Doctoral (PhD) student position in Cell and Gene Therapy - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

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

Division
The Department of Laboratory of Medicine, located in Huddinge Campus, is one of the Karolinska Institutet’s largest departments with 9 research divisions including the Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine (BCM), where the project will be carried out. 350 people are employed at the department, half of which are PhD-students. BCM provides the facilities needed for cell- and molecular biology research and the possibility to perform research in vivo.

Research Group – Joel Nordin

Our research efforts in the Nordin lab focus on one of the greatest challenges facing modern therapeutics; delivery. Despite the unprecedented knowledge of diseases and their mechanisms due to advances in biomedical sciences; many promising therapeutic approaches are still clinically unavailable. This is simply because there is no efficient means of delivering these therapeutics to the right organ with the right dose. Such therapeutics include proteins for replacement therapy or antibodies for anti-inflammatory treatment as well as nucleic acids for gene therapy of diseases. The Nordin group develops innovative cell therapies for advanced applications. We have developed a promising technology based on cell therapies in combination with engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs). We engineer cells with enhanced delivery and targeting capacities by utilizing engineered EVs. This allow us to deliver therapeutic macromolecules in the local microenvironment where they are needed. In this PhD-project the prospective candidate will work to take this technology from bench-to-bedside. 

The lab has access to state-of-the-art equipment and machines relating to EV and cell therapy research as well as a newly renovated animal house. Thus, all facilities to perform the research are already in place. 

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

We are seeking a highly motivated person to join the group as a PhD-student to work on the development of our bioengineered cell therapies.

Most of the research will be conducted utilizing cell lines and animal models. The first part of the work will involve engineering of immune cells to combine a cell therapy with engineered EVs to develop a efficient treatment for pancreas cancer. This will be achieved by advanced cell engineering allowing us to control the secretion of engineered EVs from the immune cells. Novel fusion constructs will be designed and evaluated throughout the project and the cell engineering and activation will first be evaluated in reporter cells and later in cancer models. Several techniques will be applied to investigate the engineered cells, such as flow cytometry, single vesicle analysis, western blot, qPCR, NGS, in vitro co-culture assays, etc., which will allow the future PhD-student to acquire a broad range of techniques. Additionally, several different cell lines and primary cells will be used throughout the project, such as T- and NK-cells. The successful candidate will be responsible for all aspects of laboratory work in the project and to drive the project forward. The successful candidate will furthermore have many opportunities in later stages of the PhD to develop their own projects within the framework of the larger project goals. 

In addition to the main supervisor Joel Nordin, the student will have three co-supervisors: Prof. Samir EL Andaloussi, Assoc. Prof. Evren Alici, and MD/PhD Oscar Wiklander. The successful candidate will take part in all research-related activities such as group meetings, departmental seminars, relevant international meetings, supervision of other students and researchers, if necessary, as well as contribute to common lab routines. Finally, the PhD student will work to fulfil the course requirements of the PhD program as outlined in the relevant rules and documentation available at the ki.se website.

This project is supported by several grants including a grant from the Swedish Research council.

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. Karolinska Institutet is a state university, which entitles to several benefits such as extended holiday and generous occupational pension. 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

It is an advantage with prior knowledge regarding basic biology and/or drug delivery. It is furthermore a merit to have practical lab experience in the following areas: foremost experience with cell culture and engineering of cells for therapeutic application, especially prior experience of T- and/or NK-cells is a merit. Previous practice from molecular cloning and other common molecular biology techniques are beneficial. The ideal candidate would furthermore have experience within the EV- or cell therapy field, but this is not required.

In addition, excellent proficiency in both spoken and written English is important. We are looking for an energetic and passionate person who fits in, and actively contributes to our team. The future PhD-candidate should be comfortable to work independently as well as in a team. 

Terms and conditions

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

Location: Flemingsberg

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.

Your application should contain the following documents. We prefer that your application is written in English, but you can also apply in Swedish:

- 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.

Research group - Joel Nordin  

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