Doctoral (PhD) student position in exocrine glands biology and gastrointestinal physiology/mucosal immunology

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

To be a doctoral student means to devote oneself to a research project under supervision of experienced researchers and following an individual study plan. For a doctoral degree, the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral education is required.

The research group

The Laboratory of Gastrointestinal and Exocrine Gland Biology (Monasterio Lab) is a newly established research team within the Department of Medicine, Solna, at Karolinska Institutet. The lab is embedded in a dynamic mucosal immunology/spatial omics hub shared with the Villablanca and Engblom laboratories, providing strong expertise across both wet- and dry-lab methodologies. We are located at the Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM) at Karolinska University Hospital, a vibrant translational environment that brings together basic scientists and clinicians and provides access to state-of-the-art core facilities and infrastructure.

Our research centers on the emerging concept that salivary glands are not merely accessory organs with local roles in the oral cavity, but key regulators of whole-body physiology. Building on our findings identifying a gut–salivary gland axis involved in adaptation to intestinal inflammation, together with growing evidence in the field, we propose that salivary glands function as dual exocrine/endocrine organs and act as previously overlooked rheostats of systemic physiological circuits. Our overarching goal is to mechanistically dissect how salivary glands influence aerodigestive and systemic physiology. To address this, we are building a research program that integrates exploratory, omics-driven strategies (Monasterio et al., Nature Protocols, 2024) with hypothesis-driven mechanistic work (Frede, Czarnewski, Monasterio et al., Immunity, 2022) to uncover unconventional functions of salivary glands in aerodigestive barriers in health and disease. In the long term, we aim to translate these insights into new diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic opportunities for human disease, including inflammatory conditions and cancer.

To achieve these goals, we use multi-omics platforms (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) to unbiasedly interrogate how perturbations such as inflammation, microbiota, diet, and tumors reshape salivary gland function—and how gland responses, in turn, contribute to organismal adaptation. For mechanistic studies, we are establishing a versatile experimental toolkit that includes conventional molecular biology methods, confocal and light-sheet imaging, animal models of aerodigestive perturbations (inflammation, cancer, infections), surgical and microsurgical interventions, and viral-mediated gene manipulation in vitro and in vivo. The lab is further supported by a strong network of local and international collaborators providing complementary expertise, including salivary gland gene transduction, neural tracing and manipulation, upper airway viral infections, and human salivary gland biology, with opportunities for short- and long-term research visits abroad.

As a team, we are committed to fostering a healthy, inclusive, and open academic environment. We actively engage in initiatives that promote constructive and collaborative science and support trainees’ career development. Curiosity, rigor, teamwork, and a genuine drive for discovery are central to our lab culture, and we aim to provide a supportive setting in which PhD students can thrive scientifically and personally.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

Our lab focuses on elucidating the biology of a new mammalian organ discovered by us. This doctoral project will define the organ’s organization, function, and regulation, and determine how it interacts with aerodigestive systems in both mice and humans.

The project integrates a broad suite of experimental and computational approaches, combining well-established methods in the lab with novel techniques developed through our local and international collaborations. The doctoral student will be engaged across the full research cycle—developing hypotheses, designing and performing experiments, analyzing and interpreting data, and presenting findings. The position is structured as approximately 80% wet-lab work and 20% bioinformatics. Over the course of the project, the student is expected to develop baseline independence in bioinformatic analyses; supported by senior bioinformaticians in the local environment, international collaborators, and national resources (e.g., NBIS), they will also contribute to database management and computational data analysis.

Training will include hands-on work in molecular and cellular techniques, animal models, and state-of-the-art spatial omics technologies. The student will further develop scientific communication skills through active involvement in manuscript preparation, conference presentations, and other dissemination activities.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment full of expertise and curiosity. 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. As a doctoral student you are offered an individual research project, a well-educated supervisor, a vast range of elective courses and the opportunity to work in a leading research group. Karolinska Institutet collaborates with prominent universities from all around the world, which ensures opportunities for international exchanges. You will be employed on a doctoral studentship which means that you receive a contractual salary. Employees also have access to our modern gym for free and receive reimbursements for medical care.

Eligibility requirements for doctoral education

In order to participate in the selection for a doctoral position, you must meet the following general (A) and specific (B) eligibility requirements at latest by the application deadline.

It is your responsibility to certify eligibility by following the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

A) General eligibility requirement

You meet the general eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

1. have been awarded a second-cycle/advanced/master qualification (i.e. master degree), or
2. have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the advanced/second-cycle/master level, or
3. have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.*

Follow the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

*If you claim equivalent knowledge, follow the instructions on the web page Assessing equivalent knowledge for general eligibility for doctoral education.

B) Specific eligibility requirement

You meet the specific eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

- Show proficiency in English equivalent to the course English B/English 6 at Swedish upper secondary school.

Follow the instructions on the web page English language requirements for doctoral education.

Verification of your documents Karolinska Institutet checks the authenticity of your documents. Karolinska Institutet reserves the right to revoke admission if supporting documents are discovered to be fraudulent. Submission of false documents is a violation of Swedish law and is considered grounds for legal action.

(A) and (B) can only be certified by the documentation requirement for doctoral education.

Skills and personal qualities

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate in biomedicine with an interest in inter-organ crosstalk, mucosal immunology, and how organisms adapt to environmental and inflammatory challenges. The ideal candidate has a background in cellular and molecular biology or related fields, along with hands-on experience in standard laboratory techniques such as genotyping, nucleic acid extraction, qRT-PCR, mammalian cell culture, and in vitro assays. Experience or a strong interest in systemic physiology, mucosal immunology, and exocrine or endocrine biology, as well as in spatial transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches, is considered an advantage. Additional merits include practical skills in animal work (particularly surgical procedures), immunofluorescence and other imaging-based techniques, protein quantification, and viral transduction of mammalian or human cell lines or primary cells, as well as familiarity with bioinformatic analysis of metabolomics, bulk and single-cell RNA-seq and/or spatial omics datasets. The successful candidate can clearly analyze, interpret and present research data, is interested in scientific writing and the publication process, and is firmly committed to research ethics. On a personal level, we are looking for an engaged, curious and proactive team player who thrives in a collaborative, international environment, communicates effectively in English, is open to feedback, shares knowledge generously, and can also plan, prioritize and drive projects independently while meeting agreed deadlines.

Terms and conditions

The doctoral student will be employed on a doctoral studentship maximum 4 years full-time.

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Application process

Submit your application and supporting documents through the Varbi recruitment system. Use the button in the top right corner and follow the instructions. We prefer that your application is written in English, but you can also apply in Swedish.

Your application must contain the following documents:

- A personal letter and a curriculum vitae
- Degree projects and previous publications, if any
- Any other documentation showing the desirable skills and personal qualities described above
- Documents certifying your general eligibility (see A above)
- Documents certifying your specific eligibility (see B above)

Selection

A selection will be made among eligible applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from doctoral education. The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis.

Karolinska Institutet uses the following bases of assessment:

- Documented subject knowledge of relevance to the area of research
- Analytical skill
- Other documented knowledge or experience that may be relevant to doctoral studies in the subject.

All applicants will be informed when the recruitment is completed.

https://ki.se/en/people/gustavo-monasterio

CMM

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