Postdoctoral Researcher in Molecular Microbiology, Biochemistry and Structual Biology

The Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC) at Karolinska Institutet conducts research and teaching within immunology, infection biology, cell biology and cancer. MTC have about 40 research groups and our key words are multidisciplinary, bridging, national and international collaborations.

The behavior and physiology of microorganisms significantly determines the fate of the infection. Thereby, biofilm formation of microorganisms is a major cause of chronic infections and significantly contributes to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Microbial biofilm formation is a major cause of chronic infection in all relevant microorganisms. Biofilm formation, the sessile mode of growth, is characterized by the expression of an extracellular matrix composed of amyloid fimbriae and exopolysaccharide and positively regulated by cyclic di-GMP signaling in bacteria. As one subject area, the Ute Römling group has identified the exopolysaccharide cellulose and amyloid curli as the extracellular matrix and (re)discovered cyclic di-GMP in 2004. We are currently studying cyclic di-nucleotide signaling in the context of the physiology of the gastrointestinal pathogen Salmonella typhimurium and commensal Escherichia coli and will address the delicate nano-scale interactions between the extracellular matrix components with innovative experimental approaches.

As a post-doctoral researcher, you will be responsible for your specific research project(s), namely the nano-scale interactions between the extracellular matrix components, and expected to develop innovative experimental approaches, creative project ideas and subsequently lines of research in theory and practice to effectively answer the posed research question(s). Your experimental approaches include bacterial genetics and biochemical and structural approaches. You will be working primarily with Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli as the model organism. You are, however, expected to flexibly apply similar research questions to other model organisms and to contribute to other ongoing research projects. You are also expected to set up novel experimental approaches within the research group and in collaboration. Engagement in the preparation of scientific publications is expected. We offer active participation in scientific meetings on all levels.

Working language is English.

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.

In addition to the aforementioned requirements, the applicant must have:

• Demonstrated experience in molecular (micro)biology techniques in different microorganisms
• Demonstrated experience in biochemical techniques
• Experience in basic bioinformatic techniques
• Demonstrated ability to successfully work on and organize independently research project practically and theoretically
• Demonstrate ability to author and initiate scientific articles
• Demonstrate ability to successfully supervise junior researchers and guide peers in research questions
• Demonstrate ability to work in interdisciplinary teams
• Fluency in written and spoken (scientific) English
• Excellent communication skills

Additional skills that are especially meritorious for the position:

• Theoretical and practical experience to work with microbial biofilms
• Theoretical and practical experience to work with cyclic di-nucleotide second messenger signalling

You are the right applicant for this position, if you are self-driven, highly engaged, have ambitious goals, want to perform high-quality research and documented achievements. A plus is if you like to work on the molecular basis of a challenging and important clinical problem with up to date experimental approaches to create novel knowledge at the forefront of the research field.

After an overall assessment of the expertise and merits, Karolinska Institutet will determine which of the applicants will have the most optimal potential to contribute to a positive development at Karolinska Institutet.

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical 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. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement.

Location: Solna

Research group:https://ki.se/en/mtc/ute-romling-group
Department:https://ki.se/en/mtc/department-of-microbiology-tumor-and-cell-biology

Choose to work at KI – Ten reasons why

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

• A complete resumé, 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)

Welcome to apply at the latest 2024-01-26

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