Postdoctoral Fellowship

A Postdoctoral Fellowship at Linköping University, Sweden

A Postdoctoral fellowship within the field of Pediatric Immunology is available at the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University.

Fellowships may only be granted to foreign citizens with a PhD acquired in another country than Sweden. The fellowship amount is 300 000 SEK (ca 30 000 USD/32 000 Euro) tax free per annum for up to two years.

The main purpose of this project is to study the effects on the immune system of auto-antigen treatment on T1D children, adolescents and young adults, either by proinsulin peptides or by GAD, as part of combination therapies. The research team is located at the Clinical Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University. The laboratory is well equipped with advanced modern facilities and resources. The members of the team are fully qualified and trained, and have skills for the different instruments/methodologies used in the daily work including among others cell culture, FACS multicolour analysis and cell sorting, Cytometric Luminex, Real time-PCR, RIA, ELISA, etc.

Since Johnny Ludvigsson, Professor of Paediatrics, head of the research group, performed the first immune intervention ever (with Plasmapheresis) in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (BMJ 1983) and together with collaborators discovered the protein 64dD (Nature 1982) later shown to be GAD (Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase), there has been an active research group on prediction, prevention, immune intervention in Type 1 diabetes. In recent years the focus has been on intervention studies with GAD-vaccination (NEJM 2008, NEJM 2012, NEJM 2017) and the group is now involved in studies on using auto-antigens in combination with other therapies in several national and international collaborative projects. The laboratory work is led by Rosaura Casas, Assistant Professor of Experimental Immunology

Qualifications

We seek a highly motivated and focused individual to join our research group. The applicant must have received a doctoral degree from an accredited college/university in the field of biomedical sciences or related areas. We welcome a creative, hardworking and enthusiastic team-player to our group. Hands-on experience in cell culture, flow cytometry, Luminex and isolating and analyzing DNA, RNA is required. Experience in clinical studies as well as research looking at the immunological responses with special emphasis on lymphocytes is desirable but not required.  The candidate is expected to partake in experimental design, experimentation, presentations and preparation of publication. The ideal candidate has a strong publication record and can provide evidence of the ability to work in a team

Appointment time

Successful applicants will be awarded a one-year Career Development Fellowship with the option of extension for a 2^nd year conditional to satisfactory performance. The fellowship is a training and development position for a post-doctoral scientist who has completed their doctoral studies and is moving into a new research group.

Starting date

October 1, 2019 or by agreement.

Application

Applications should contain:

• CV, including full contact information and date of birth
• Copy of passport
• Personal statement describing research interest
• A list of 3 references, please include name, email and telephone number

Applications with the reference number IKE-2019-00303 are directed to Eva Åström at ansokan@ike.liu.se with a copy to Rosaura Casas, rosaura.casas@liu.se and Johnny Ludvigsson, johnny.ludvigsson@liu.se.

Deadline for application is 21 September 2019.

Linköping with ca 150 000 inhabitants, less than 2 hours by car or train from Stockholm, is an old town with a Castle since 12^th century and a large Cathedral from the early 13^th century, in combination with modern high-tech industry and a large university. The landscape around is clean and beautiful.

A study on the effects of autoantigen treatment on the immune system in T1D children and young adults, , as part of a combination therapy.