Research assistant in placenta-brain axis

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

We are seeking a research assistant who will help us investigate how the placenta and developing brain communicate during the earliest stages of human development. This position constitutes a recruitment by the Cruceanu Lab (Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, FyFa) at the Karolinska Institutet Solna campus. The selected candidate will become a part of the Developmental and Translational Neurobiology Research Group at FyFa led by Assistant Professor Cristiana Cruceanu. The group studies molecular mechanisms of how stress and pharmacological exposures shape early human development, aiming to understand the long-term outcomes of these exposures on neurodevelopmental and mental health. We use state-of-the-art human in-vitro models of the brain and placenta, primary fetal tissues, and human cohorts in combination with molecular biology, advanced imaging, single-cell and computational approaches.

Your mission

We seek a motivated individual to join our collaborative team and contribute to a new research program investigating the placenta–brain axis during the first trimester of human pregnancy. The placenta is increasingly recognized as an active regulator of fetal brain development. However, how these processes are coordinated through critical developmental periods, remains largely unknown. The successful applicant will play a key role in this novel project, which will investigate the parallel development of neural and trophoblast cells using human fetal brain and placenta tissues and stem-cell-derived organoid models. The research will focus on identifying cell-type-specific developmental trajectories and mechanisms of neurodevelopment across the placenta-brain axis. The project combines experimental approaches including primary tissue and organoid culture, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, quantitative PCR, molecular profiling and imaging, with advanced transcriptomic, epigenomic and proteomic approaches. The successful applicant will have rich interactions with all group members as well as collaborators at FyFa, Karolinska Institutet and abroad. The position offers an opportunity to develop expertise across human developmental biology, stem-cell-derived models, molecular neuroscience and computational biology while contributing to an emerging field of research in human neuroplacentology.

Your profile

Qualified to be employed as a research assistant is one who has obtained an MSc degree in a relevant field or has equivalent scientific competence. We seek an enthusiastic and talented individual with a background in biomedicine, neuroscience, molecular biology or a related field, and a strong interest in human developmental biology.

Experience in the following areas is particularly relevant:

• Experience with human stem-cell-derived models, organoids or primary cell/tissue culture, particularly neural and/or trophoblast/placental models is essential.
• Experience working with fetal tissues, tissue-derived models, or other developmental systems is highly desirable.
• Practical experience with cryosectioning, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, quantitative PCR and other molecular biology techniques.
• Experience with confocal microscopy and image-based analysis.
• An interest in neurotransmission, developmental neurobiology and the placenta–brain axis is highly desirable.
• Experience with computational or quantitative approaches, such as RNA-seq analysis, image analysis or network-based analysis using R/RStudio, Python or equivalent is an advantage.
• Applicants should be highly collegial and experienced in working effectively in “team science” contexts. Successful candidates are expected to possess exceptional organizational skills.
• Above all, we will evaluate highly the ability of the candidate to work independently while also being a team player who can collaborate and contribute positively to various ongoing projects.
• Applicants will be asked to describe past examples of having developed structured approaches to solving unanticipated and complex problems.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required, along with experience with scientific writing. The professional communication language for this position will be English.

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. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several good benefits through our collective agreement. And you get to practice freely in our modern wellness facilities, where trained staff are on site.

Location: Solna, Biomedicum

https://ki.se/en/research/groups/developmental-and-translational-neurobiology-cristiana-cruceanus-research-group

Application

An employment application must contain the following documents in English:

• A complete CV, including publication list if relevant.
• A letter of motivation, with direct relevance to the advertised position.
• The contact information for at least two individuals who can provide a reference.

You are also asked to answer some questions about why you are applying for the job in the application form. You will be asked to provide the contact information of two references.

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

Contact:

Christiana Cruceanu, Assistant Professor,cristiana.cruceanu@ki.se

Anställningsform: särskild visstidsanställning | Anställningens omfattning: heltid | Antal lediga befattningar: 1 | Sysselsättningsgrad: 100 | Ort: Stockholm | Län: Stockholms län | Land: Sweden | Referensnummer: STÖD 2-3532/2026 | Kontakt: Tilda Flyborg 0700981248, Tilda Flyborg 0700981248, | Facklig företrädare: Bodil Moberg , OFR/ST 08-52483601, Bodil Moberg , OFR/ST 08-52483601, Elizabeth Valenzuela, SEKO 08-52486363, Elizabeth Valenzuela, SEKO 08-52486363, Per Hydbring, SACO , Per Hydbring, SACO , | Publicerat: 2026-09-11 | Sista ansökningsdag: 2026-10-02