Postdoctoral studies in skin stem cell biology & regenerative medicine (scholarship)

Kasper Lab: With our research – rooted within the fields of skin and stem cell biology – we aim to answer fundamental questions about tissue homeostasis, repair and regeneration. We use modern techniques such as single-cell transcriptomics, in vivo lineage-tracing, spatial mapping in situ and computational biology, to uncover the cellular behavior and molecular signals of individual cells in skin during health, repair and cancer development (key lab references: Joost et al. Cell Reports 2018; Joost*, Annusver* et al. Cell Stem Cell 2020; Sun*, Are* et al. eLife 2020). The overall aim is to understand human skin disorders, improve early cancer detection and uncover new regenerative strategies to restore skin.

We are a young and dynamic research team with a well-established collaborative network (http://kasperlab.org). The group is placed in Biomedicum, a top modern research building with a large repertoire of researchers and technologies including activities in forefront single-cell omics, mouse work, FACS and high-end microscopy.

The major goal is to explore the importance and interplay of the rich variety of cell types and states in healthy and diseased skin. For example, how does skin cell-type composition differ depending on body location, how are epidermal turnover and hair growth regulated, and what is the role of fibroblasts, immune or vascular cells in skin health or skin disorders?

The successful candidate will explore human and mouse skin using a wide variety of state-or-the-art technologies such single-cell RNA/ATAC-seq, in vivo lineage tracing and targeted cell ablation, confocal/light sheath microscopy, intravital imaging, organoid culture, and tissue engineering.

We are seeking a highly motivated researcher with a good team spirit and deep curiosity for science. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in molecular biology, biomedicine or equivalent, with a keen interest in tissue stem cell biology, disease mechanisms, or regenerative medicine.

Experience in working with primary tissue and mouse models (incl. cell isolation, FACS), molecular biology techniques (e.g. scRNA-seq library prep), tissue staining (FISH/IHC), confocal microscopy, and experience in interpreting RNA-sequencing data are a strong plus; and good ability to communicate in English (written and verbal) is required. A proven track record in stem cell and/or tissue biology demonstrating high-quality research in international journals is also a merit. Emphasis will also be placed on personal suitability and interactions with current lab members.

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.

Location: Solna

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 letter of motivation explaining current research interests and future career aspirations. (Maximum one page)
• Contact details of two reference persons
• Letters of recommendation can be included but are not required at the first stage. The final top candidates will be requested to complete their applications with two letters of recommendation.
• A summary of current work (no more than one page)

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