Doctoral (PhD) student position in Myeloid Cell Therapy

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 Fiskesund research team is part of Professor Petter Höglund's group at the Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM). Our research group belongs to the Department of Medicine, Huddinge at Karolinska Institutet South. The team is located in an open, collaborative environment with easy access to advanced infrastructure, including cell culture rooms, virus labs, and flow cytometry facilities. We promote a culture of friendship, collaboration, and mutual assistance, with weekly seminars and regular scientific discussions.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The doctoral project, titled "Precision-Engineered Neutrophil Immunotherapy: Converging CAR Design and CRISPR Screening to target Solid Tumors," aims to deepen our understanding of neutrophil biology to develop next-generation cell therapies against cancer. Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocyte population and often constitute a large portion of the immune infiltrate in solid tumors.

The primary goal of the project is to investigate neutrophil biology to provide a platform for developing neutrophil-based cell therapy products. The project is divided into three specific aims:

• CAR Engineering: Work out the most effective combination of signaling motifs in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) constructs to endow CAR neutrophils with the ability to kill solid tumors.
• CRISPR Screening: Discover and validate genes essential for neutrophil survival and effector functions (such as ROS production and phagocytosis) using CRISPR screening, and utilize this data to enhance CAR neutrophil efficacy.
• In Vivo Validation: Test optimized CAR constructs and genetic modifications in mouse tumor models.

Duties of the doctoral student: As a doctoral student, you will be involved in detailed experimental planning, execution, analysis, and troubleshooting. You will gradually master a variety of advanced methods, including:

• Molecular Biology: Designing plasmids (using SnapGene) and cloning CAR constructs (Gibson assembly).
• Cell Culture & Virology: Culturing cell lines (e.g., HoxB8 myeloid progenitors), virus production, and performing viral transductions.
• Immunological Assays: Performing functional assays to quantify phagocytosis, NETosis, ROS, and cytokine production.
• Flow Cytometry: Setting up and running multi-color flow cytometry experiments to analyze data.
• In Vivo Work: Handling animals and performing transplantation of CAR cells in tumor models

You will be expected to analyze data, present your findings at lab meetings and seminars, and write scientific manuscripts.

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

To succeed in this project, you need a strong interest in immunology and cell therapy. We are looking for a candidate who is curious, analytical, and eager to learn new advanced engineering methods.

Requirements:

•   A degree in Medicine, Biomedicine, Immunology, or a related field (Basic Medicine is the primary research field).
• Good understanding of immunology and cell biology. Particularly Innate immunity.
• Excellent communication skills in English (both written and spoken), as you will be writing manuscripts and presenting data regularly.
•  Documented ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Meritorious (desirable) skills:

• Detailed knowledge of neutrophil biology.
• Previous experience working with neutrophils and neutrophil progenitor cell lines.
• Prior hands-on experience with molecular cloning (plasmid design), cell culture, or viral vectors is highly advantageous.
• Previous work with CAR T cells.
• Flow Cytometry: Experience with flow cytometry analysis is a strong merit.

Terms and conditions

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

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.

Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all