Postdoctoral Researcher in the aria of diagnostics of psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

A postdoc position in a project to develop a new therapy and diagnostics of psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis based on new animal models is now open. This project is supported by Leo Foundation. It is placed at the Section for Medical Inflammation Research, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, in a project led by Prof. Rikard Holmdahl.

Your mission

The task involves the usage of different mice strains housed in our SPF animal house lacking certain immune receptors. Mice will be immunized, and immune cells will be extracted and studied at different time points. Isolated cells will be stained with panels of antibodies and evaluated by flow cytometry. Co-culture in vitro experiments are crucial to uncover mechanisms behind the imbalanced immune response that leads to psoriasis. Gene expression and western blot analysis will be carried out on key immune cell populations to validate single cell RNA sequencing and proteomic results. Serological study on human cohort will be assessed ELISA and Luminex-based method to determine the antibody/inflammatory response and flesh out correlations with disease activity. In vivo and in vitro experiments are planned to test the efficacy and dose of the experimental drug provided by our Biotech collaborators.

The project aims to combine animal models together with a unique cohort of early psoriatic arthritis to investigate new possibilities for therapy and diagnostics based on a deeper understanding of the underlying causes of the disease psoriatic vulgaris (PsV) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Mouse models are imperative to the success of the project, therefore mannan-induced psoriasis model will be used since it mimics the human disease better both genetically and functionally. Clinical samples from a large psoriasis cohort will be assessed to develop better serologic diagnosis for PsV and PsA. The project will also bridge animal research to Biotech companies in order to test experimental molecules and assess their effect on animal models of PsV and PsA. Lastly, single cell RNA sequencing and state-of-the-art proteomic analyses will be applied to uncover signalling pathways in targeted immune cell populations that are known to regulate psoriasis disease activity.

We aim to publish the results in leading international journals.

Your profile

To qualify, the applicant must hold a PhD in medicine/biological/biotechnology science and have an outstanding experience in practical laboratory work and proven record in scientific publishing. A strong background in biochemistry, immunology and experience working with samples and data from clinical studies is required. Knowledge in statistical methods and bioinformatics is needed. Fluency in spoken and written English is a must.

Qualified to be employed as a postdoctor is one who has obtained a doctorate or has equivalent scientific competence. It is considered as an advantage if you have completed your doctoral degree within the last three years, if there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier. 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) date of employment. This must be substantiated by the applicant's main supervisor, director or equivalent.

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. At Karolinska Institutet, 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

Application

An employment application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:

A complete resumé, 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)

Welcome to apply at the latest 2022-10-14

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

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