Postdoctoral Researcher in Chromatin Biology of Immune Cells (scholarship)

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

We are looking for an ambitious postdoctoral candidate that will contribute to advancing our understanding of how the oncoprotein MYC controls lymphocytes development through the regulation of topoisomerase activity, with the aim of developing strategies to hijacking MYC-driven lymphomas.

The project will be performed collaboratively between Laura Baranello Lab (Department of Cell and Molecular Biology) and Lisa Westerberg Lab (Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology). The postdoctoral fellow will be located at Biomedicum, a top modern research building with a large repertoire of researchers and access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities.

Our collaboration is at the intersection of chromatin biology, molecular immunology, and drug development aiming to reveal the molecular codes of cellular physiology and diseases.
The candidate will greatly benefit from this interdisciplinary environment, immersion in a highly stimulating and supportive research community, unique infrastructure, a buzzing capital, and scenic nature at your doorstep.

Your mission

The Baranello Lab - Drawing from our expertise in the fields of topoisomerase and cancer biology, we aim to answer fundamental questions about how transcription, replication and DNA topology are functionally coordinated in human cells. We use state-of-the-art approaches to assess transcriptomic, epigenomic and replisomic profiles, as well as advanced microscopy and drug screens to understand how topoisomerase regulation affects fundamental nuclear processes (key lab references: Baranello et al. Cell 2016; Wiegard et al. Molecular Cell 2021; Das et al. Molecular Cell 2022; Cameron et al. Science Advances 2023). The overall aim is to reveal novel cancer therapy targets and improved strategies for personalized treatment.

Recently we have identified a protein complex called “the topoisome” in which the oncoprotein MYC recruits and increases the catalytic activities of both Topoisomerase 1 and 2 to promote high transcriptional rates (Das et al. Molecular Cell 2022). The successful candidate will play a leading role in a full-time research project funded by the European Research Council Consolidator Grant, focused to address the key role of MYC-driven topoisome during B cells development. The outcome of this will inspire a new strategy to target MYC in lymphomas.
The project is a combination of practical laboratory tasks including master molecular biology, genomics, CRISPR-based genome editing, and computational analysis. The postdoc will plan and execute experiments, analyze data, interpret, and present the results, supervise students as well as write scientific articles, initially under partial supervision but with greater independence going forward.

We are a young and dynamic research team with a well-established collaborative network. The group is also associated to the laboratory of Dr. Levens at the National Institutes of Health (US) and Dr. Shiraige at Tokyo University (JP). The successful applicant will thus be part of multiple networks of recognized scientists.

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. 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.

We are looking for a highly motivated, driven, enthusiastic person interested in our area of research, and ready to explore new avenues in science. The candidate should have a strong collaborative approach to research, be a team player as capable of performing tasks independently and contribute to a good social environment in the laboratory.

The candidate must have a PhD in medical sciences, molecular biology, molecular immunology, biochemistry or equivalent.

Requirements:

• Strong expertise in cell and molecular biology
• Expertise in genomics
• Expertise in transcription regulation
• Expertise in DNA topology
• Proficiency in scientific programming (e.g., R/Bioconductor, Python, UNIX)
• Interest in solving intricate scientific questions and willingness to help PhD/master students.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (in English written and verbal). Emphasis will be also placed on personal suitability, fitting well into the current research group. 

What do we offer?

The two labs are eager to provide the fellow with an opportunity to develop and/or apply state-of-the-art methodologies to solve timely biological key questions. Necessary training on sequencing technologies and computational analysis will be given to the fellow. We are eager to give the candidates opportunity to become fully independent researchers in interdisciplinary science within years.

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. 

Visit Baranello Lab: https://ki.se/en/research/groups/topoisomerases-chromatin-biology-and-cancer-laura-baranellos-group

Visit Department of Cell and Molecular Biology: https://ki.se/en/cmb/department-of-cell-and-molecular-biology

Location: Stockholm Campus Solna

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:

• A complete curriculum vitae (max 3 pages)
• A complete list of publications
• A letter describing previous accomplishments, technical expertise and why you want to work with us (no more than one-page, generic letters not accepted)
• Names and contact details of two scientists for reference letters

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

1. Laura Baranello, laura.baranello@ki.se