Postdoc in dopaminergic neurons and Parkinson’s disease

We invite applications for a postdoctoral position in the laboratory of Professor Ernest Arenas: http://ernestarenaslab.org/ . The laboratory is part of the Division of Molecular Neurobiology, a cluster of 8 research groups forming a dynamic and collaborative research environment within the MBB department, at the Karolinska Institute. https://ki.se/en/mbb/research-division-of-molecular-neurobiology.

Our laboratory is located in Biomedicum, one of the largest and most modern research centers in Northern Europe, within a world leading University, Karolinska Institutet. We provide modern technological platforms and we offer an interactive, multidisciplinary and international research environment, where you can perform cutting edge science that makes a difference, address fundamental questions, and develop novel therapeutic strategies.

We look for a researcher interested in stem cell biology, midbrain development, dopaminergic neurons and Parkinson’s disease. The successful candidate will work with human pluripotent stem cells and human tissue, and will perform amongst others, single cell omics, cell engineering and functional genomics experiments.

The project is based on previous and ongoing work from the lab aiming at defining human midbrain dopaminergic neuron development (La Mano et al., Cell, 2016; Braun et al., Science, 2023), human adult dopaminergic neurons (Siletti et al., Science, 2023) and Parkinson’s disease (Bryois et al., Nature Genetics, 2020) at the single cell level. This knowledge has helped to develop improved protocols for the generation of DA neurons from pluripotent stem cells (Nishimura, Stem Cell reports, 2022). We are now looking for postdoctorals interested in studying the function of genes involved in human DA neuron development, and in the degeneration of DA neurons in PD. Our goal is to develop novel cell replacement approaches for PD and strategies for interfering with pathogenic mechanisms of PD. This work is being supported by an ERC Advanced Grant aiming at developing precision cell replacement strategies for Parkinson’s disease (PreciseCell PD), the Wallenberg Foundation, an EU collaborative project (Neurostemcell-reconstruct), and an international ASAP (Aligning Science Across Parkinson's) project to understand the underlying causes of PD.

We look for a strongly motivated individual with a PhD, or about to defend a thesis, who has been working in the areas of neuroscience, neurobiology, developmental biology, stem cell biology, molecular biology, biotechnology, genetics, neurodegenerative diseases or related areas. The candidate should be interested in working in a challenging and stimulating project aimed at understanding different aspects of human dopaminergic neurons, form development to mechanisms of degeneration, and at developing novel therapeutic strategies for PD.

The candidate should have knowledge and experience in planning, performing and analyzing experiments in three or more of the following areas: differentiation of human IPS cells (2D or 3D), co-cultivation of neural cells, cell engineering (CRISPR and virus work), single cell/nuclei/spatial omics methods (RNAseq, ATACseq, Cut&Tag), FACS sorting, tissue sectioning, cell signaling (immunoprecipitation, western blot), confocal microscopy and image analysis, and functional assays (HPLC, electrophysiology, calcium recordings).

Knowledge of midbrain development, dopaminergic neurons and Parkinson’s disease, will be considered as important merits. Experience in computational biology, certification to perform stereotaxic surgery in rodents (FELASA or equivalent), and experience in working in international environments will be considered as additional merits.

Applicants should have good communication skills, be proficient in spoken and written English, be able to work independently, and enjoy collaborating and interacting with others.

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 offer a full time (100%) postdoctoral position starting in 2023, preferably before the summer. Our laboratory and our unit offer a creative, interactive, inclusive, and international research environment, where you can enjoy science and develop your career. The project also offers excellent opportunities for learning new methods, for interacting with multiple colleagues within our division and for collaborating with other research laboratories.

Our laboratory offers a modern state of the art working environment within the Karolinska Institutet, one of the world's leading medical universities and home of the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology. Karolinska Institutet holds the largest range of medical education in Sweden, conducts cutting edge medical research and has the mission of gaining basic biomedical knowledge and improving human health.

At Karolinska Institutet you will find a creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. You will have the opportunity to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialities and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience across scientific fields of science, medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. A close relationship with health care providers contibute to creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement.

Location: Solna

Your application must contain the following documents in English:

• 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 letter of motivation (no more than one page)
• The name of three references or three reference letters
• Verification from the thesis defence committee or the equivalent (only if the thesis defence is scheduled within three months after the application deadline).

In assessing candidates we will place our emphasis on the personal trajectory, education, technical skills, CV, merits and previous experience.

Welcome to apply at the latest 2024-03-03

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