1-2 Postdoctoral Researchers in Cancer Biology - focusing on Advanced Imaging and 3D Genome Analysis

Join us at Karolinska Institutet / SciLifeLab and redefine how human cells multiply and bypass cancer therapy - with world-class facilities, passionate medical scientists, a buzzing capital, and scenic nature at your doorstep.

We are seeking two postdoctoral researchers that are keen on cutting-edge microscopy and/or genome analysis, enjoy making fundamental discoveries in cancer research and are eager to learn and share complementary skills and expertise that will boost their career as well as our interdisciplinary research. Both postdocs will build on our successful proof-of-concept studies and will play a key part in the Lemmens laboratory and Genome Biology division.

To battle diseases such as cancer we need to understand the processes that drive cell division and DNA replication. The Lemmens and Bartek laboratories received a prestigious ASPIRE award for innovative cancer research to expand their work on DNA replication and cancer drug resistance. The ASPIRE II project aims to visualize dynamic processes in the human genome with nanoscale precision and provide molecular insight into the mechanism of action of clinically relevant DNA replication inhibitors. The project involves various state-of-the-art biochemistry methods, CRISPR genetics and advanced imaging and sequencing technologies.

The responsibilities of the postdoctoral researcher will be varied and depending on expertise and project objectives include: 

• Culturing and drug treatments of various human cell lines
• Genetically modifying human cells by CRISPR technology
• High-content microscopy/flowcytometry studies and single-cell data analysis
• Further development of super-resolution imaging and 3D tissue expansion technologies
• Automated analysis of 3D imaging and/or nascent DNA sequencing data
• Sharing insights via internal/international presentations and peer-reviewed publications

To be eligible for employment as a postdoctor a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree is required. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision. It is considered as an advantage if you have completed your doctoral degree within the last three years, if there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier.

We welcome applications from candidates with a doctoral degree in Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, Biomedicine, or other related fields. The successful candidate is a motivated, responsible scientist with good communication and organizational skills who enjoys working with people and take pride in delivering work of good quality. Originality, efficiency, data-driven analyses, and reproducible research are central concepts to us, and thus expertise in developing creative assays and/or unbiased workflows are considered merits. Previous experiences with CRISPR applications, advanced microscopy, tissue expansion and/or genome analysis are also a merit.

The work requires:

• Previous experience of molecular biology techniques (including cell culturing and microscopy procedures) and/or bioinformatic analyses (genomic data or image analysis)
• Good organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proficiency in English and excellent communication skills.

The applicant must be able to integrate well into the international and multidisciplinary environment. Personal suitability is therefore of great importance.

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities and SciLifeLab is a national hub for molecular biosciences and a one-stop resource of unique technologies and cutting-edge facilities. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. 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. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement.

The postdoctoral researcher positions supported by the ASPIRE II award are time-limited merit-based employments with a focus on research, which means that you get a salary and all the rights and obligations that come with signing a contract as a state employee in Sweden (including the right to parental leave, holiday allowance, sick leave, and payments into a pension scheme). Applicants that have applied for/received scholarships for international research are nonetheless eligible and are also encouraged to apply. 

Location:Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), Solna

For more information please visit:

An employment 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)
• A short motivation letter (preferably in English and no more than one page)

Welcome to apply at the latest February 9th, 2024.

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