Postdoctoral position

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Department of Anatomy, physiology and Biochemistry Postdoctoral position - Development of spider silk scaffolds for growth of functional islets of Langerhans The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science is one of four faculties at SLU with 500 employees and 1000 bachelor, master and doctorate students.The Faculty office and most of the departments are located in Uppsala, but important research and teaching activities are also carried out in Skara. The faculty is the only faculty in Sweden with a specific responsibility for teaching and research in veterinary medicine and animal science.The research and education aim to promote the health and well-being of animals as well as humans and to develop a biologically and economically sustainable animal management.Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) refers to a group of chronic metabolic disorders that are among the most prevalent, costly and debilitating diseases in the world.DM is to a large extent due to defects in the endocrine pancreas, the islets of Langerhans.These islets have so far been difficult to propagate and maintain in vitro.The establishment of an environment optimized for islets of Langerhans is necessary both for the study, propagation and maintenance of beta-cells, and for the design of an artificial, islet-carrier for transplantation.In order to do so, a highly versatile biomaterial is needed. Aims This project aims at taking advantage of a newly generated synthetic variant of the toughest fiber known - the spider silk - for the establishment of scaffolds that allows studies of pancreatic islets and insulin-producing cells.This will enable detailed functional and molecular studies as well as provide the basis for an islet-carrier suitable for transplantation.Methods Signal-transduction in the individual islets and islet cells will be studied under different growth, function and survival promoting conditions, and for different periods of time, in various scaffolds.Islet cell growth, function and survival will be monitored with the help of various fluorescent dyes and biosensors for specific steps in the signal-transduction pathway.In this way we will define conditions that are optimal for islet cell growth, function and survival.Furthermore, underlying molecular mechanisms will be studied whereby key signal-transduction pathways in the individual islet cells can be assessed. Criteria of the applicant The prerequisite for this position is a PhD degree in the subject area.The PhD degree should have been awarded no longer than three years before the final application date, unless there are mitigating circumstances.Prior experience of islet isolation (human and mice), cell culture and imaging on scaffolds is desirable. Most of the work will be carried out at The Rolf Luft Research Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Stockholm Duration: 2 years Start: May 2010 SLU is an equal opportunity employer.The application should be written in English.Please submit your application to the Registrar of SLU, P.O.