Postdoctor position in Molecular Endocrine Pathology

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Department of Oncology-Pathology conducts basic, translational, and clinical research, alongside educational activities focused on cancer. The department is home to approximately 300 staff members representing over 40 nationalities. It comprises around 30 research groups with diverse cancer research profiles and hosts approximately 110 PhD students. In addition to its research endeavors, the department is responsible for teaching undergraduate courses in Pathology, Oncology, and Forensic Medicine for medical students, as well as Tumor Biology for biomedicine students and Pathology for optometry students.

The research group

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, with a steadily increasing global incidence, particularly among women. Although most patients respond well to surgery and standard therapies, such as radioactive iodine treatment, treatment options become significantly restricted once the disease progresses to radioactive iodine refractory and dedifferentiated forms, conditions frequently associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Christofer Juhlin’s research group is dedicated to advancing diagnostic and prognostic tools for tumors originating from endocrine tissues, particularly those of the thyroid gland. By integrating cutting-edge genetic, epigenetic, and proteomic approaches with conventional light microscopy and histopathological techniques, we aim to identify and validate candidate biomarkers that can improve diagnostic and prognostic assessment. These markers will be applied to clinical tumor specimens to enhance the recognition of malignancy and predict unfavorable patient outcomes more accurately. We are looking for a passionate and highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with a strong interest in translational cancer research, particularly focused on the molecular pathology of thyroid cancer.

The postdoc will join the Molecular Endocrine Pathology Group—led by Associate Professor C. Christofer Juhlin—with primary supervision provided by Assistant Professor Vincenzo Condello. The research will be conducted at the Department of Oncology-Pathology, J6:20 BioClinicum building, Karolinska Institutet, in Solna. The research group members are from various disciplines working as a team to study the molecular characteristics of endocrine tumors in the context of biological networks. Among others, our group benefits from a robust collaboration with Professor Catharina Larsson.

Your mission

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher in the field of molecular endocrine pathology, with a strong interest in translational cancer research, particularly focused on thyroid cancer. The successful candidate will actively contribute to research projects aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying thyroid tumor dedifferentiation and resistance to conventional treatments. The research project involves the integration of advanced transcriptomic approaches, including single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, as well as proteomics, to identify novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. Complementary in vitro studies using established thyroid cancer cell lines will support the validation of key findings and the functional characterization of newly identified markers involved in tumor progression and dedifferentiation.

The ideal candidate will have solid expertise in molecular biology. Experience in omics-based data generation and a demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret complex high-throughput datasets is considered a strong advantage. Prior experience with thyroid cancer models, endocrine tumors, or tumor heterogeneity is highly desirable. Excellent communication skills, a collaborative and proactive mindset, and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team are essential. This position requires a strong and balanced skill set in both wet lab techniques and computational/data-driven research.

The project offers an exciting opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research that combines discovery-based approaches such as transcriptomics and proteomics with mechanistic studies and functional validation. The successful candidate will work closely with a dedicated team of scientists in a dynamic and supportive environment.

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.

Qualifications:

• PhD in molecular biology, biomedicine, biotechnology, or another related relevant field
• Documented broad working experience in cell- and molecular experimental techniques including gene silencing and overexpression, drug/inhibitor testing, as well as  standard methodologies (e.g Western blot, qPCR, IHC, IF)
• Knowledge of cancer biology and current translational cancer research
• Knowledge of statistical methods and programming experience in R
• Experience in collaboration between different disciplines
• Excellent communication skills
• Fluent in English language

Additional merits:

• Documented prior experience as a postdoc
• Documented experience of analysis from high-throughput methods such as spatial transcriptomics and/or global proteomics
• Knowledge and work experience in the field of endocrine tumors, particularly thyroid cancer
• Strong publication track record with significant own contribution (e.g. first name authorship)
• Solid understanding of bioinformatics, with the ability to contextualize and interpret omics data within relevant biological frameworks
• Solid experience in presenting scientific data

Since the position involves both independent research and close collaboration within a multidisciplinary team - particularly with a PhD student - strong interpersonal skills, initiative, and the ability to coordinate effectively within a research setting are essential. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Proven ability to work independently and take initiative
• Excellent collaborative and teamwork skills
• Strong communication and analytical abilities
• High level of curiosity and motivation to address complex biological questions
• Proactive and solution-oriented mindset

Considerable emphasis is placed on personal aptitude and suitability.

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

Choose to work at KI – Ten reasons why

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 4^th June. 

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

This position is for 2 years, with possiblity of extension.

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