Postdoctoral Researcher in Molecular Host-Pathogen Interactions

Karolinska Institutet (KI) · Solna, Sweden

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Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

We are looking for a postdoctoral candidate that will work on macromolecular interactions during host-pathogen interactions by using advanced reconstitution methods, advanced imaging technologies and molecular dynamics simulations.

The project will be performed at the Cell Signalling, Immunity and Nanoimaging Lab (CSI:Nano), SciLifeLab and Karolinska Institute, led by Assoc. Prof. Erdinc Sezgin within the COMBINE consortium supported by EU Horizon.

SciLifeLab and KI are excellent places to carry out basic biomedical research with clinical potential. Our lab is in the intersection of biology, chemistry, physics and engineering, aiming to reveal the molecular codes of cellular physiology and diseases. The candidate will greatly benefit from this interdisciplinary environment and unique infrastructure.

This position is for 2 years full-time employment with potential extension upon mutual agreement.

Application Deadline: 12 September 2026

Start Date: latest 1 Jan 2027

Your mission

The postdoctoral fellow will follow both experimental and computations pipelines to study how different macromolecules interact and contribute to interactions of pathogens with their hosts. The fellow will develop advanced synthetic biology tools to reconstitute host-pathogen interactions, analyse them quantitatively with advanced imaging and computationally with molecular dynamics simulations.

The project involves:

applying model membrane biology tools (GUVs, GPMVs, SLBs, BSLBs) (see Ragaller et al, Advanced Science, 2026; Schlegel et al, Nano Letters, 2023)
imaging tools (FLIM, spectral imaging, lattice-light-sheet microscopy, flow cytometry) (see Carravilla&Andronico& Schlegel et al, Nature Protocols, 2025; Schlegel et al, Nano Letters, 2024)
molecular dynamics simulations (see Schahl et al, Advanced Science, 2026).
working with virus like particles and human cells
development of software and data analysis tools to characterize multiparametric datasets
work in close collaboration with the other CSI:Nano lab members as well as other labs at SciLifeLab and KI

Your profile

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.

Essential:

BSc and MSc in life science, natural sciences or engineering
PhD in areas: cell and molecular biology, biomedicine, biophysics
Strong interest in host-pathogen interactions
Strong expertise in model membrane tools and reconstitution of proteins
Strong expertise in imaging technologies
Strong expertise in chemical biology probes
Strong expertise in molecular dynamics simulations
Strong expertise in image analysis
Independent working skills, teamwork spirit and willingness to help PhD/master students

Desired:

Programming skills are advantageous

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.

The employees at CSI:Nano Lab come from international and interdisciplinary backgrounds, such as physics, chemistry, biomedicine, molecular biology and engineering. Our working language is English. In the lab, we advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion; promote open science and data sharing; encourage lab members to attend conferences; and foster healthy feedback culture. Moreover, the supervisor has open-door policy for meetings and brainstorming.

As a postdoctoral fellow at CSI:Nano Lab you will be given the opportunity to develop and/or apply state-of-the-art imaging methodologies to solve biological mysteries. You will be given necessary training on the advanced bioimaging technologies and an opportunity to become a fully independent researcher in interdisciplinary science within years.

Location: SciLifeLab, KI, Campus Solna

Visit CSI:Nano

Visit SciLifeLab

Visit SciLifeLab Facilities

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Application

An employment application must contain the following documents in English:

PhD certificate
A complete resumé, including date of the thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions, committee work and names and contact details of three scientists for reference letters
A complete list of publications
A summary of current work (no more than one page)
A brief letter describing why you want to work with us and how you can contribute to the existing knowledge in the lab (no more than one-page, generic letters not accepted)

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!