Postdoctoral studies in wound healing and regulatory RNA research (scholarship)

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research? 

Join the Xu Landén group at Karolinska Institutet and be part of advancing frontline research in skin wound healing. Our multidisciplinary team combines molecular medicine, bioinformatics, and clinical insights to uncover the mechanisms behind skin repair and chronic wounds. As part of our group, you'll gain hands-on experience with high-impact translational research, advanced omics technologies, and clinical collaborations. Located within KI’s world-class environment, our group offers a supportive and stimulating setting for scientific growth.

Duties

We are looking for a highly motivated and ambitious postdoctoral researcher to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating skin wound healing. The scholarship includes the following responsibilities:

• Designing and performing experiments to study skin regeneration, inflammation, and fibrosis using human tissue samples and preclinical models.
• Applying advanced molecular and cellular techniques, such as bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, immunohistochemistry, immunoprecipitation, RNA-pull down, ChIP-seq, or CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing etc. The exact experimental platforms will be tailored to the applicant’s expertise and aligned with the project's needs.
• Working with human skin biopsies, wound tissue, and in vivo models of impaired wound healing.
• Collaborating with internal and external partners, including clinical teams, to analyze patient-derived samples and contribute to translational aspects of the research.
• Actively participating in lab meetings and scientific discussions, contributing to a collaborative research culture, and mentoring junior team members.
• Preparing scientific presentations, contributing to grant applications, and leading or co-authoring high-impact research publications.

We offer a stimulating and supportive research environment at Karolinska Institutet, with strong opportunities for academic development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international networking

Entry requirements

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow with the following qualifications:

• A PhD (or near completion in exceptional cases) in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, or a related field.
• Solid theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in RNA biology, epigenetics, or skin biology research.
• Proven expertise in tissue culture and a broad range of molecular and biochemical techniques.
• A strong track record of high-quality scientific output, as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English, along with strong communication skills.

Additional Merits
Experience in one or more of the following areas will be considered a strong advantage:

• Single cell and spatial multi-omics analysis
• Complex Cellular Systems/ Organoid models
• Histological techniques, including in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry
• Biochemical methods for studying RNA–protein–DNA interactions
• Use of animal models for in vivo studies
• High-throughput screening approaches
• Development or optimization of molecular methods 

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.

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

The position is located within the Department of Medicine, Solna. The department consists of ten divisions and each division consists of several research groups. The position is located within the research group of Xu Landén, part of the Division of Dermatology and Venereology. The division fosters an interdisciplinary and translational research environment, bringing together expertise in skin biology, immunology, and regenerative medicine. At the Division of Dermatology and Venereology, we are dedicated to uncovering the mechanisms behind skin diseases and physiology, with the ultimate goal of developing innovative treatments. We also take pride in training and inspiring the next generation of leading clinicians and researchers in dermatological science.

The Xu Landén group is dedicated to uncovering the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern wound healing and tissue regeneration. A major focus of our work is on the role of regulatory RNAs in orchestrating immune responses to skin injury, with the goal of identifying molecules capable of resolving chronic inflammation and reactivating repair processes. To achieve this, we are:
(i) constructing single-cell gene expression maps of human acute and chronic wounds (e.g., PMID: 39729995);
(ii) characterizing the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of key wound-related regulatory RNAs (e.g., PMID: 40279507, 39366968, 31019085); and
(iii) exploring the impact of epigenetic memory on wound repair (e.g., PMID: 39468077).

By addressing these questions from a novel angle, our research aims to advance the fundamental understanding of wound biology and chronic wound pathogenesis, ultimately guiding new strategies for patient stratification and therapeutic development.

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.

Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all