Postdoctoral Researcher in Structural Virology

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research? The Division of Infectious Diseases performs research and education in close collaboration with the Karolinska University Hospital. The research teams address a wide range of infectious diseases using clinical, epidemiological and experimental approaches. The research team led by Leo Hanke studies highly pathogenic viruses. We combine functional, structural and molecular approaches to investigate viral infection mechanisms and immune responses. Our work aims to understand fundamental aspects of virus biology while informing the development of vaccines and antiviral therapies. Your mission You will contribute to our ongoing efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms of virus entry, replication and immune recognition through structural biology approaches. A central focus of the project is the structural characterization of viral and host proteins using cryo-EM, complemented by biochemical, biophysical and functional studies. The project will involve sample optimization for cryo-EM, grid preparation, data collection at national cryo-EM facilities, image processing, three-dimensional reconstruction, atomic model building and structural interpretation. Your are also expected to integrate structural findings with virological and immunological data generated within the research group. Many projects involve the use of antigen-specific nanobodies as structural probes, providing opportunities to investigate mechanisms of viral neutralization and capture transient conformational states that are otherwise difficult to study. The overall aim is to generate mechanistic insight into RNA virus biology that can be translated into improved strategies for treatment, prevention and pandemic preparedness while advancing the application of nanobody-based technologies in structural and translational research. You will join a highly collaborative research environment with access to multiple ongoing projects that can be pursued from the outset. In parallel, we encourage the development of independent research questions and provide the scientific freedom and mentorship needed to establish a distinct research direction. The expectation is that you will contribute both to the group's strategic projects and to the development of their own research program. Your profile The ideal candidate holds a PhD in structural biology, biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, or a related field. You should have documented experience in cryo-EM and a proven track record of applying structural approaches to answer biological questions. Hands-on experience in recombinant protein expression and purification is essential, including optimization of challenging protein complexes for structural studies. You should have substantial practical expertise in cryo-EM sample preparation, grid optimization and data collection. Experience with cryo-EM image processing software such as RELION, cryoSPARC, as well as model building and refinement using software including Coot, Phenix and ChimeraX, is required. Experience with membrane proteins, viral glycoproteins, protein complexes, antibodies/nanobodies, X-ray crystallography, computational structural biology, AlphaFold-based modelling or advanced biophysical characterization methods is considered advantageous. You should have a strong publication record demonstrating successful application of structural biology methods. You are expected to contribute actively to project design, data interpretation, manuscript preparation and presentation of results at international scientific meetings. The ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment is essential. Excellent written and spoken English is required. Strong organizational skills, scientific creativity and enthusiasm for tackling challenging biological problems are highly valued. To be eligible for employment as a postdoctoral researcher, a PhD or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a Swedish PhD is required. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision. Completion of your doctoral degree within the last three years is considered an advantage. If there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier. What do we offer? A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement. Location The position is located within the Department of Medicine, Solna. The department consists of ten divisions and each division consists of several research groups. The position is located within the research team of Leo Hanke based at BioClinicum on the Karolinska University Hospital site in Solna. --- [Video about a Karolinska Institutet, how we work towards "a better health for all"] -- Application An employment application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish: - PhD certificate - A complete resumé, 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) KI applies individual and differentiated salary setting in accordance with our collective agreements RALS and RALS-T The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system. Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all!