Postdoctoral fellow in vascular complement in aging

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 46 000 students and 8 500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Description of the workplace

The postdoctoral position is based in the Cellular Biomechanics group within the Vascular Physiology environment at the Department of Experimental Medical Science (EMV), Faculty of Medicine, Lund University. EMV’s mission is to conduct molecular, cellular, and integrative research at the highest international level while training the next generation of successful scientists.

The Vascular Physiology environment comprises three research groups and approximately ten active researchers. Located at BMC D12, the environment has access to 300 m² of laboratory and office space, including state-of-the-art facilities for modern physiology and cell biology. The team includes two full professors, two associate professors, and a mix of PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and technical staff. Expertise spans transgenic models, in vivo physiology, and advanced bioinformatics, supported by strong connections to university-wide imaging and omics platforms.

The successful candidate will focus on the ageing arterial wall and the role of complement in age-related vascular pathology. A central aim is to develop and characterise transgenic models that mimic ageing-related changes in complement activity. In addition, the postdoctoral researcher will contribute to ongoing collaborative projects, including active partnerships with colleagues at the University of Copenhagen within this Novo Nordisk Foundation-funded initiative.

The department offers a supportive and inclusive research environment characterised by respect, openness, and collaboration. Professional development is encouraged, alongside flexible working conditions that promote wellbeing. With a strong emphasis on equality, structured leadership, and robust health and safety practices, EMV provides a sustainable and stimulating workplace for research and career development.

Description of the project

Our research combines experimental approaches with insights from human biobank material and clinical databases to understand how mechanical forces regulate gene expression. We recently mapped arterial transcriptome remodeling in aging humans and rodents (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108400; https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.125.26119) and now aim to define mechanisms by generating transgenic models and assessing their impact on vascular function and disease.

A key objective is to model increased complement expression in ageing arteries, while also contributing to collaborative projects with the University of Copenhagen and Gothenburg University. Funded by major Swedish agencies, with the postdoctoral support derived from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the position offers a strong platform to build an independent, internationally competitive research profile across leading Nordic research environments. The project is part of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Metabolic Ageing – Collaborative Project grants (https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/grant-recipient/?category=72&paginate=1&sort=DESC&search=metabolic+ageing). As such, those involved in the project will have the opportunity to participate in networking activities, such as joint workshops, symposia, study trips and dissemination activities, with other groups investigating metabolic ageing.

Tasks and responsibilities

At Lund University, a postdoctoral position shall provide the opportunity for scientific and pedagogical merit. There is primarily scope for merit in research, but also for some higher education pedagogical training. Teaching may also be included in the duties.

Several complement factors increase in the arterial wall with advancing age. Because complement factor H (Cfh) limits complement activation at tissue surfaces, vascular deletion of Cfh provides a synthetic model of ageing that is expected to promote pathologies such as atherosclerosis and aneurysm formation.

To test this, you will generate conditional knockout mice using endothelial (Tie1) and smooth muscle (Itga8) Cre lines crossed with mice harbouring floxed Cfh alleles (https://mice.jax.org/). While genotyping is outsourced, you will take primary responsibility for colony and biopsy management, including breeding strategy, cage setup, and tamoxifen administration for inducible knockouts. You will also coordinate with colleagues to plan and execute experimental endpoints; tasks that may occasionally demand special working hours.

Vascular phenotypes will be assessed using a combination of histological and physiological approaches, including disease models driven by hypercholesterolaemia and hypertension. Systemic complement activation and possible kidney involvement will also be assessed. In addition to leading the Cfh mouse work, you will collaborate closely with the partners in Copenhagen and contribute to ongoing studies on mechanoregulated transcription in the vascular wall.

You are expected to present your results at international Congresses, within the research environment, and in the wider collaborative network. The post-doc funding from Novo includes a yearly travel allowance for attending symposia along with posts for operating expenses and a bench-fee.

Qualifications

Requirements for the position are:

• Doctoral degree or equivalent foreign degree in Physiology, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, or Medicine. The doctoral degree must have been obtained, or the doctoral dissertation submitted and approved for defence no later than the date on which the appointment decision is made.
• Ability to develop and conduct high-quality research.
• Teaching ability.
• Strong collaborative skills, as well an ability to work independently.
• You have worked in English, both written and spoken, to a level that enables you to communicate clearly your results and research to your immediate team and outside interested parties.

Meritorious for the position are:

• Applicants who graduated no more than three years before the closing date for applications.
• Teaching ability, either in the laboratory or classroom.
• Experience in basic cell culture, including overexpression and silencing techniques.
• Experience in gene and protein expression techniques.
• You have experience working with animals, performing dissections and studying arteries.
• Understanding of basic inflammatory responses, including the complement system.
• You have performed myography experiments and have good knowledge of physiological mechanisms underlying established vasoconstriction and vasodilatation pathways.

The assessment of applicants will primarily be based on their scientific merits and potential as researchers. Emphasis will be placed on scientific ability within the subject area.

We offer

Lund University is a governmental authority, which means you get special benefits, generous holidays and a favorable occupational pension. Read more on the university's website about being employed at Lund University, Work for us | Lund University.

About the employment

The position is a fixed-term position of two years, 100% with start date on 2026-11-01 or as agreed. Employment at Lund University is conducted in Sweden, you are therefore expected to be able to perform your work on site in Lund.

The position is limited to a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, in accordance with the collective agreement on fixed-term employment as a postdoctoral researcher (Arbetsgivarverket). A position as a postdoctoral researcher is intended as an initial step in your career and as an opportunity to further deepen and broaden your research expertise.

Other information

Interviews will be conducted in weeks 40 and 41. Interviews will be conducted at our premises in Lund.

How to apply

You apply for the position via the university's recruitment system. The application should include a personal letter (maximum one page) explaining why you are interested in the position and how the position matches your qualifications. The application should also include a degree certificate (or a letter from your institution confirming when you will submit your thesis and undertake your final examination), CV (maximum 2 pages), contact details for 2 references and a list of publications (including those under review).

More information regarding the Faculty of Medicine

The Faculty of Medicine is a part of Lund University, and is responsible for education and research within medicine and healthcare. Our academic programs are closely linked with the healthcare system and are firmly anchored in the faculty’s strong research tradition. Our research spans a broad field within experimental preclinical research, near-patient clinical research and health sciences research. The Faculty of Medicine, with its 1,800 employees and 2,700 students in Lund and Malmö, is a knowledge-intensive meeting place for students, teachers and researchers from all over the world.

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Anställningsform: tidsbegränsad anställning | Anställningens omfattning: heltid | Antal lediga befattningar: 1 | Sysselsättningsgrad: 100 | Ort: Lund | Län: Skåne län | Land: Sweden | Referensnummer: PA2026/2326 | Kontakt: Karl Swärd 072-7431022, Karl Swärd 072-7431022, Tyra Lundquister +46462220000, Tyra Lundquister 046-2220000, | Facklig företrädare: SEKO: Seko Civil 046-2229366, SEKO: Seko Civil 046-2229366, OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli 046-2229362, OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli 046-2229362, SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet 046-2220000, SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet 046-2220000, | Publicerat: 2026-08-11 | Sista ansökningsdag: 2026-08-25