Researcher in Molecular Biology and Epigenetics

Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University

SciLifeLab is a national research center for molecular biosciences  located at Karolinska Institutet’s campus in Solna. SciLifeLab provides infrastructure for state-of-the-art high-throughput molecular technologies and serves as a collaboration hub for Stockholm University, Karolinska Institute, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Uppsala University. The center brings together a broad range of scientists across traditional university and department boundaries, to facilitate networking and multidisciplinary studies within two main focus areas: health and environmental research. Stockholm University consistently ranks among the top universities in the world in Environmental Science.  The Department of Environmental Science is a multidisciplinary department that gathers about 200 faculty, researchers, doctoral students and support staff scientists, from diverse fields in the natural sciences, and over 30 countries, to study various environmental phenomena.

Project description
Evidence show that exposure to air pollution or the hundreds of thousands chemicals that contaminate our environment are main risk factors for many human diseases. There has been a rapidly increasing interest in whether environmental factors modulate the establishment and maintenance of epigenetic modifications, and thereby affect gene expression and phenotype. We combine experimental model systems, omics tools, and molecular epidemiological research to study gene-environment interactions and epigenetic basis of disease.
We seek a researcher with strong skills in molecular biology methods and epigenetics. This position involves work with cell and animal experiments as well as human samples to study molecular mechanisms and health risks linked to environmental factors, in particular environmental pollution. You will work, as part of a larger team, in the ERC-funded project PATER, with a focus on increasing understanding of paternal epigenetic inheritiance.

Main responsibilities
The researcher will work in Associate Professor Oskar Karlsson’s research group at SciLifeLab in Solna. Tasks include planning and conducting experiments involving cell- and animal models in close collaboration with other people in the group. Conduct, and be responsible for, molecular analysis (e.g epigenome, transcriptome, proteome), using methods such as RNA-seq, RRBS, WGBS, and ChIP-seq. Analyze data and write scientific publications.

Qualification requirements
Researchers are appointed primarily for purposes of research and must hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills in molecular biology methods and epigenetics. We are looking for a thorough person with an eye for detail, initiative and a sense of responsibility, as well as a good ability for both independent and group work.

Most valuable experiences:

• Experience in a research environment (e.g. PhD) or other relevant work with a focus on molecular biology methods and epigenetics.
• Experience in DNA/RNA extraction, quality control and preparing libraries for sequencing.
• Experience in performing experiments with, and evaluating results from, techniques such as RNA-sequencing, RRBS, WGBS, Chip-seq
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Desirable/merited skills:

• Experience of conducting microinjections of zygotes
• Experience of conducting cell and animal experiments
• Knowledge/interest in toxicology and the link between the environment and health
• Experience of method development within molecular biology and epigenetics
• Experience with analyzing data in R, Phyton or equivalent environment.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a maximum of two years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date is suggested as September 2021, but is flexible.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from Associate Professor Oskar Karlsson, oskar.karlsson@aces.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University’s recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Research proposal (no more than 2 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – to make advancements in this field, what studies or experiments would you do, and how would you do them?
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files)
• Possible letters of recommendation (no more than 3 files)