Postdoctoral Researcher in protein biochemistry and biotechnology

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

We work on making artificial spider silk and base our work on biotechnology and protein biochemistry. Our lab has invented the first method for producing artificial spider silk fibers and our current main research focus lies in improving the mechanical properties of these by protein engineering and development of the spinning device. The group is well funded by e.g. an ERC consolidator grant. By using next generation sequencing technologies we have increased our understanding of the silk production machinery and will use this knowledge to improve the artificial spider silk fibers further. We have published several articles in high ranked journals (Arndt et al. Adv Funct Mater. 2022; Rising & Johansson ACS Nano. 2021; Schmuck et al. Materials Today. 2021; Andersson et al. Nat Chem Biol. 2017; Kronqvist et al. Nat Commun. 2017; Rising&Johansson. Nat Chem Biol. 2015). The group consists of three PhD students, two technicians, four post docs and one researcher. We are located at Karolinska Institutet, campus Flemingsberg, and at SLU in Uppsala.

Your mission

This project is focused on protein engineering and recombinant expression and purification of silk proteins, and functionalized variants thereof, in prokaryotic hosts, with subsequent biochemical and biophysical characterization. You will formulate different materials and do mechanical, structural and functional characterization of these. The successful candidate is expected to have a large interest in biotechnology and protein biochemistry and is expected to enjoy practical lab work and independently generate and analyze data. The candidate will supervise doctorial students and master students in the lab. We work in collaboration with other groups and very interdisciplinary, which demands the applicant to be independent, creative, have a positive attitude and be collaborative. The candidate will work primarily at KI campus Flemingsberg, but is also expected to travel to and work in the lab at SLU in Uppsala.

Your profile

Qualified to be employed as a postdoctor is one who has obtained a doctorate or has equivalent scientific competence. It is considered as an advantage if you have completed your doctoral degree within the last three years, if there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier. 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) date of employment. This must be substantiated by the applicant’s main supervisor, director or equivalent. The applicant should have a doctoral degree in biotechnology, molecular biology, protein biochemistry or similar topic.

Previous documented and extensive practical experience of cloning and protein expression in prokaryotic hosts, purification as well as biochemical and biophysical characterization of recombinant proteins are required. Previous experience of using bioreactors and FPLC systems for protein production and purification is meritous. The successful candidate is expected to have a strong drive to pursue research, have a strong publication record in respected international peer-reviewed journals, be organized and structured and have an ambitious and innovative attitude. The project is cross-disciplinary and pursued in collaboration with several research groups, and good collaborative skills are necessary. Emphasis will be put on personal skills in the evaluation process. Excellent ability to speak and write English is a requirement.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world’s 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. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement.

The position is for one year with the possibility of extension.

Location: Flemingsberg and Uppsala

Application

An employment application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:

• A complete resumé, 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 through the Varbi recruitment system.

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