Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Neuroscience

The Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS) conducts research and education in the field of neuroscience from the molecular level to the society level. The clinical research and education is conducted in collaboration with Region Stockholm as well as other research groups from Karolinska Institutet and other universities.
Please visit our website for more information: ki.se/en/cns

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

In our research group, we perform unique research on the interplay between behaviour, brain and immunity, and the role of sleep and stress in this interplay. The group is composed of people with background in biology, psychology and medicine, and with a strong local, national and international network of experimental and clinical collaborators. The research group actively strives for openness, to give the possibility to every member to collaborate and provide their opinion equally, without consideration of gender and academic rank.

Your mission

A large body of research shows that peripheral inflammation affects the brain, and causes what is called sickness behaviour or a sickness response. Typical symptoms are fatigue, increased pain sensitivity and mood changes. It is still largely unclear why individual differences in behavioural responses to inflammation are so large. The actual project focuses on understanding behavioural changes during experimentally induced inflammation, with a special focus on individual differences and underlying biological and neuronal mechanisms. Other research questions regard inflammation-induced behavioural changes and emotional expressions that can be perceived by others as signals of disease, and thereby threat. 

The applicant is expected to collaborate with researchers at the Stress Research Institute and other universities in Sweden and other countries. The applicant should perform own experimental data collections to understand the effects of inflammation on behaviour, brain and symptoms. Assignments will largely be concentrated to coordination of data collections, analyses of data, to report results in well-established international journals, and to obtain financial support for own studies. An important task is to try to understand individual differences and contextual factors that moderate the response to inflammatory activation. In this task, collaboration with other research groups in order to merge data for increased statistical power is desirable. A possible task is to prepare for applications for international research grants and to organize symposia at conferences with collaborators. In addition to these tasks, the applicant is expected to supervise master and/or PhD students.

Your profile

The applicant should have a doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country within the field of biomedicine, neuroscience or psychology, and documented research after publicly defending his or her doctoral thesis corresponding to qualification as Assistant professor. A doctoral degree with a topic in Psychoneuroimmunology is a strong advantage.

Special attention will be given to scientific excellence in the specific research area. The scientific excellence will be shown through own research and effectiveness in publishing scientific articles and through documented knowledge in neuroimmune interaction and its consequences for behaviour. Practical experience of experimental immune activation in humans and immunological laboratory experience is requested. Experience in Visual Studio, C# coding or Visual Basics is also a plus. The applicant’s ability to plan and lead research activities, to cooperate and to communicate will be given weight. Basic knowledge in Swedish is an advantage.

Bases of assessment

We stress research expertise when assessing applicants.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment full of expertise and curiosity. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. Karolinska Institutet is a state university, which entitles to several benefits such as extended holiday and generous occupational pension. Employees also have access to our modern gym for free and receive reimbursements for medical care.

Location: Solna

Read more about the Department here
Read more about the research group you will be part of here

Application

Welcome to apply at the latest 18 of December.

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

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

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment 13 of January 2020
Salary Monthly salary
Reference number 2-6101/2019
Contact
  • Julia Martinez Palm, Personaladministratör, 08-524 832 40, julia.martinez.palm@ki.se
  • Mats Lekander, Professor, mats.lekander@ki.se
Union representative
  • Venus Azhary, OFR, 0707-124 127
  • Arsalan Amir, SACO, 08 - 517 733 37
  • Henry Wölling, SEKO, 08-524 840 80
Published 04.Dec.2019
Last application date 18.Dec.2019 11:59 PM CET

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