Postdoctoral Research Associate in Immuno-oncology and Autoimmunology – Karolinska Institutet, Solna

Job Description

Professor Thomas Helleday's laboratory has a strong track record in translating scientific discoveries into novel therapeutic strategies. Examples include PARP inhibitor treatment for BRCA-mutated cancers (Bryant et al., Nature, 2005), OGG1 inhibitors for inflammatory diseases (Visnes et al., Science, 2018), and MTHFD1/2 inhibitors for cancer treatment (Bonagas et al., Nature Cancer, 2022).

Based at Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), the group provides an excellent multidisciplinary environment for translational research and drug discovery. The team includes PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and senior scientists with expertise in biology, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacology, complemented by substantial experience from the pharmaceutical industry.

The group is hosted within the Department of Oncology-Pathology where basic, translational and clinical research as well as educational activities related to cancer are carried out.

Your mission

We are seeking a dedicated Postdoctoral Researcher to drive an exciting new research project investigating the therapeutic applications of our novel inhibitors in immunology, with a focus on immuno-oncology and autoimmunity.

In this role, you will independently plan, perform, analyse, and interpret experimental results while collaborating closely within the research group and across national and international scientific networks. Full-time dedication to experimental research and rigorous, up-to-date documentation using electronic lab notebooks are required.

A key aspect of the position involves interacting directly with industrial partners to accelerate project translation into the clinic, contributing both to high-impact scientific publications and the development of new therapeutic approaches against cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Qualifications

• To be eligible for employment as a postdoctoral researcher, a PhD or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a Swedish PhD is required. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision. Completion of your doctoral degree within the last three years is considered an advantage. If there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier.
• To be eligible for this position, applicants must hold a PhD in cancer biology, immunology, cell biology, or a closely related biomedical discipline. Candidates who are approaching completion of their doctoral studies are also welcome to apply, provided that all requirements for the doctoral degree, including the formal defence, must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision.

Skills Required

• We are looking for a highly motivated, ambitious, and independent scientist with strong scientific curiosity and a demonstrated ability to drive challenging experimental research projects. The successful candidate is expected to have a strong commitment to hands-on experimental research, the ability to address complex scientific questions, and an interest in working collaboratively in an open, multidisciplinary, and international research environment.
• The position requires extensive hands-on experience in in vivo animal models and advanced immunological and cell-biological methods, including multicolour flow cytometry, flow cytometry panel design, and immunofluorescence microscopy. Experience with, and the ability to interpret data generated through, bioinformatic analysis of genomic and/or proteomic datasets is also required.
• Applicants should have a strong scientific track record, demonstrated through first- and/or second-author publications in peer-reviewed journals, showing their ability to independently contribute to and bring research projects to completion.
• Previous experience in drug discovery, autoimmune disease models, or DNA damage response research is considered an advantage. Experience in preparing research grant applications and supervising students or junior researchers is also considered a merit.
• The successful candidate should have strong analytical, organisational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to plan, prioritise, and independently advance research activities within defined project timelines. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required.
• Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability for the position.

Additional Information

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