Postdoctoral studies in physics-style, model-based data science approaches for personalized cancer immunotherapy (scholarship)

The research team

A postdoctoral scholarship is available in the lab of Jean Hausser at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet and SciLifeLab in Stockholm, Sweden.

(https://www.hausserlab.org).

In cancer, targeting the immune system is a promising therapeutic approach. But immunotherapy only benefits a fraction of cancer patients because tumor immunology is largely patient-specific. Designing immunotherapy effective in a given patient is challenging because anti-cancer immunity is determined by the interaction of many molecules and cells according to laws that are only partially and imperfectly understood.

To reveal these laws, our lab takes advantage of technological advances that quantify thousands of molecules in thousands of tumor cells through cancer progression and therapy. Using this data, we develop physics-inspired AI approaches to model how molecules and cells determine the success or failure of anti-cancer immune response. The vision is for these models to guide immunotherapeutic intervention in the clinic.

Research projects in the Hausser lab are supported by several funding bodies such as SciLifeLab, the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Cancer Society.

Your mission

Our team features a spectrum of expertise from experimental to data science and bioinformatics to mathematical theory. You will bring in expertise in mathematical theory and data science.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing model-based approaches to maximize the potential of large-scale molecular and cellular data for personalized cancer immunotherapy.
• Applying these approaches to large-scale data from human tumors in the context of (a) our internal data and (b) data from a collaboration with Mayo Clinic (Rochester, USA).
• Authoring manuscripts and presenting findings at conferences.
• Co-mentoring junior scientists.
• Punctually helping with lab organization.

We offer

• Exciting science in a lab that combines a rare combination of experimental, computational, and theoretical skills in cancer immunotherapy, an area of direct medical relevance.
• An opportunity to transition from physics to biology. You will acquire the required background in biology, understand how technology is transforming biology into a quantitative science, how to work with large datasets produced by these technologies, and how to effectively collaborate together with experimentalists, medical doctors, and data scientists. This postdoc could serve as a jumping board to an academic career or to leveraging your newly won mix of mathematical modeling and biology expertise in industry (medtech, biotech, pharma).
• A stimulating scientific environment and top research infrastructure. We collaborate with leading cancer, immunology, and technology labs within and outside Sweden, in particular with Mayo Clinic in the context of this project. Karolinska Institutet is among the world’s foremost medical universities and The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet appoints the laureates for the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine. SciLifeLab is the Swedish national center for large-scale molecular bioscience, with stimulating researchers and top facilities in-house.
• High life quality: Stockholm consistently tops the rankings of cities with highest quality of life worldwide. 

Entry requirements

• You have a solid background and experience with physics-style mathematical modeling: formalizing complex natural phenomena into equations, performing appropriate analytical approximations and numerical simulations, probabilistic modeling, dynamical systems, and more.
• Experience with large-scale data – thousands to millions of data points with hundreds or thousands of dimensions – ideally in the connection of mathematical model building
• No background in biology or medicine is required for this position; training and experience in these fields will be appreciated.
• The candidate’s interpersonal skills will be highly valued.

Scholarships for postdoctoral qualification can be established for foreign researchers who place their qualifications 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.

Location: Stockholm

The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) is a department with a strong focus on basic science. CMB conducts research and education in cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, stem cell biology, cancer, and infection biology. CMB is located in Biomedicum, a new interdisciplinary research center designed to concentrate much of the experimental research conducted at Karolinska Institutet Campus Solna under one roof to promote collaboration. Biomedicum houses approximately 1,200 researchers and other personnel and allows expensive equipment to be shared and utilized more effectively.

Type of scholarship

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.

Application process

An application must contain the following documents in English or Swedish:

• 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 in the Varbi recruitment system.

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