Postdoctoral studies in peripheral neuro-immune microenvironment (scholarship)

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

We invite applications for a postdoctoral position at the Olofsson Lab, located at Bioclinicum, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Hospital. Under the leadership of Dr. Peder Olofsson, our lab comprises a dynamic team of one postdoc, four PhD students, one technician, visiting students, and three senior scientists.

The Olofsson lab focuses on the interdisciplinary fields of inflammation neuroscience and bioelectronic medicine. Using immunology, neuroscience, and engineering we aim to understand the molecular mechanisms of neural regulation of inflammation and immunity in microenvironments (Caravaca 2017 J Neural Eng., Olofsson 2016 Nature Biotech., Rosas-Ballina 2011, Science.).

Lab members work together in a highly ambitious and friendly environment. We have several established national and international collaborations and are part of multiple consortia in our field within Sweden, the European Union, and North America. The lab is well equipped with high quality instruments for molecular biology, a confocal microscope, a spectral flow cytometer, equipment for tissue sectioning and staining, and a cell culture lab. Additional resources include platforms for tissue analysis, bioinformatics, and vascular biology and access to core facilities, including cell sorting, and animal facilities. We have dedicated instruments for neurophysiology, optogenetics and nerve interfacing in vivo, surgical tools and microscopes.

We are looking for motivated candidates who are eager to contribute to cutting-edge research in a supportive and innovative setting. If you are passionate about advancing the fields of neuroscience and bioelectronic medicine, we encourage you to apply and join our team.

Division

In the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine we integrate expertise in immunology, metabolism, bioinformatics, and neuroscience with clinical research to study the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease development. We study neuro-immune crosstalk and the immunology of cardiovascular inflammation.

Duties

As a postdoctoral researcher in our research group, your main responsibility will be to produce high-quality scientific data for publication in respected journals. This includes all aspects of the research process, such as study design, experimentation, data analysis, statistical evaluation, and scientific writing.

You will take a leading role in the daily activities of the group, which involves processing routine samples, developing new research projects, and contributing to ongoing initiatives within our research areas. Collaboration is essential, and you will work with a diverse team in a dynamic laboratory environment.

In addition to your research tasks, you will be expected to supervise and mentor graduate and undergraduate students, present your findings at international conferences, and participate in grant writing efforts. Administrative duties will also be part of your role, ensuring the smooth operation of the lab.

We are looking for candidates who are skilled researchers and enthusiastic about creating a collaborative and educational atmosphere.

Entry requirements

We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications:

• PhD in neurobiology or a related field: with a strong interest in the peripheral and central nervous system, immunology, and the tissue microenvironment.
• Experience in in vivo work: Proficiency with viral vectors, DREADD inhibition surgeries, mini-pump implantation, behavioral studies, and microsurgery techniques in mice are required.

Preferred Experience:

• Molecular Biology Techniques: Familiarity with methods such as qPCR, single-cell RNA sequencing, protein assays, and cell culture.
• Electrophysiology and Imaging: Experience with nerve imaging both in vivo and in vitro, as well as flow cytometry
• Spike sorting from electrophysiological data.
• Mouse breeding.
• Mouse and rat cognitive function and working memory analysis.
• Project Management Skills: Competence in managing research projects, including effective time management and organizational abilities.
• Ethical Awareness: A strong understanding of and adherence to ethical guidelines and regulations in research.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to interpret complex information and address research challenges.
• Publication Record: A solid track record of publications in relevant fields.
• Language Proficiency: Good oral and written communication skills in English.

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual capable of collaborating effectively in a team-oriented and fast-paced research environment. Independence, creativity, and a positive attitude are essential. 

Strong interpersonal skills, openness to feedback, and clear communication are crucial for success in this role. Additionally, the ability to manage time effectively and juggle multiple projects and tasks simultaneously is important. Flexibility and adaptability to changing conditions and new challenges are also key qualities we seek.  

Following a comprehensive evaluation of applicants’ expertise, qualifications, and personal attributes, Karolinska Institutet will identify the candidate with the greatest potential to contribute positively to our research activities.

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

The position is located within the Department of Medicine, Solna. The department consists of ten divisions and each division consists of several research groups. The position is located within the research group of Peder Olofsson within the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. The research focus is neural regulation of inflammation and microenvironments. Web: https://ki.se/en/meds/research-group-peder-olofsson

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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