Postdoctoral Researcher in Developmental Biology

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

We are looking for a motivated and skilled postdoctoral researcher to join the newly formed laboratory of Prof. Jan Ellenberg at Karolinska Institutet and SciLifeLab, Stockholm, Sweden. Our lab focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of the earliest stages of life. This position offers an opportunity to work in a research environment that combines quantitative cell biology, advanced imaging, and developmental biology.

Your mission

The initiation of mammalian life critically depends on the successful unification of the parental genomes following fertilization. This project aims to uncover the mechanisms of pronuclear (PN) migration - a vital, yet poorly understood step in the first mitotic division. Using light-sheet microscopy, live-cell imaging, and advanced computational analysis, we investigate how actin and microtubule cytoskeletal networks coordinate PN movement in mouse and human zygotes. The successful candidate should be an experienced postdoc in the field, with the competence to independently lead the project.

Your profile

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.

You hold a PhD in cell biology or a related field and have around two years of postdoctoral research experience and a strong interest in translational aspects of reproductive biology. The ideal candidate will have experience using light-sheet microscopy to capture high-resolution, 4D dynamics of PN migration and cytoskeletal architecture.

Required skills:

• Proven expertise in live-cell imaging, cytoskeleton biology, mammalian early embryonic development.
• Experience in mouse oocyte and embryo handling. Having FELASA A/FELASA C certificate or equivalent is an advantage.
• Hands-on experience with a broad range of microscopy platforms and advanced imaging techniques including light sheet microscopy.
• Experience in image analysis and computational modelling.
• Proficiency in various wet-lab techniques including cell culture, Western blotting, DNA/RNA isolation, 3D organoid culture, molecular cloning, qPCR, CRISPR, FACS, etc.

Desirable skills:

• Experience in mRNA/protein overexpression and degradation techniques in oocytes and zygotes and live cell imaging in early mammalian embryos is a strong advantage.

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: The Division of Genome Biology, SciLifeLab, Solna

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 2025-06-15.

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

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