Postdoctoral Researcher in Neuropharmacology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

A postdoctoral researcher position is available in the lab of Cristiana Cruceanu at the department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet. We are located in the Biomedicum building, a new interdisciplinary research center designed to concentrate much of the experimental research conducted at Karolinska Institutet Solna Campus and providing modern technological platforms and an open environment for interactions across departments and disciplines. We have access to state-of-the-art technology for medical research and offer the opportunity to train in a variety of cutting-edge techniques. We also collaborate with researchers from the departments of Neuroscience, Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Women and Children’s Studies, and the Institute of Environmental Medicine.

The research group

The Developmental and Translational Neurobiology research group, headed by Cristiana Cruceanu, studies molecular mechanisms of environmental exposures shaping early human brain development, in order to understand the long-term outcomes of these exposures on mental health. The exposures at the forefront of our interest are stress hormones, psychotropic medications and inflammatory agents, given their interconnected mechanisms of action and relevance in neuropsychiatric phenotypes. Our work aims to improve understanding of prenatal exposures and inform treatment decisions for stress-related disorders among pregnant women with evidence about the likely outcomes in their developing children.
We study human-specific exposures in complex 3-dimensional model systems of the developing human brain (cerebral organoids) as well as placenta, that we derive from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), embryonic stem cells or primary tissues. We investigate cell- and tissue-specific responses using state-of-art as well as basic molecular and cellular biology technologies such as: bulk and single-cell transcriptomics, single-cell epigenomics (ATACseq, WGBS), fluorescence-activated cell sorting, immunofluorescence confocal imaging, qPCR, etc. 

Your role

We are looking for a candidate interested in developing a multi-disciplinary research project at the interface of neurodevelopment, pharmacology, and neuropsychiatry. The project will aim to characterize how biomarkers of stress and mental illness during pregnancy shape fetal neurodevelopment. Toward this aim, the candidate will use organoid model systems and primary perinatal tissues to model exposure to stress hormones and psychotropic medications and quantify molecular, cellular and system responses. Central to our research question will be identifying deviations from normal neurodevelopment. The candidate will use a combination of basic and high-throughput cell and molecular biology techniques including single-cell transcriptomics and epigenomics. Proficiency in programming, bioinformatics, and knowledge of R or Python will be considered an asset and prioritized.

Your profile

To be eligible for employment as a postdoctor a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree is required. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision. 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.

We seek an enthusiastic, talented, and motivated postdoctoral researcher with a relevant cell and molecular biology education and PhD degree. Both biological or computational backgrounds are relevant and encouraged to apply. A background in neurodevelopment, psychiatry or neuroscience is essential for adequate integration in the group. 
Interest and experience in in-vitro culture systems is important, however, experience with cerebral organoids or other iPSC-derived neuronal model systems would be prioritized. The ideal candidate will be able to independently perform a variety of molecular biology techniques or computational approaches, as well as support other members of the team.

Fluent written and spoken English is required, and knowledge of Swedish would be plus. Above all, we will evaluate highly the ability of the candidate to work independently while also being a team player who can collaborate and contribute positively to various ongoing projects. We are strongly committed to equity, diversity and inclusiveness, and encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.

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

https://ki.se/en/fyfa/developmental-and-translational-neurobiology

Application

Please submit your application in English, and include the following documents:

• - A complete curriculum vitae, including date of the thesis defense, 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 letter of motivation, with direct relevance to the advertised position and the names of two-three references.

Welcome to apply at the latest January 15th, 2023. 11:59 PM CET

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

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