Postdoctoral studies in Tuberculosis Infection and Immunology (scholarship)

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The applicant will play a pivotal role in the research group led by Assoc. Prof. Susanna Brighenti at the Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM) . Our postdoctoral program is dedicated to advancing the understanding of tuberculosis (TB) immunopathology and modulating host immunity to enhance bacterial killing and reduce inflammation. This multidisciplinary research integrates immunology, microbiology, and medicinal chemistry to uncover novel insights and therapeutic targets.

The Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM) is a research unit within the research facilities at ANA Futura, KI Campus Flemingsberg that offers a dynamic and international research environment. Our focus is on advancing the understanding of the human immune system and its interactions with disease-causing pathogens.

The postdoctoral candidate will be responsible for establishing Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection models using human cells and both avirulent and virulent strains in vitro, including clinical isolates from patients with drug-resistant TB. Novel molecular compound libraries will be investigated for their potential to enhance immune cell functions. Cryopreserved cell samples from TB patients will also be utilized. The majority of the work will be conducted in a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory.

Key Responsibilities:

• BSL-3 Facility: Work with virulent Mtb including drug-resistant clinical strains.
• Infection Models: Develop and maintain Mtb infection models with human cells and various Mtb strains.
• Cryopreserved Samples: Utilize cryopreserved cell and tissue samples from TB patients.

Laboratory Techniques:

• Bacterial Growth Assays: Perform standard and phenotypic assays to measure bacterial growth.
• Live-Cell Imaging: Conduct live-cell imaging to observe host-pathogen interactions.
• Multicolor Flow Cytometry: Use flow cytometry for detailed cellular analysis.
• Quantitative PCR: Execute quantitative PCR for gene expression analysis.
• Cell Sorting and RNA Sequencing: Perform cell sorting and RNA sequencing to study cellular responses.
• Multiplex Assays: Conduct multiplex assays for cytokine and chemokine analyses.
• Cell Culture and Functional Assays: Carry out various cell culture and in vitro functional assays.

Data Management:

• Preparation and Presentation of Data: Excel, GraphPad Prism, Power point, Illustrator etc. Analyze high-dimensional data using appropriate methods and software programs such as FlowJo.
• R Programming: Perform data analyses using R.

The postdoctoral fellow is expected to independently organize, plan, execute, and analyze experiments, and regularly present research data. The candidate will contribute scientifically to both CIM and the Brighenti group. Additionally, the fellow is expected to actively participate in lab meetings, seminars, and workshops, and stay current with the latest literature in the field.

Postdoctoral scholarships may be established for foreign researchers who pursue their merit in Sweden. The purpose of scholarships for postdoctoral qualification is to promote internationalization and contribute to research qualification after a doctorate or equivalent.

A scholarship for carrying out postdoctoral research can be granted for a maximum of two years within a four year period following the receipt of a doctoral degree or equivalent.

To be eligible for a postdoctoral scholarship, the person must have obtained a doctorate or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctorate. Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the (intended) start date of the post doctoral education.

The head of the department determines whether their previous training and scholarly qualifications correspond to a Swedish doctorate or higher.

The amount is tax free and it is set for twelve months at a time, paid out on a six months basis. In exceptional cases, shorter periods may be acceptable.

AnapplicationmustcontainthefollowingdocumentsinEnglishorSwedish:

• A complete curriculum vitae, including date of the thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions, and committee work
• A complete list of publications
• A summary of current work (no more than one page)

The application is to be submitted on the Varbi recruitment system.

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