in human adipose tissue).

Research Project 2 – for applicants with a strong research background in adipose tissue biology

Several projects within the group have revealed considerable heterogeneity between adipocytes isolated from human white adipose tissue depots. Sequencing data has identified a number of transcripts differentially expressed by human adipocytes, in health and pathology. We are seeking an individual with a strong background in adipose tissue biology to investigate the role of these novel transcripts.

The Spalding research group has developed a strong competency of working with human adipose tissue, developing novel technologies and methodologies such as single cell sequencing, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and cell culture, to address pressing questions in human adipose tissue biology. The postdoctoral fellowship will provide an opportunity to learn a broad range of advanced methods and to participate in collaborations with academic and clinical partners.

Qualifications

• - To qualify, the applicant must have a PhD.
• - Expertise in the field of insulin signalling (Project 1) or adipose tissue biology (Project 2) is required.
• - Expertise in the field of adipose biology for project 1 will also be considered an advantage.
• - Knowledge of immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, primary tissue culture, flow cytometry, molecular biology (including gene editing) or next generation sequencing (such as RNA-seq) is an advantage.
• - An ability to research independently is vital, however the project is heavily integrated into other projects in the lab and thus an interest in collaborating is required.
• - Good English oral and writing skills are a must.

Entry requirements

Scholarships for postdoctoral qualification can be established for foreign researchers who place their qualifications in Sweden. 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.

The head of the department determines whether their previous training and scholarly qualifications correspond to a Swedish doctorate or higher.

Location: Stockholm

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.

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