Postdoctoral position in “Induced pluripotent stem cell disease modeling”

Published: 2021-03-25

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has over 45,000 students, more than 7,000 employees and a turnover of around SEK 7 billion.

The Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University (www.igp.uu.se) has a broad research profile with strong research groups focused on cancer, autoimmune and genetic diseases. A fundamental idea at the department is to stimulate translational research and thereby closer interactions between medical research and health care. Research is presently conducted in the following areas: medical and clinical genetics, clinical immunology, pathology, neuro-oncology, vascular biology, radiation science and molecular tools. Department activities are also integrated with the units for Oncology, Clinical Genetics, Clinical Immunology, Clinical Pathology, and Hospital Physics at Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala. The department has teaching assignments in several education programmes, including Master Programmes, at the Faculty of Medicine, and in a number of educations at the Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology. The department has a yearly turnover of around SEK 450 million, out of which more than half is made up of external funding. The staff amounts to approximately 345 employees, out of which 100 are PhD-students, and there are in total more than 700 affiliated people.

SciLifeLab (www.scilifelab.se) is a Swedish national center for molecular biosciences with focus on health and environmental research. The center combines frontline technical expertise with advanced knowledge of translational medicine and molecular bioscience. SciLifeLab is hosted by four Swedish universities (Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Uppsala University) and collaborates with several other universities.

Niklas Dahl’s research group
(http://www.igp.uu.se/research/genetics_genomics/niklas_dahl)
The group is focused on functional genomics including the identification of mechanisms and pathophysiology associated with genetic disorders. Over the last decade the research group has identified a number of novel genes/gene variants and mechanisms associated with disease.
A limiting factor in the studies of central nervous system (CNS) disorders has been models that recapitulate the human brain. To this end, the group has established induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology. We have reprogrammed somatic cells from patients with various genetic disorders of the CNS. The iPSCs are differentiated into mature neuronal cells using defined protocols and cell-models are now established for e.g. Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, von Hippel-Lindau disease etc. The goals are to identify novel disease mechanisms at the cellular and molecular levels as well as to develop a 3D model for CNS (i.e. organoids). Analysis is performed on entire cell-populations as well as on single cells using e.g. functional assays, immunostainings, transcriptome- and methylome-profiling. Models are validated using CRISPR/Cas9 modifications of iPSC. In combination, the techniques are expected to reveal novel mechanisms and biomarkers associated with CNS disorders for improved diagnostics as a step towards drug development.

Duties: Monitor iPSC cultures. Develop protocols/methods to differentiate iPSC into neuronal subtypes and 3D models (i.e. organoids) and to characterise these models using imaging, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, functional parameters, patch-clamp, transcriptome- and methylome-profiling. Molecular cloning, DNA sequence analysis, CRISPR/Cas9 editing and selection of edited iPSC clones. The tasks include planning and implementation of subprojects, compilation and analysis of data, writing of manuscripts for publication, contributions in writing applications and assistance in supervision of PhD students and students.

Qualifications: PhD in the fields of cell- or molecular biology, biomedicine, neurobiology or similar. To be eligible to apply you must have a PhD completed within three years of the application deadline. If you received your PhD earlier you are also eligible to apply under special circumstances. Documented experience in eukaryotic cell tissue culture, molecular cloning, gene expression and protein analysis as well as large scale molecular and statistical analysis. Good interpersonal and communication skills is required as well as demonstrated experience in compiling and publishing scientific papers in related fields.

Merits: Appropriate background is a Ph.D. degree with a biological or medical focus. Proven experience of cell culture systems and associated functional, molecular, statistical and bioinformatic analyses. Particular emphasis will be placed on academic skills, good collaboration skills and ability to work independently. Experience in analysis of transcriptome-, proteome- and DNA sequence data is desired. Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

The application must include a personal letter including a brief description of your research interests and motivation for the application, CV, copies of diplomas and certificates, up to 10 publications, and a list of two reference persons and/or reference letters.

Salary: Individual salary.

Start date: No later than 2021-08-01.

Form of employment: General temporary employment of two years.

Extent of employment: 100%.

For further information about the position please contact: Niklas Dahl, Epost: niklas.dahl@igp.uu.se, +46-70-5459924.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than May 3 2021, UFV-PA 2021/1039.

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