Postdoctoral studies in microbiome and bacterial infections (scholarship)

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The department of Medicine, Huddinge, is looking for a Postdoctoral fellow who will be financed by a scholarship. Department of Medicine, Huddinge

Within our research group, you will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment at the intersection of infectious diseases microbiology, immunology, and translational medicine. Our team combines clinical relevance with cutting-edge experimental research, offering researchers a unique opportunity to contribute to research with real impact on human health.

We provide an engaging and international research environment where researchers are encouraged to develop scientific independence, critical thinking, and practical research skills while working closely with experienced researchers and clinicians. As part of our team, you will gain hands-on experience with in vitro and ex vivo experimental models, microbiome and microbiota research, host-pathogen interactions, and evaluation of therapeutic strategies.
Division
The division focuses on understanding mechanisms of infectious diseases and improving prevention and treatment strategies, with research areas including antimicrobial resistance, microbiome-host interactions, infection, immunology, and pathogenesis in bacterial and viral infections. Through close collaborations between experimental and clinical researchers, students are exposed to both fundamental science and clinically relevant applications in an internationally competitive research setting. More details will be given in interview to selected applicants.
Duties/Your mission
The successful applicant will perform his/her tasks in the experimental research group of Associate Prof. Piotr Nowak and Team Leader Shilpa Ray, part of Anders Sönnerborgs research group. The postdoctoral project will focus on investigating the effects of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on gut barrier function, metabolism, immune responses, and microbiome interactions in people living with HIV. The candidate will work with advanced gut-on-chip models and clinical samples to study host-microbiome interactions and mechanisms underlying metabolic and inflammatory changes associated with long-term HIV treatment. The project combines experimental and translational approaches, including microbiome research, molecular profiling, and immune characterization, in close connection with existing clinical cohorts. The applicant will work within the projects of Dr. Piotr Nowak and Dr. Shilpa Ray and contribute to both scientific and administrative activities within the research group.

The length of the scholarship is for one year, with the possibility for extension another year.
Entry requirements
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.
Your Profile
Required Qualifications

• A PhD (or equivalent experience) in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Immunology, Bioengineering, or a related field
• At least five years of wet-lab experience in microbiological research
• Experience conducting research in BSL-2 laboratory facilities
• Hands-on experience with gut-on-chip and/or organ-on-chip models
• Demonstrated experience in microbiome research, including host-microbe interaction studies
• Strong background in molecular biology techniques (e.g., DNA/RNA extraction, PCR/qPCR, western blot ELISA)
• Expertise in mammalian cell culture, including primary cell culture techniques
• Experience working with microbiology, including bacterial culture and handling
• Practical experience with flow cytometry (sample preparation and data analysis)
• Strong publication record, with first- and/or last-author publications in international peer-reviewed journals
• Excellent proficiency in spoken and written English
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work both independently and within multidisciplinary teams

Meritorious Experience

It is considered an advantage if the applicant has:

• Experience with omics data integration (e.g., microbiome sequencing, proteomics)
• Experience working with in vivo animal models of bacterial infection
• Experience collaborating with clinical researchers

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: Campus Flemingsberg
Links: Piotr Nowaks research group
Shilpa Rays team
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.

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