Postdoctoral studies in T cell immunology in the context of solid tumors (scholarship)

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?
We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious individual to join the research group of Assistant Professor Thomas R. Müller as a Postdoctoral Fellow to investigate fundamental biological aspects of human T cell biology in the context of solid tumors, with an initial focus on lung cancer, and translate findings into novel strategies for cellular immunotherapy.
Division
Joining the TRM Group, you will be part of a newly established and dynamically developing research team at one of the world's leading medical universities. In a small team, you will work closely with an early-career, highly engaged PI as well as other postdocs and PhD students in the group. Together, we will create an inclusive, collaborative, and creative environment that advances the group's research goals and your scientific development. We are particularly interested in how T cells traffic to, and function within, peripheral tissues and solid tumors. Our ambition is to understand the underlying biology and translate this knowledge into real-world clinical impact.

The TRM Group is based at the Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM). HERM consists of approximately 90 researchers and is a nationally leading and internationally competitive environment for studies of the human immune system in the context of malignancies and immunodeficiency. As part of the Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, the center offers state-of-the-art cell culture, molecular biology, flow cytometry and microscopy facilities.

To build a strong and creative research team, we are looking for high achievers from universities around the world. We offer an intellectually stimulating environment and are looking for talented people who will play a part in developing our next breakthrough ideas. Our aim is to promote independent researchers that will build their careers in science.
Your mission
While T cell therapies have achieved remarkable success in the treatment of hematological malignancies, cellular immunotherapy of solid tumors remains a major challenge. We believe the key to addressing this lies in a better understanding of tissue and tumor immunology.

Your mission will be to advance our understanding of T cell trafficking between the circulation and the tumor site and of the role of tissue-resident memory T cells in the anti-tumor response in lung cancer. You will apply and adapt cutting-edge technologies established in the TRM Group to investigate antigen-specific T cell responses directly ex vivo. You will produce and analyze multi-omic data sets and, where possible, translate findings into novel T cell engineering strategies.

You will work in an international and interdisciplinary research environment, where collaboration is encouraged and your development towards scientific independence is actively supported.
Entry requirements
Scholarships for postdoctoral qualification can be established for foreign researchers who come to Sweden for all or part of their postdoctoral qualification. 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 postdoctoral qualification.

The head of the department determines whether the applicant's previous training and academic qualifications correspond to a Swedish doctorate or higher.
Your profile
You have a PhD in immunology, cancer immunology or a closely related field. You are curious, you value scientific rigor, and you are highly motivated to perform high-quality research. While you are able to drive your own project independently, you also thrive as part of a team.

Required skills:

• At least one first author publication (published or submitted) in recognized peer-reviewed journal
• Solid knowledge of tissue and tumor immunology
• Experience with cell culture, tissue processing, flow cytometry, and molecular biology methods
• Excellent communication skills and motivation to work collaboratively
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects in parallel
• Proficiency in spoken and written English

Desirable skills:

• Experience working with human tissue samples and/or animal models of cancer
• Hands-on experience with spatial imaging methods (e.g., IHC, chip cytometry)
• Experience with genome editing or cell transduction
• Experience analyzing large multimodal data sets (e.g., single-cell omics) using R or Python
• Documented experience supervising undergraduate students

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: Karolinska South Campus, Flemingsberg
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) and your motivation for applying to this position

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