Postdoctoral studies in Molecular and Synaptic Neurophysiology focusing on movement disorders (scholarship)

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

Join our dynamic and collaborative research team in Anders Borgkvist’s laboratory at the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, located in the state-of-the-art Biomedicum building in Solna. Our postdoctoral fellowship position in Molecular and Synaptic Neurophysiology offers a unique opportunity to explore the synaptic organization of the basal ganglia—key to understanding motor behavior selection and the motor complications of Parkinson’s disease. You will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge in vitro and in vivo techniques including patch clamp electrophysiology, 2-photon biosensor fluorescence imaging, fiber photometry, optogenetics, and rodent behavioral analysis. This position is ideal for a researcher eager to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment with world-class biomedical experts.

Division

The Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institute is a leading center for biomedical research, renowned for its innovative studies in neurophysiology and neurodegenerative disorders. Our division leverages advanced molecular, cellular, and systems-level approaches to unravel the neural circuits underlying behavior and disease, with a particular focus on movement disorders and synaptic function.

Duties

Proficiency in patch clamp electrophysiology, particularly in brain slices, is a required qualification for this position, while experience with recordings in freely moving rodents is a plus. As a postdoctoral fellow, you will be responsible for designing and conducting experiments utilizing a variety of techniques, including patch clamp recordings in both brain slices and freely moving rodents, 2-photon imaging, fiber photometry recordings in behaving animals, and optogenetic manipulation of specific basal ganglia circuits. Additional responsibilities include performing surgical procedures for viral expression systems and developing computational routines for data analysis using Matlab, Igor Pro, or R. Candidates must hold a Ph.D. or MD (awarded after 2023), have at least two first-author publications, and demonstrate expertise in patch clamp electrophysiology. Experience with electrophysiological recordings in freely moving rodents is considered advantageous.

Entry requirements

Postdoctoral scholarships may be established for foreign researchers who pursue their postdoctoral research in Sweden. 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.

The head of the department determines whether their previous training and scholarly qualifications correspond to a Swedish doctorate or higher.

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: Solna

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.

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