Postdoctoral Fellowship (07) at Karolinska Institute, Sweden

The current project will be centred around the hypothesis that microglia exert different tumour-trophic effects at different stage of glioma disease progression, but that those effects vary depending on time where those neoplasms develop, i.e. paediatric versus adult tumours, as well as their molecular profiles. This work will include the use of vitro and ex vivo systems, to uncover how microglia can exert different tumor trophic functions that support glioma progression. Thereafter, using in vivo animal model of the disease, the project will aim at validating those findings and at the identification of drugs that can be used to hinder these microglial-tumor trophic effects.

We seek a curious, highly motivated, and creative postdoctoral researcher with a strong background in the field(s) of microglia and/or glioma biology. The ideal candidate should have documented experience of performing molecular and cellular studies, preferably within the field of research of the advertised position. Demonstrated expertise in bioinformatics, with a strong focus on the analysis of sequencing datasets is considered a strength. The candidate must have the ability to work in a structured and independent manner. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (in English written and verbal) is required. Emphasis will be also placed on personal suitability, fitting well into the current

The Baranello Lab – Drawing from our expertise in the fields of topoisomerase and cancer biology, we aim to answer fundamental questions about how transcription, replication and DNA topology are functionally coordinated in human cells. We use state-of-the-art approaches to assess transcriptomic, epigenomic and replisomic profiles, as well as molecular biology, advanced microscopy and drug screens to understand how topoisomerase regulation affects fundamental nuclear processes (key lab references: Baranello et al. Cell 2016; Wiegard et al. Molecular Cell 2021; Das et al. Molecular Cell 2022; Cameron et al. Science Advances 2023). The overall aim is to reveal novel cancer therapy targets and improved strategies for personalized treatment.

Recently we have identified a protein complex called “topoisome” in which the oncoprotein MYC recruits and increases the catalytic activities of both Topoisomerase 1 and 2 to promote high rates of transcriptional (Das et al. Molecular Cell 2022). The successful candidate will play a leading role in a full-time research project funded by the European Research Council Consolidator Grant, focused to address the functional role of the topoisome during transcription. Specifically we want to study the coordination of the topoisome and the transcriptional machinery. The outcome of this work is predicted to inspire a new strategy to target MYC in cancer, which will be tested in MYC-driven cancer models. This multidisciplinary project involves master biochemistry, master molecular biology, proteomics/genomics, and computational analysis. The postdoc will plan and execute experiments, analyze data, interpret, and present the results, supervise students as well as write scientific articles, initially under partial supervision but with greater independence going forward.

We are a young and dynamic research team with a well-established collaborative network. Our lab is located at Biomedicum, a top modern research building with a large repertoire of researchers and access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities. Our group is also associated to the laboratory of Dr. Levens at the National Institutes of Health (US) and Dr. Shiraige at Tokyo University (JP). The candidate will greatly benefit from this interdisciplinary environment, immersion in a highly stimulating and supportive research community, unique infrastructure, a buzzing capital, and scenic nature at your doorstep.

Tjänsten är kopplad till forskargruppen Franzén och avdelningen för fysioterapi. Forskargruppernas fokus ligger på translatorisk forskning från att utforska bakomliggande mekanismer vid neurologiska sjukdomar till kliniska interventioner och implementering av interventioner för personer med neurologisk och geriatrisk rehabilitering. Områden av särskilt intresse är balanskontroll, gång, fysisk aktivitet och fall hos äldre och personer med neurologiska sjukdomar (Parkinsons sjukdom och multipel skleros) i kombination med hjärnavbildning.

Den biträdande lektorn kommer att arbeta i Erika Franzéns grupp som består av doktorander, postdoktorer samt juniora- och seniora forskare (cirka 15 personer). Den tvärvetenskapliga projektgruppen består av forskare med omfattande expertis inom olika områden och som är från flera forskargrupper (neuroimaging, neurologi, psykologi etc). Biträdande lektorn kommer att ha sin arbetsplats vid avdelningen för fysioterapi, NVS i Flemingsberg och vid uMOVE-core facilitet i Solna.

You will explore how exercise communicates its metabolic benefits through extracellular vesicles (EVs) that connect the brain, muscle, and pancreas. Building on recent discoveries that exercise-induced EVs deliver protective microRNAs such as miR-124-5p to pancreatic β-cells, your goal is to define their molecular cargo, map their tissue origins, and engineer EV-based delivery systems using DNA nanotechnology. Your work will advance understanding of brain-to-islet signaling and pioneer EV-based therapeutics that enhance β-cell survival and combat diabetes.

Du kommer att ha ansvar för att designa och utveckla olika bioaktiva material baserade på spindeltråd. Filmer av rekombinanta protein kommer utvecklas och tillverkas samt utvärderas för biologisk aktivitet, mekaniska egenskaper, effekt på koagulation (hemolys, adhesion och aktivering av blodplättar) och förmåga att understödja celler. Du kommer sammanställa dina forskningsresultat i vetenskapliga presentationer och publikationer, samt förväntas vara aktiv i seminarier och möten. Handledning av studenter och doktorander kan komma att ingå i tjänsten.