Postdoctoral studies in Human Tumor Immunology and T-cell Biology (scholarship)

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?
We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with a strong interest in human immunology, cancer and T-cell biology. By combining access to unique clinical samples with advanced experimental and single-cell approaches, we aim to understand how immune responses are regulated within human tissues and how this knowledge can contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies. We value an open, friendly and inclusive working environment where researchers exchange ideas and are encouraged to develop scientifically and independently. Joining our group offers the opportunity to work at the interface between basic and translational immunology in close collaboration with researchers and clinicians at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital.
Division
The project is conducted at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, at Karolinska Institutet, Campus Flemingsberg, in the modern ANA Futura research environment with access to advanced infrastructure for cellular, molecular and tissue-based research. The division conducts translational and experimental research aimed at understanding immune responses in health and disease. Our research group has a particular interest in human tissue immunology and tumor immunology, including the phenotype, function, clonal composition and spatial organization of T cells within tissues and their interactions with the surrounding microenvironment. We combine analyses of primary human tissues with functional and high-dimensional experimental approaches to understand how local tissue environments influence immune-cell activation, differentiation and function.
Duties
The successful candidate will investigate T-cell biology and immune regulation in human cancer, with a particular focus on immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. The work will involve characterization of immune-cell populations in human blood and tissue samples together with functional studies addressing how the local microenvironment regulates immune cell responses.

The project will use a combination of experimental and computational approaches, including multicolor flow cytometry, isolation and culture of primary human immune cells and fibroblasts, functional T-cell assays, spatial profiling approaches, single-cell RNA sequencing, and TCR sequencing. The candidate will contribute to the analysis and interpretation of single-cell transcriptomic and TCR repertoire data and to the integration of these data with functional and phenotypic findings.

The postdoctoral researcher will be expected to plan and perform experiments independently, analyse and interpret data, and contribute to the development of new research questions within the group. The candidate will work closely with other researchers, clinicians, students and collaborators and will contribute to supervision of students in the laboratory.

The position also includes preparation of scientific manuscripts and presentation of results at scientific meetings. The successful applicant will be encouraged to develop independent research ideas and to apply for external research funding. There will also be opportunities to participate in teaching and supervision within undergraduate and graduate education at Karolinska Institutet.
Entry requirements
We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in cellular immunology, tumor immunology or related areas, preferably demonstrated through first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Experience with multicolor flow cytometry, including panel design and analysis, primary cell culture and functional immune-cell assays is required. Experience in one or more of the following areas will be considered particularly meritorious:

• isolation and analysis of immune cells from human tissues
• cancer or tissue immunology
• advanced analysis, visualization and interpretation of high-dimensional immunological data
• multicolor fluorescence or confocal microscopy
• spatial or digital pathology
• molecular approaches for studying immune-cell function

The candidate should have a strong interest in experimental and translational human immunology and be able to work both independently and collaboratively. Excellent proficiency in spoken and written English is essential. Personal suitability, scientific curiosity, initiative and the ability to contribute positively to a collaborative research environment will be given considerable weight.

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: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