Research specialist in Cancer Research focusing on neuroblastoma heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

Description of the subject area

The research is performed in an interdisciplinary setting with strong collaboration with clinical departments and other national and international research groups.

We are seeking a motivated, creative Research specialist interested in exploring drivers of intratumor heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity in childhood neuroblastoma and paraganglioma.

Intratumor heterogeneity and high plasticity account for therapy resistance. Causes of plasticity cell state transitions during tumor progression remain poorly understood. Currently, there is no effective treatment that addresses cancer heterogeneity. Systematic characterization of dynamic properties of intratumor heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity can guide treatment strategies and improve clinical outcome for cancer patients. We aim at elucidating the origin and heterogeneity of paraganglioma and childhood neuroblastoma by developing a new analytic and experimental approach based on spatial transcriptomics and single-cell transcriptomics with integrated mass spectrometry. We use organoids, cell lines and generate novel tumor mouse model systems and include human tumors to perform comparative differentiation trajectory analysis, to make predictions and, finally, to perform preliminary validations of envisioned tumor differentiation strategies.

Your mission

We offer a highly interdisciplinary environment , integrating computational biology with cancer and developmental biology. We develop new analytic and experimental approaches based on single nuclei transcriptomics and spatial transcriptomics to explore intra-tumor heterogeneity and plasticity. Furthermore, we generate novel tumor mouse model systems and include human tumors to perform comparative differentiation trajectory analysis, to make predictions and, finally, to perform preliminary validations of envisioned tumor differentiation strategies.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for employment as a Research Specialist, in addition to holding a Degree of Doctor, PhD, or having equivalent scientific expertise, the applicant must have demonstrated research expertise as well as have documented research experience after defending their doctoral dissertation.

Scientific expertise will be most important when assessing applicants. A postdoc in relevant research areas (as described above) will be given priority, and previous work developing bioinformatic tools to conduct SNPs and evolutionary analysis on different populations, preferably in open-source platforms is required. Extensive experience working with high-throughput data analysis of single-cell sequencing (particularly single-nuc-Seq) and SNP analysis to study evolution and genome diversity in various biological systems is favorable. A strong scientific track record as supported by published papers in the subject area, in well recognized peer-reviewed journals is important. Social skills are also important.

Assessment criteria

[Assessment criteria and how they will be evaluated]

It is particularly meritorious that the applicant has shown

• A strong scientific track record as supported by published papers in the subject area, in well recognized peer-reviewed journals is important.
• Extensive experience working with high-throughput data analysis of single-cell sequencing (particularly single-nuc-Seq) and SNP analysis

It is meritorious that the applicant has shown

•  Confident in R (preferred), bash, Python, statistics, data science, tumour biology, clinical medicine, single-cell sequencing

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: Solna

Choose to work at KI - Ten reasons why

Susanne Schlisio

Application

We prefer that Your application is written in English, but You can also apply in Swedish. An application must contain the following documents: Resumé, qualifications and description of planned research, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet's qualifications portfolio.

Welcome to apply at the latest 7^th December.

The application must be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.

This position is for 1 year.

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