Postdoctoral Researcher in Chromatin Biology of Immune Cells (time-limited employment)

We are looking for an ambitious postdoctoral candidate that will work on 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.

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 work will inspire a new strategy to target MYC in lymphomas. The project is a combination of practical laboratory work 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.

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 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 working 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. 

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. Karolinska Institutet is a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement. Employees also have free access to our modern gym and receive reimbursements for medical care.

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, KI Campus Solna

[Video about a Karolinska Institutet, how we work towards "a better health for all"]

Application

An employment application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:

• 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 through the Varbi recruitment system.