Karolinska Institutet, Institutet för miljömedicin

The Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM) is a department at Karolinska Institutet and an interdisciplinary research institution within the broad field of environmental medicine. IMM conducts cutting edge research within the areas of environmental and occupational medicine, toxicology, physiology, epidemiology, and biostatistics with the aim to clarify how environmental and lifestyle factors affect our health and which role genes have. IMM also serves as a scientific advisor to public authorities within the area of environmental medicine and IMM scientists participate in national and international expert groups.

Division
At the unit of Immunology and Chronic disease, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, we combine basic with more clinically oriented and epidemiological research focused on immunity in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We also have an interest in related aspects of rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. We have developed an ex vivo system to study dendritic cells and T cells from atherosclerotic plaques and patients, and one important question is how the immune reactions are induced and how they can be modulated and ameliorated. One line of research is antibodies against phosphorylcholine (anti-PC), sometimes called natural antibodies, and our findings that they may have protective properties in chronic inflammation and have proposed a modification of the Old friends/Hygiene hypothesis in these chronic inflammatory conditions: low levels of anti-PC due to lack of exposure to microorganisms contribute to disease. From the unit, we also coordinate other large projects on mechanisms and risk markers in disease. The scholarship will be at the Unit of Immunology and chronic disease and is temporary for one year, with a possibility of one year prolongation. 

Duties
The unit has long-standing experience with research on mechanisms and risk markers in chronic inflammatory conditions, with focus on atherosclerosis, CVD and rheumatic diseases as SLE, especially in relation to CVD. We have developed experimental systems, but also work with biobanks, both generated by us, and in collaboration projects. We are now seeking a postdoctoral researcher on who will be a part of a research project to be conducted in our laboratory. We use an array of laboratory techniques, including FACScan, rtPCR, cell culture systems and ELISA/ELISPOT. The project is well funded, including funding from EU, Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation and the Swedish Association against Rheumatism, and others.

Entry requirements
Scholarships for postdoctoral qualification can be established for foreign researchers who place their qualifications 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.

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

Qualifications
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a Ph.D. in experimental medicine and also experience with translational risk marker research. Excellent communication skills and also an ability to interact socially and scientifically with other researchers and students in the laboratory and with collaborators is important.

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 employment 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.

First day of employment According to agreement
Salary Scholarship
Reference number 2-2166/2019
Contact
  • Johan Frostegård, johan.frostegard@ki.se
Union representative
  • Biborka Bereczky Veress, SACO, 070-173 85 75, biborka.bveress@ki.se
  • Anne Boström, SEKO, 08-524 875 79, anne.bostrom@ki.se
  • Niklas Andersson, OFR , 08-524 874 19, niklas.andersson@ki.se
Published 03.Jun.2019
Last application date 26.Jun.2019 11:59 PM CEST

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