Postdoctoral studies in structural biology of fertilization (scholarship) - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Biosciences and Nutrition performs research and education in several areas of medical science including aging, Alzheimer, biomaterial, molecular endocrinology, cancer biology, functional genomics, systems biology, epigenetics, structural biochemistry, bioorganic chemistry, immunology, and nutrition. It offers an excellent international research and working environment, including around 250 scientists, students, administrative and technical personnel. The Department resides in Neo at Campus Flemingsberg, a biomedical research building, aimed at being a creative and open environment that enables meetings, synergies, and exploration of areas of mutual interest across disciplines.

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

Recognition and fusion of the female and male gametes, egg and sperm, mark the beginning of the life of a new individual. Join our team and use state-of-the art structural biology to shed light on a biological event that is not only fundamental from a basic science point of view, but has also major implications for the future of human reproductive medicine!

Division

The research group of Professor Luca Jovine (http://jovinelab.org) is looking for a postdoctoral fellow that will join our team to investigate the molecular basis of this essential event by single-particle cryo-EM and/or X-ray crystallography.

For recent examples of our science, please see Stsiapanava et al. EMBO Journal (2020) [https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/embj.2020106807], Nishimura et al. Nature Communications 10, 3086 (2019) [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-10931-5] and Raj et al. Cell 169(7):1315–26 (2017) [http://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(17)30594-9].

KI offers a highly international and collaborative environment for biomedical studies, where academic and clinical research are naturally closely integrated. In particular, the Department of Biosciences and Nutrition of KI has state-of-the-art equipment for recombinant protein expression in mammalian cells and bacteria, protein purification, sample characterization (SEC-MALS, microscale thermophoresis, biolayer interferometry) and in-house X-ray diffraction data collection. For EM data collection, we have access to the Cryo-EM Swedish National Facility nodes at Stockholm SciLifeLab and Umeå Core Facility for Electron Microscopy (UCEM) [https://www.scilifelab.se/facilities/cryo-em], as well as access to the 3D-EM facility of KI [https://ki.se/en/research/3d-em]. For high-resolution diffraction data collection, we have frequent BAG access to different synchrotrons (ESRF, MAX IV, DLS and BESSY).

To support this position, a fellowship is available for one year that will be paid to the successful candidate as a tax-free scholarship; during this time, the candidate will be expected to secure a fellowship of their own in order to support further years of research training.

Qualifications

The candidate should have a Ph.D. degree (or be about to receive one soon) and significant hands-on experience in protein purification and characterization, as well as cryo-EM and/or X-ray crystallography. Additionally, previous experience in mammalian cell expression will be considered an asset. At least one first author paper in a high-quality international peer-reviewed journal, fluency in English (both written and oral), good team spirit and a very strong personal drive to excel in science are required.

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. Depending on performance and funding, the 2-year scholarship could be followed by additional years of postdoctoral work/salary. 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: Flemingsberg Campus, Huddinge.

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:

• 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)
• A cover letter, stating your motivation for applying to the position
• Contact information for 2-3 referees, one of whom should preferably be the Ph.D. supervisor

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

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