Postdoctoral studies in the Cell Biology of Virus Infection (scholarship)

A postdoctoral position is available in Professor Gerald McInerney’s research group at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC) at Karolinska Institutet, studying protein:protein and protein:RNA interactions in cellular stress responses and in viral infection.

MTC conducts research and teaching within immunology, infection biology, cell biology and cancer. MTC has about 40 research groups and our key words are multidisciplinary, bridging, national and international collaborations.

Professor Gerald McInerney’s research group focuses on the cell biology of virus infection, with a particular interest in alphaviruses, including chikungunya virus and on the cellular response to environmental stress. We have a wide network of collaboration partners in virology, cell biology, structural biology and biophysics, computational biology, and other fields of interest. Some recent publications from the group: Mazzon et al., PLoS Pathogens 2018; Götte et al., PLoS Pathogens 2019; Hanke et al., Nature Comms 2020 and 2022; Hanke et al., Science Adv 2022. Further information can be found at our website www.alphavirus.org

The project involves the study of cellular and viral protein interactions during cellular stress responses and viral infection. We are particularly interested in alpha- and coronaviruses but other infectious agents may also be studied. The successful candidate will employ standard, as well as novel, techniques for the study of cell biology, biochemistry, structural biological and biophysics to reveal mechanisms of importance in viral infection and host responses.

The postdoctoral fellow will have or will develop expertise with classical virology and cell biology methods as well as to contribute to the development of new techniques and methods to study cell biology of stress responses and viral infection. The work will be presented in prominent academic journals and at international conferences. The successful candidate will be expected to apply for external funds in association with their projects and to contribute to the day-to-day supervision and training of project students and junior staff.

Scholarships for postdoctoral qualification can be established for foreign researchers who place their qualifications in Sweden. 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 post doctoral education.

The head of the department determines whether their previous training and scholarly qualifications correspond to a Swedish doctorate or higher.

• The successful candidate will have a PhD or equivalent degree in virology, structural biology, biochemistry, or another relevant field.
• Previous experience with use of a variety of biophysical and structural biology techniques to study viral proteins or cellular stress granule proteins will be particularly meritorious.
• An ability to work creatively and independently is required.
• Applicants should demonstrate an interest in laboratory supervision of MSc and PhD students.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in teams are essential as are good communication skills in spoken and written English.

Location: Solna, Stockholm

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.

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)

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