Early Stage Research Fellow in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Program OLIGOMED

Region Stockholm is seeking to recruit an Early Stage Research (ESR) Fellow as part of the H2020 MSCA Innovative Training Network “Oligonucleotides for Medical Applications -OLIGOMED”.
The Clinical Research Centre (CRC) is a research hotel facility hosted by Region Stockholm (former Stockholms läns landsting (SLL). The research groups at CRC has highly qualified staff consisting of physicians, molecular biologists, cell biologists and engineers.

Research activities in the Smith/Zain group are focused on rare diseases caused by increased number of nucleotide repeats. Using oligonucleotides to target nucleotide repeat structures in the genome, the aim is to increase or decrease the expression from the disease-causing gene.

Additional areas of interest are the development of new diagnostic methods through non-PCR based sequencing and studies on the effect of BTK inhibitors on B-cell malignancies.
The project:
Within the OLIGOMED training network the successful candidate will join an international cohort of 15 ESR PhD student fellows researching key topics in the use of synthetic oligonucleotides (ONs) for medical applications.
The use of synthetic ONs in the treatment of genetic diseases is a rapidly growing field, and the most promising alternative to gene therapy using small molecules. This multicentre project is structured in four research work packages (WPs). WP1: Design and synthesis of ONs; WP2: Regulation of mRNA expression; WP3: ONs and non-canonical DNA structures in regulation of gene expression; WP4: Delivery of ONs.
The aim of this ESR PhD project will be thedevelopment of an enhanced invasion system with improved performance for affecting the expression of nucleotide-repeat diseases including Huntington’s disease (HD) and Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA); current treatment strategies for HD and FRDA do not involve targeting of chromosomal DNA, which would yield a novel and unique treatment strategy.
This project is carried out in strong collaboration with additional international groups, and visits to their laboratories is expected during the project. A willingness to travel and spend time abroad is therefore essential.
The position:
The position will provide:
- The possibility to participate in specific international courses, workshops and conferences.
- A strong involvement in a European research project with high international visibility.
- The possibility to perform research visits to internationally renowned research labs in Europe.
- A prestigious three-year MSCA Fellowship.
- A competitive salary including mobility and family allowances.
- A successful thesis will receive the PhD degree from Karolinska Institutet.
For general information about the Oligomed project please visit the web page https://www.southampton.ac.uk/oligomed/esr-projects/projects.page
For additional information on this project please contact Professor Edvard Smith (edvard.smith@ki.se) or Associate professor Rula Zain (rula.zain@ki.se).
Qualifications: 
The person we are looking for should be creative, analytical, goal and result oriented, and has easy to cooperate.
At the time of recruitment, the applicant should hold a Master’s degree, (or have equivalent research experience) in Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology or related field, and should not have been awarded a doctoral degree.
At the time of recruitment researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Sweden for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date.

Required skills:
Research experience (e.g. through Master thesis work or research internships) within a relevant research area is required. Basic knowledge in cellular and molecular biology techniques are welcome.

Proficiency in the English language is required, as well as good communication skills, both oral and written.Successful candidates will need to provide an English test (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge ESOL); However, please note that there are different types of English language tests in different levels, even among those tests listed. Also note that your test result must be equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6 for more details please visit: https://education.ki.se/english-language-requirements-for-doctoral-education /
How to apply
You need to apply via the SLL recruitment page by using the “Sök tjänsten”bottom to the right, and sending inthe following documents:
Curriculum vitae.
A certificate of University examinations taken (with marks).
A final degree certificate translated in English. If, at the time of application, candidates should not be yet in possession of a degree certificate, they can submit it at the time of the enrolment.
Your statement of interest (limit of 2,500 characters) explaining why you wish to be considered for the fellowship and which qualities and experience you will bring to the role.
Two recommendation letters.
To complete your on-line application, you also need to upload your document on the Oligomed recruitment web page
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/oligomed/esr-projects/recruitment-form.page
The closing date for applications is 28 February 2021, with interviews expected to take place in February/March.
Vi eftersträvar jämställdhet och jämlikhet på vår arbetsplats och ser gärna sökande med olika bakgrund och förutsättningar. Vi tar endast emot ansökningar via detta system. Ansök genom att klicka på knappen ”Sök tjänsten”. Ansökningar per brev eller e-post beaktas inte.

Vi undanber oss direktkontakt med bemannings- och rekryteringsföretag samt säljare av ytterligare jobbannonser.