Postdoctoral studies in cancer metabolism (scholarship) - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

We seek a postdoctoral fellow for pioneering studies on the logic of methionine metabolism in normal and cancerous human cells, using modern biochemistry and systems biology approaches. You will work within a multidisciplinary team of experimental and computational scientists, and with national and international collaborators, towards the goal of precise therapeutic interventions in methionine metabolism to combat metabolic disease.

Division

The department of Medicine (Solna) is one of the largest at Karolinska Institutet, combining clinical and experimental sciences. Our cardiovascular medicine division features a rich variety of metabolism-oriented research, including immunometabolism and cancer metabolism. We are located in the brand new Bioclinicum research building at the heart of the Solna campus, in close proximity to both Karolinska Hospital and the main research facilities of Karolinska Institutet.

Duties

Your mission will be to develop an accurate model of methionine metabolism using isotope tracing, flux analysis methods and quantitative biochemistry techniques, in collaboration with computational scientists in our team. In particular, you will investigate how methionine metabolism differs between cancer cells that strictly require methionine and normal cell types that do not. You will also determine how nutrient levels can be modulated to induce “methionine crisis” in cancer cells and thereby prevent cancer growth, as a step towards the long-term goal of developing nutritional interventions for patients. Some method development will be involved to optimize measurements of relevant metabolites and metabolic fluxes. You may also be involved in a related project on methionine metabolism in liver, where similar disturbances in methionine metabolism are known to drive steatosis and steatohepatitis.

Entry requirements

We seek a highly motivated, creative, and independent scientist with a biotechnology or biochemistry background. The successful candidate should have strong skills in quantitative analysis work such as enzyme and metabolite assays. Solid knowledge of mammalian cell biology and cellular metabolism, as well as experience with mammalian cell culture techniques and methods for assessing cell proliferation, is required. Familiarity with quantitative data analysis techniques such as flux balance analysis, metabolic flux analysis, metabolic control theory, or other model-based techniques is an advantage. Strong aptitude for teamwork and excellent communication skills in spoken and written English are required.

This appointment will be for two years, with a possible transition to employment for an additional two years. 

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.
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

The position is located within the Department of Medicine, Solna. The department consists of twelve divisions and each division consists of several research groups. The position is located within the research group of Roland Nilsson. Our lab has a broad expertise in cellular metabolism, with a focus on cancer cell metabolism. Our ultimate goal is to exploit quantitative knowledge of human metabolism to design more effective treatments of human disease.

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.

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