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Postdoc (scholarship) in Systems Biology (Experimental Cancer and Metabolic Disease Research)

KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key centre of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical research and learning institution and home to students, researchers and faculty from around the world. Our research and education covers a wide area including natural sciences and all branches of engineering, as well as architecture, industrial management, urban planning, history and philosophy.

The workplace

SciLifeLab ( www.scilifelab.se/ ) is a national resource center dedicated to large scale bioscientific research with a focus on biomedicine, including genome and proteome profiling, bioimaging and bioinformatics. SciLifeLab Stockholm has been formed jointly by the three Stockholm universities, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Karolinska Institute (KI) and Stockholm University (SU), and thus combines the profiles and strengths of these three institutions. Academic research, as well as the Swedish health care system and the Swedish Life Science industry, will benefit through active collaboration, access to advanced tools and active programs for knowledge transfer. The goal is to achieve critical mass for large-scale life sciences and translational medicine.

The Mardinoglu Lab (https://sysmedicine.com/) at SciLifeLab is an interdisciplinary group working at the interface of systems biology, metabolism, and translational medicine. By combining computational modeling with experimental biology, we aim to understand metabolic reprogramming in diseases such as cancer, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MAFLD), type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. We integrate systems biology predictions with experimental validation to accelerate the development of novel therapeutic strategies. We are now recruiting a postdoctoral fellow in experimental biology to work on the development and testing of small molecules in metabolic diseases and cancer.

Project description

The postdoctoral fellow will be central in validating candidate compounds identified through systems biology pipelines and drug repurposing studies. A particular focus will be on PKLR-modulating compounds, which we have recently shown to exert potent effects in hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, the fellow will contribute to broader projects involving experimental testing of small molecules in liver disease, metabolic dysfunction, and cancer models. The work will involve:

  • Performing in vitro assays on cancer and primary cell lines (cell viability, apoptosis, autophagy, lipid metabolism, ROS, invasion/migration).

  • Conducting molecular and biochemical analyses (Western blotting, qPCR, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence microscopy).

  • Preparing and analyzing samples for omics technologies (RNA-seq, metabolomics, proteomics).

  • Working closely with computational modelers to link experimental findings with network- and genome-scale metabolic models.

  • Presenting results and contributing to publications in high-impact journals.

This position provides the opportunity to contribute to a translational pipeline, bridging computational predictions and laboratory validation, with potential direct impact on therapeutic development.
 

Qualifications

Requirements,  

  • PhD (or equivalent foreign degree) in molecular biology, pharmacology, cancer biology, or a related life science, awarded within the last three years.

  • Proven skills in mammalian cell cultureand molecular biology techniques.

  • Hands-on experience with cell death, metabolism, or signaling pathway assays.

  • Strong track record of experimental work documented in publications.

  • Excellent communication skills in spoken and written English.

  • Independence, problem-solving ability, and a collaborative mindset.  

Previous experience working with clinical/medical data is a plus. Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Application 

Apply to this scholarship by e-mail to hr@cbh.kth.se . You are the main responsible to ensure that your application is complete according to the ad. Your complete application must be received at KTH no later than 2025-10-26. Mark your application with reference number PA-2025-3029.

The application must include the following documents:

  • Curriculum vitae

  • Cover letter (detailing both your previous scientific work experience and your interest in this position)

  • Research statement (max 2 pages)

  • Contact information for three references

Please observe that you apply for a scholarship, not an employment.

It may be the case that a scholarshipcandidate at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for scholarshipcandidate is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

About the position/positions

Period: Up to two years in total

Extent: Full-time

Number of positions: One (1)

Amount of scholarship: 27,000 SEK/month

Location: SciLifeLab, Stockholm

EU Citizens on scholar or private funding need to bring a certificate showing EHIC insurance (a comprehensive medical- and health insurance) from the home country, which must cover during the full stay in Sweden.

Without this certificate you may only remain three months in Sweden and will not be able to register as a residence in Sweden.

The responsibility for the comprehensive insurance is strictly on the applicant.

Contact

Sophia Bergqvist, sopb@kth.se

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