Postdoctoral studies in virology and lipid metabolism (scholarship)

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research? 

Do you want to contribute to top-quality medical research and help solve one of the most urgent problems in cancer biology?

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with strong expertise in lipid metabolism to join our multidisciplinary research team at Karolinska Institutet, working in close collaboration with research groups at the University of Turku and the Danish Cancer Institute in Copenhagen.

The successful candidate will work on the project “Causal Role, Mechanistic Impact, and Therapeutic Targeting of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in Brain Cancer.”

This ambitious project integrates basic, translational, and clinical research to uncover metabolic mechanisms driving viral mediated oncogenic transformation in glioblastoma (GBM)—the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, for which effective therapies are still lacking

Duties

About the Project

Our research has demonstrated that approximately 99% of glioblastomas (GBMs) are positive for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a virus that enhances tumor aggressiveness. High viral activity in GBM strongly correlates with poor patient outcome. Importantly, our clinical studies show that antiviral therapy, when combined with standard treatment, can extend patient survival by 10–12 months. We have further shown that radiotherapy induces reactivation of HCMV in roughly 50% of patients, identifying a subgroup at particularly high risk for early tumor recurrence.

New data now suggest that a previously unrecognized, cancer-associated virus may explain the remarkably strong link between HCMV and glioblastoma, and potentially its association with other tumor types. Our emerging findings indicate that alterations in host cell metabolism are central to viral replication, persistence, and virus-driven oncogenic effects. Viral infection induces profound rewiring of lipid synthesis, remodeling of intracellular membranes, and changes in cell membrane lipid composition that appear essential for efficient viral replication and for maintaining a tumor-permissive state.

This project aims to characterize this cancer-associated virus, define its dependence on host lipid metabolic pathways, and identify therapeutic vulnerabilities. A central focus will be to understand how viral infection reshapes lipid metabolism to support replication and tumor aggressiveness, and how these pathways can be targeted using antiviral, antimetabolic, and lipid-directed therapeutic strategies.

The primary focus of the project is to understand how alterations in lipid metabolism drive viral replication and tumor permissiveness.

You will investigate:

How viral infection rewires lipid synthesis, lipid utilization, and membrane remodeling How lipid metabolic pathways support viral replication, spread, and persistence How metabolic stress, radiotherapy, and oncogenic signaling intersect with lipid metabolism How targeting lipid metabolism can suppress viral replication and tumor progression

The project combines experimental model systems, patient material, metabolic and mitochondrial analyses, antiviral strategies, and AI-based drug discovery.

Key Goals of the Project:

• Identify lipid metabolic pathways essential for replication of the HCMV-cancer-associated virus
• Define how viral infection alters lipid synthesis, fatty acid flux, membrane composition, and organelle function
• Assess how antiviral and anti-metabolic strategies, particularly targeting lipid metabolism, affect viral replication
• Identify novel antiviral and metabolic inhibitors using AI modeling and chemical library screening
• Determine the prevalence and activity of the virus in tumor tissues, blood samples, and healthy individuals

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform cell and molecular biology and virology experiments in HCMV-infected cells and cancer models
• Investigate lipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, membrane dynamics, and metabolic rewiring during viral infection
• Study how lipid metabolic alterations promote viral replication, stress tolerance, and oncogenic signaling
• Identify intracellular signaling pathways linking lipid metabolism to viral permissiveness
• Collaborate closely with international consortium partners on advanced metabolic, mitochondrial, and virological analyses
• Publish findings in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and present results at international conferences
• Actively contribute to grant applications and the scientific development of the project

Entry requirements

We are looking for a highly motivated and creative postdoctoral researcher with a strong interest in virus–host interactions, cancer biology, and cellular metabolism.

Required qualifications

• Ph.D. in cell biology, virology, molecular biology, metabolic research, medicine, life sciences, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated scientific excellence and strong potential for independent research
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Good organizational skills and ability to manage complex experimental projects
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Ability to work collaboratively in a highly interdisciplinary and international research environment
• Documented experience in scientific writing and publishing in peer-reviewed journals

Preferred qualifications

• Strong background in lipid metabolism, cellular metabolism, cancer biology, or virology
• Hands-on experience with lipid metabolic pathways, such as fatty acid synthesis and oxidation, phospholipid or sterol metabolism, lipid remodeling, or membrane biogenesis
• Experience studying metabolic rewiring under stress conditions, including viral infection, oncogenic transformation, hypoxia, or radiation
• Experience with mitochondrial biology, lipid–mitochondria interactions (e.g. cardiolipin biology), or metabolic control of mitochondrial function is a strong advantage
• Familiarity with lipidomics, metabolic flux analysis, isotope tracing, or biochemical analysis of lipid pathways is highly desirable
• Experience working with DNA and/or RNA viruses in experimental model systems is advantageous
• International research experience and/or collaboration across laboratories is highly valued
• Additional academic achievements beyond the doctoral degree (e.g. fellowships, awards, independent funding, or high-impact publications) will be considered a merit 

Personal qualities

• Strong intellectual curiosity and motivation to understand lipid-driven mechanisms of virus–host interaction and cancer biology
• Ability to think mechanistically and integrate lipid metabolism with virology, membrane and mitochondrial biology, and oncogenic signaling
• Scientific rigor and creativity, with enthusiasm for discovery-driven and high-impact research Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively
• Ability to work productively in an interdisciplinary and international research environment
• Collaborative mindset and commitment to producing high-quality, publishable research 

Postdoctoral scholarships may be established for foreign researchers who pursue their merit in Sweden. A foreign researcher is a person living in another country who comes to Sweden with the intention of only staying in Sweden for all or part of their postdoctoral education at KI. Persons who are resident in Sweden and/or have carried out all or part of their academic education at KI or some other educational institution in Sweden cannot be considered for scholarships. 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.

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. Here, we conduct innovative medical research and provide the largest range of biomedical 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. Students and employees have free access to our modern gym facilities with trained staff on site.

Location

The position is located within the Department of Medicine, Solna. The department consists of ten divisions and each division consists of several research groups. At SciLifeLab and the Center for Molecular Medicine at Karolinska Institutet, Professors Cecilia Söderberg-Nauclér and Jiri Bartek lead a dynamic, multidisciplinary research team focused on advancing both fundamental and translational cancer research. Our work explores key areas such as virology, cellular metabolism, replication stress, and ribosomal biology in the context of tumor development. With a strong emphasis on brain cancer, our research aims to uncover novel mechanisms driving disease progression and treatment resistance. In addition to laboratory-based studies, we are actively involved in the design and implementation of clinical trials, with the goal of improving prognosis and developing more effective therapies for patients. More information about our team leaders can be found on their Karolinska Institutet profiles: Cecilia Söderberg-Nauclér and Jiri Bartek.

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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