The Department of Laboratory Medicine, located at Campus Flemingsberg, is one of Karolinska Institutet’s largest departments with 7 research divisions including the Division for Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine (BCM) where the project will be carried out. BCM provides the facilities needed for cell- and molecular biology research and the possibility to perform research in vivo.

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?
The BCM research group lead by Samir EL Andaloussi is now looking for a highly motivated person to join our efforts to understand one of the greatest challenges facing modern therapeutics; delivery. 

The project
Despite the unprecedented knowledge of diseases and their mechanisms due to advances in biomedical sciences; many promising therapeutic approaches are still clinically unavailable. This is simply because there is no efficient means of delivering these therapeutics to the right organ with the right dose. Such therapeutics include proteins for replacement therapy or antibodies for anti-inflammatory treatment as well as nucleic acids for gene therapy of diseases including muscular dystrophies and neurodegenerative disorders.

We develop innovative drug delivery technologies that are able to carry protein and/or gene therapies to the target tissues safely and efficiently. We have developed a promising technology based on reprogramming exosomes, which are vesicles that are naturally used by cells to communicate, to carry therapeutic proteins and nucleic acids. We engineer exosomes with enhanced delivery and targeting capacities and screen our wide array of exosome designs in disease-relevant cellular and animal models.

Additionally, our lab develops methods for gene therapy based on modified cell-penetrating peptides that are efficient carriers of nucleic acids and proteins across biological barriers. We test our different technologies in models of inflammatory diseases, tumors as well as neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders. Our main aim is to one day unlock the potential of protein and gene therapy of such diseases by the development of novel and efficient delivery technologies.

Duties
We are seeking a Postdoctoral researcher to join the group of Associate Professor Samir El-Andaloussi as a Postdoctoral Researcher to work on the development of bioengineered extracellular vesicles (EVs).

Most of the research will be conducted utilizing cell lines and animal models. The first part of the work will involve performing a library screen to identify novel sorting domains that allow for high level protein cargo loading into EVs when expressed from plasmids in producer cells. Loading levels are determined by using GFP as reporter protein and analyzing EVs by image-based flow cytometry. Screening will be performed in several cell lines and lead constructs will then be re-cloned to replace GFP for the CRE enzyme. Validated EVs in cell culture will subsequently be tested in loxP mice and assessed for their ability to functionally delivery CRE protein or mRNA. Here, different EV sources will be tested to functionally determine cell tropism in vivo.

Your profile
Qualified to be employed as a postdoctor is one who has obtained a doctorate or has equivalent scientific competence. 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) date of employment. This must be substantiated by the applicant's main supervisor, director or equivalent.

The applicant should have a solid background in basic biology or drug delivery. The position requires experience in practical lab experience in the following areas;

  • Expression analysis on the protein (Immunoblotting and ELISA)

  • Extensive experience from cell culture work is needed and some experience from different microscopy techniques (ICC, IHC, EM)

  • The project will include animal work which requires that the applicant has extensive animal work experience and must hold a FelasaC certificate

The applicant should have extensive experience from work with EVs and especially protein engineering of EVs, biodistribution studies and purification of EVs. There is advantageous to be a medical doctor with an interest in Immunology.

Previous experience from molecular cloning is a merit. In addition, excellent proficiency in both spoken and written English is essential. We are looking for an energetic and passionate person who fits in, and actively contributes to our team.

What do we offer?
Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct innovative medical research and provide the largest range of biomedical education in Sweden. Karolinska Institutet is a state university, which entitles employees to several benefits such as extended holiday and a generous occupational pension. Employees also have free access to our modern gym and receive reimbursements for medical care.

Location: Flemingsberg

https://ki.se/en/labmed/biomolecular-and-cellular-medicine-bcm

https://ki.se/en/labmed/research-group-samir-el-andaloussi

 

Application

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

  • 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)

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

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Part-time
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 10%
City Huddinge
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number STÖD 2-4488/2020
Contact
  • Samir EL Andaloussi,, samir.el-andaloussi@ki.se
Union representative
  • Carina Eklund, OFR, 08-585 826 65
  • Henry Wölling, SEKO, henry.wolling@ki.se
  • Emilie Hultin, SACO, 08-52483286
Published 21.Oct.2020
Last application date 01.Nov.2020 11:59 PM CET

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