Karolinska Institutet, NVS

The Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) conducts world leading research in aging, dementia, epidemiology and care sciences. This research extends from basic molecular and cell levels to clinical research and societal studies. NVS educates almost a third of KI students at basic and advanced levels. The Department has approximately 540 employees and a revenue 2023 of 530 million SEK. It comprises seven divisions, located at Campus Flemingsberg and Campus Solna.

The division and research group
The research at the division of Neurogeriatrics is focused on neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimers disease and is strongly oriented towards translating findings from basic research into clinical practice.
The research group is located at Karolinska Institutet, campus Flemingsberg, and at SLU in Uppsala. We are currently five PhD students, two technicians, six post docs, two assistant professors, and two professors. We have developed the first biomimetic spinning method for production of artificial spider silk fibers. We have recently published several articles in high ranked journals (Andersson et al. Nat Chem Biol. 2017; Kronqvist et al. Nat Commun. 2017; Rising&Johansson. Nat Chem Biol. 2015). This project will be pursued with the Sköld/Risling laboratory in Biomedicum at campus Solna. We now want to expand the group with a one year postdoc postition with possibility of extension.

The project and duties
Spiders spin the toughest fiber known to man, and the fiber is well tolerated when implanted. This project aims at investigating if our artificial spider silk proteins (as coatings and fibers) can provide a suitable matrix for nerve cells and in the long run for nerve regeneration in animal models. The applicant is expected to produce artificial silk proteins in E.coli, purify them and make matrices and scaffolds. The material will be evaluated by culturing differentiated neuroblastomas, dorsal root ganglions, hippocampal nerve cells and Schwann cells. The best scaffolds may then be tested in animal models of peripheral nerve injury.
The successful candidate is expected to have a large interest in cell biology and tissue engineering, preferably with a focus on nerve tissue regeneration. Previous experience in culture and analysis of nerve cells is a requirement. Experience of animal work is a merit. The successful applicant is expected to enjoy practical lab work and independently generate and analyze data. The applicant should, when required, supervise doctorial students and master students in the lab. We work in collaboration with other groups and very interdisciplinary, which demands the applicant to be independent, creative, have a positive attitude and be collaborative. The applicant is expected to work at both KI campuses.

Entry requirements
A person is eligible for a position as postdoctoral research fellow if he or she has obtained a PhD no more than seven years before the last date of employment as postdoc. The applicant should have a doctoral degree in cell biology, medicine, biomedicine or similar topic. The successful candidate is expected to have a strong drive to pursue research, be organized and structured and have an ambitious and innovative attitude. The project is cross-disciplinary and pursued in collaboration with several research groups, and good collaborative skills are necessary. Previous documented and extensive practical experience of cell culture and analyses of cells or tissues derived from the nerve system is required. Experience of molecular biology and automated cell analyses are merits. Emphasis will be put on personal skills in the evaluation process. Very good ability to speak and write English is a requirement.

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

  1. 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
  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
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Huddinge
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number 2-7498/2018
Contact
  • Anna Rising, Senior Researcher , +46 (0) 70 410 69 97, anna.rising@ki.se
  • Ulla Cronfalk-Hernlund, Head of Administration, 46 8 524 868 18, ulla.cronfalk-hernlund@ki.se
  • Maria Staiger, HR officer, 48 8 524 837 79, maria.staiger@ki.se
Union representative
  • Henry Wölling, SEKO, henry.wolling@ki.se
  • Agneta Öhlen, SACO, 08-524 837 53, agneta.ohlen@ki.se
  • Carina Eklund, OFR, 08-585 826 65, carina.eklund@ki.se
Published 13.Mar.2019
Last application date 28.Mar.2019 11:59 PM CET

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