Postdoctoral Researcher in Biomaterials for therapeutics

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

A post-doctoral researcher position is available in the group of Professor Molly Stevens in the Division of Biomaterials at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and biophysics (MBB). The successful applicant will join a multidisciplinary research team with a translational profile in biomaterials and tissue engineering, and should have expertise in developing and characterizing novel nanoparticle formulations for healthcare applications.

Your mission

The successful candidate will be involved in contributing to translational projects at the interface between biomaterials science, chemistry and biology. The candidate will work on the development and characterization of novel nanomaterials for a range of delivery applications. Focus of the research will be in the field of targeted drug delivery for healthcare, with focus on cancer treatment and drug delivery to immune cells. The candidate will be offered extensive opportunities for collaborative work, both within KI and external to the group of Molly Stevens at Oxford University and other academic research groups as well as industrial partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• To conduct multidisciplinary projects encompassing nanoparticle applications for healthcare.
• To plan and execute laboratory experiments independently and in close collaboration with other researchers and industrial collaborators.
• To undertake the associated data analysis and interpretation of data.
• To help the other research staff in the daily management of the group laboratories (ordering reagents and consumables, laboratory cleaning and organization, delivery unpacking etc.)
• To write progress reports and prepare results for publication and dissemination via journals, presentations and the web.
• To promote translational research by contributing to IP application preparation when applicable.
• To attend group meetings, project and progress and meetings, national/international seminars and conferences, and network with the other researchers.
• Establish cross-disciplinary protocols to incorporate the materials into biomedical applications in collaboration with other members of the research team.
• Contribute ideas for research projects across the group.
• Undertake instruction of PhD, masters and undergraduate students, as agreed.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Experience in formulation of nanoparticles for healthcare applications, including polymer, lipid and inorganic nanoparticles [Essential]
• Experience in in vitro cell culture of different cell types, and 3D models (e.g. spheroids) [Essential]
• Experience in cell/biochemical assays including viability assays, SDS-PAGE & Western blot, qRT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, transwell assays, ELISA, FACS, confocal microscopy, live cell imaging, high-content imaging [Essential]
• Experience in in vitro binding studies of nanoparticles (e.g. BLI, ELISA, etc) [Essential] Experience in bioconjugation of ligands to nanoparticles and labelling of proteins, and their characterisation [Essential] 
• Experience in single nanoparticles analysis [Essential] Experience in nanomaterials characterization techniques including, Electron microscopy, NTA, DLS, UV-vis, and nanomaterials purification (e.g. column purification) [Essential]
• Experience in in vivo studies of nanomaterials (study design, biodistribution) [Desirable]
• Experience in applying for research grants [Desirable] 

Skills and Abilities:

• Good written and oral communication skills in English [Essential]
• Demonstrable ability for innovation and original research [Essential]
• A proven record of publications in top journals [Essential]
• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment [Essential]
• Experience in mentoring students [Essential]
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with academics from different disciplines, clinicians, and industrial partners [Desirable]
• A creative approach to problem-solving

Your profile

Qualified is one who has obtained a doctorate in biomaterials, nanoscience, cell biology, an engineering discipline or other relevant discipline. This role also requires experience in i) nanoparticle formulation methods and characterization, and their application in healthcare, ii) a range of materials characterization and purification techniques including EM, NTA, DLS, SEC and single nanoparticle analysis, iii) in vitro cell culture, including assays to determine cell response to nanoparticles (cytotoxicity assays, uptake assays, evaluation of functional cargo delivery), iv) immunocytochemistry and different microscopy techniques, v) conjugation of ligands to nanoparticles and binding studies, vi) track record of conducting research projects. Good communication and organizational skills are necessary. A proven record of publications in top journals is essential.

To be eligible for employment as a postdoctor, a PhD or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a Swedish PhD is required. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision. Completion of your doctoral degree within the last three years is considered an advantage. If there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier.

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

stevensgroup.org; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics

Application

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

• PhD certificate
• 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 2025-02-28

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

Permanent position is initiated by a six months trial period.

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