The Department of Biosciences and Nutrition performs research and education in several areas of medical science including aging, molecular endocrinology, cancer biology, functional genomics, systems biology, epigenetics, structural biochemistry, bioorganic chemistry, cellular virology, and nutrition. It offers an excellent international research and working environment, including around 250 scientists, students, administrative and technical personnel. The Department resides in the new biomedical research building Neo, aimed at being a creative and open environment that enables meetings, synergies, and exploration of areas of mutual interest across disciplines.

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

Aging is one of the main risk factors for morbidity and mortality. Thus, a better understanding of the mechanisms that regulate this process is highly desirable. One of our efforts focuses on arguably the most important aging regulator known to date, the transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO. It resides downstream of the nutrient-sensing insulin/IGF signaling pathway and in response to low nutrients activates gene expression programs that slow down the aging process. DAF-16/FOXO depends on a diverse range of binding partners and regulators to fulfill its role, and we are studying their functions by diverse biochemical, genetic, and cytological techniques. (See Lin et al., Nature Communications 2018, or Sen et al., Nature Communications 2020, for examples of such work from our lab.)

Your mission

We are looking for a Postdoc to join our research group, the lab of Christian Riedel. Focus of this position is to explore a new binding partner of DAF-16/FOXO which we found to be required for DAF-16/FOXO to promote longevity in response to low nutrient signals. This work is conducted both in the model organism C. elegans and in human cells. You will synergize with aging biologists and bioinformaticians from the Riedel lab and be part of a larger aging-focused research environment at our department, which also contains the labs of Martin Berg and Maria Eriksson.

We are looking for a talented and highly motivated scientist with a doctoral degree and strong background in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, and/or Biochemistry. Good expertise in either C. elegans methods or in mammalian cell culture techniques is desired. Also, a background in the biology of aging is appreciated, even though it is not essential.

Applicants are expected to work independently but as part of an enthusiastic team and to be proficient in English. They are expected to play a leading role in the design and execution of their experiments as well as the analysis and the presentation/publication of the resulting data. Before and while being in the lab, the applicant will be encouraged to apply for competitive national and international postdoctoral fellowships and career grants and will receive support in those endeavors.

This position will be financed by a postdoc scholarship paid out by Karolinska Institutet.

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.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment full of expertise and curiosity. Karolinska Institutet is one of the worlds leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden.

Location: Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Neo Building, Flemingsberg

Links: https://ki.se/en/bionut/department-of-biosciences-and-nutrition https://ki.se/en/bionut/christian-riedel-group http://riedellab.org/

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:

You are welcome to apply at the latest by 16 October 2020.

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

More here:
Postdoctoral studies on the molecular mechanisms that regulate aging - Nature.com