Two Postdoctoral Researchers in human NK cell biology

The overall research interest of the Björkström lab is human innate lymphocytes, with a particular focus on tissue-resident Natural Killer (NK) cells, in the human liver and gut. Currently, the group consists of six PhD-students, four postdoctoral researchers, one bioinformatician, two Team leaders, and two research nurses. The studies performed by the group are basic immunological and translational where the role for NK cells in normal liver and uterus and different disorders of these organs are investigated.

The majority of the work is performed in close collaboration with clinical scientists at the Karolinska University Hospital and key to the success for many projects is access to unique patient material. The focus of the current position is basic studies of intrahepatic lymphocytes cells.

The successful candidate will study basic aspects of human tissue-resident (TR) NK cells in health and during liver pathology using a combination of molecular-, cell-biological, and immunological techniques. This will be to assess the phenotypic, functional, and transcriptional properties of TR NK cells in the healthy and diseased human liver in comparison to circulating NK cells and TR NK cells in various other human tissues.

For these two postdoctoral projects, a strong emphasis will be work with primary human clinical material, including liver tissue. The postdoctoral fellows will be required to execute a variety of techniques including sample preparation from various human tissues for advanced multicolour flow cytometry, cells sorting and RNA sequencing. The fellows will also perform a variety of cell culture and in vitro functional assays, and extensively analyze high-dimensional data.

Qualified to be employed as a postdoctor is one who has obtained a doctorate or has equivalent scientific competence. 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. 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) date of employment. This must be substantiated by the applicant's main supervisor, director or equivalent.

Applicants should have a strong background in human NK cell research. Applicants with competence in advanced multicolour flow cytometry and cell sorting, and the analysis of respective data sets will receive priority. Work involving next generation sequencing, prior experience from working with immunology of liver diseases, or tumor immunology are strongly considered as additional qualifications.

Clear and concise communication and written skills in English are mandatory as the successful candidates will be in weekly contact with clinical collaborators at the Karolinska University Hospital. The postdoctoral fellows are expected to plan, execute, and analyse experiments in an independent manner and contribute scientifically to CIM and the Björkström group.

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 employees to several benefits such as extended holiday and a generous occupational pension. Employees also have free access to our modern gym and receive reimbursements for medical care.

Location: Flemingsberg

Read more about the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH)
Read more about Björkström research group

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 27/1 2022.

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