Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Medicine/Center for Infectious Medicine(CIM)

Research Environment

The research at the Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM) is focused around studies of the immune system, tumor immunity, and infection-immunity in humans. The Center operates within the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH), Karolinska Institutet, and consists of approximately 80 research fellows (https://ki.se/en/medh/center-for-infectious-medicine). CIM has since its inauguration in 2002 rapidly grown and gained national and international recognition. It is one of the leading translational research centers within immunity, cancer, and infectious diseases in Europe.

Research group

The successful candidate will carry out postdoctoral studies under direct supervision of Assistant professor Dr. rer. nat. Nicole Marquardt whom currently is expanding her research group at the Karolinska Institutet at CIM. Dr. Marquardt has a long-standing interest in the biology of NK cells, with a particular focus on the role of tissue-specific NK cells in health and disease. The group is collaborating closely with the groups of Associate Professor Jakob Michaëlsson and Professor Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren.

The position

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated scientist who has a solid background in immunology, advanced experience in state-of-the-art multicolour flow cytometry, as well as an excellent command of written and spoken English. Knowledge in tumor immunology and analysis of RNA sequencing data are an important merit but not mandatory. The successful candidate should have first author publications in recognized peer-reviewed journals in relevant fields of research. Applicants must be able to integrate well into the international and multidisciplinary research environment and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. The present position is based on new funding, made available through Radiumhemmet Research Funds to be carried out at Karolinska Institutet, which is offering a scholarship-funded 2-year position starting in the Fall 2019.

Project description

The project will be conducted in the field of cancer immunotherapy and will focus on the role of human tissue-specific innate immune cells, in particular NK cells, in the tumor cell environment.

In detail, the project will include:

•  Characterization of innate lymphocyte subsets from cancer patients using techniques such as 29-colour flow cytometry and RNA sequencing,
• Identification of specific NK cell subsets for priming and activation towards lysis of tumor cells,
• Identification of potential targets for checkpoint-inhibitors or bi-/tri-specific antibodies for enhancing tumor cell lysis in context of tumor immunotherapy.

The overall aim of the project is to generate insights that will pave the way for directed tumor cell targeting in settings of enhancing endogenous or exogenous NK cell-based cellular therapies. The project may involve collaborations with domestic and international researchers and physician scientists.

Entry requirements

This scholarship is paid by Radiumhemmets Research Funds, their rules will apply, and the scholarship decision will be written by them.

The scholarship for postdoctoral qualification can be established for Swedish or foreign researchers accorfing to Radiumhemmets rules.

The purpose of scholarships for postdoctoral qualification is to 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 five-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 scientific secretary at Radiumhemmets Research Funds determines whether their previous training and scholarly qualifications correspond to a Swedish doctorate or higher.

Type of scholarship

The amount is tax free and it is set for twelve months at a time, paid out on a monthly basis. In exceptional cases, shorter periods may be acceptable.

Application process

An employment application must contain the following documents in English:

• A complete curriculum vitae, including date of the thesis defense, 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)
• Names and contact details of three references who are familiar with the applicant’s recent research and training

The application is to be submitted on the Varbi recruitment system.

Karolinska Institutet is one of the world’s leading medical universities.

Its vision is to significantly contribute to the improvement of human health. Karolinska Institutet accounts for the single largest share of all academic medical research conducted in Sweden and offers the country’s broadest range of education in medicine and health sciences.

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet selects the Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine.

Pursuant to the regulations of the Swedish National Archives, applications are kept on file for two years after the appointment has gained legal force. The regulations do not apply to attachments that have been printed or otherwise published.

Karolinska Institutet strives to provide a workplace that has approximately the same number of women and men, is free of discrimination and offers equal opportunity to everyone.

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Type of employment     Postdoctoral scholarship
Contract type     Full time
First day of employment     Fall 2019
Number of positions     1
Working hours     100 %
City     Huddinge
County     Stockholms län
Country     Sweden
Reference number     2-2264/2019

Contact     

Nicole Marquardt, nicole.marquardt@ki.se

Published     15.Apr.2019
Last application date     10.May.2019 11:59 PM CET