Postdoctoral studies in virology, metabolism, and tumor biology (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 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 the underlying mechanisms driving glioblastoma (GBM); -the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor, for which effective therapies are still lacking.

Your mission

About the Project

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

New data now suggest that a previously unrecognized, HCMV-cancer-associated virus may explain the strong link between HCMV and glioblastoma—and potentially its association with other tumor types. This project aims to characterise this virus, understand its biology, and explore its therapeutic vulnerability.

The primary focus of this project is to characterize this HCMV-cancer-associated virus and understand:

• How it replicates and spreads between cells
• In which tumors and tissues it is active
• How it depends on the rewiring of host cell metabolism
• How it contributes to oncogenic transformation

You will investigate how viral infection drives DNA damage, cell-cycle checkpoint interference, inflammation, and metabolic rewiring, particularly in the context of radiotherapy-induced stress.

The project combines experimental models, patient material, antiviral strategies, metabolic targeting, and AI-based drug discovery to identify novel therapeutic approaches.

Key Goals of the Project:

• Identify cellular activation signals that trigger metabolic rewiring to the Warburg effect, which appears essential for replication of the cancer-associated HCMV virus
• Assess how antiviral and antimetabolic strategies affect viral replication
• Identify novel antiviral compounds using AI modeling and chemical library screening
• Determine the prevalence of the virus in healthy individuals, tumor tissues, and blood samples

Key Responsibilities::

• Perform cell and molecular biology and virology experiments in HCMV-infected cells and cancer models
• Investigate mitochondrial function, metabolic rewiring, and redox regulation during viral infection
• Identify intracellular signalling pathways that enable viral replication and tumor permissiveness
• Study viral replication, spread, and oncogenic mechanisms in experimental systems
• Collaborate closely with international consortium partners on advanced virological, metabolic, mitochondrial and tumor transformation 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, with capacity to work independently
• 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

• A strong background in virology, cell biology, molecular biology, cancer biology, or cellular metabolism
• Hands-on experience working with DNA and/or RNA viruses in experimental model systems is highly prioritized
• Experience with methods related to intracellular signaling, DNA damage responses, mitochondrial biology, metabolic profiling, or cell-cycle regulation is a strong advantage
• Experience with advanced cell culture models, viral replication assays, imaging is beneficial
• 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 discover and characterise novel virus–host interaction mechanisms
• Ability to think mechanistically and integrate virology, cell biology, metabolism, and cancer biology
• Scientific rigor and creativity, with enthusiasm for discovery-driven and high-impact research
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work productively in a highly 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.

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