Postdoctoral studies in tumor immunology (scholarship)

The main objectives of the Department of Oncology-Pathology are basic, translational and clinical research and educational activities related to cancer. Approximately 300 people from over 40 nations are currently working at the department. More than 30 research groups with various cancer research profiles are involved and there is around 120 PhD students. The Department of Oncology-Pathology is responsible for undergraduate courses in Pathology, Oncology and Forensic Medicine for medical students, as well as for Tumor biology courses for biomedicine students and Pathology courses for opticians. 

The main objectives of the Department of Oncology-Pathology are basic, translational and clinical research and educational activities related to cancer. Approximately 300 people from over 40 nations are currently working at the department. More than 30 research groups with various cancer research profiles are involved and there is around 120 PhD students. The Department of Oncology-Pathology is responsible for undergraduate courses in Pathology, Oncology and Forensic Medicine for medical students, as well as for Tumor biology courses for biomedicine students and Pathology courses for opticians. 

Research group

The Department of Oncology-Pathology is searching for a PhD student to work with Drs. Charlotte Rolny and Ola Larsson to study the role of mRNA translation in macrophages during tumor development. Larsson and Rolny share the lab. More details about the groups can be found here .

Description of the project

One of the major challenges in anti-cancer therapy is to restrict invasiveness and metastatic dissemination. It is well established that Tumor Associated Macrophages (TAMs) are linked to tumor progression and poor survival. Therefore, shifting tumor-promoting macrophages towards a tumor-inhibitory phenotype is a therapeutic strategy. Rolny’s group mainly studies mechanisms underlying TAM mediated tumor growth, metastasis and local invasion in breast carcinoma and glioma. In this respect, we have recently shown that selective mRNA translation controls the TAM phenotype during tumor progression. The goal of the project is to further understand how selective mRNA translation control regulate macrophage phenotypes to see if this can be exploited for anti-cancer therapy.

The post-doctoral fellow will lead and execute the intended project according to timelines and set goals. The candidate will also present his/hers work at group meetings and annual retreats as well as national and international conferences.

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 ideal candidate is highly motivated, with an outstanding completed PhD thesis (or equivalent) and a strong drive for a future career in research. The candidate should be capable of generating novel ideas, acquire knowledge independently and possess sufficient computational skills to evaluate and develop ongoing projects. It is preferable that the applicant has a background in tumor immunology. Fluency in spoken and written English is required. At least one paper in a high-quality international peer-reviewed journal is necessary to be considered and additional academic merits are also considered. Because of the scope of the project, knowledge and experience in animal work, flow cytometry analysis and confocal microscopy imaging is required. Previous experience with the most common molecular biology techniques including cloning of genes of interest, lenti-virus production, western blot analysis, qPCR etc. is essential. In addition, personal suitability will be a factor in the selection process.

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.