Postdoc in ion channel physiology

We have the power of over 50,000 students and co-workers. Students who provide hope for the future. Co-workers who contribute to Linköping University meeting challenges of today. Our fundamental values rest on credibility, trust and security. By having the courage to think freely and innovate, our actions together, large and small, contribute to a better world. We look forward to receiving your application!

This position is funded by a donation from the Högbom-Cocozza Research Foundation to support the employment of postdoctoral researchers conducting research in medicine and health.

Work assignments 

You will work on a project aimed at understanding endogenous regulation of ion channels and electrical excitability, and how ion channel function is impacted in disease and by pharmaceutical compounds. For instance, we plan for the project to include studies of posttranslational modifications of voltage-gated potassium ion channels important for neuronal and cardiac excitability, with the aim of understanding how modifications like channel phosphorylation alter channel function and pharmacology, and how to utilize these insights in selective drug design.

In terms of experimental approaches, you will primarily use molecular biology approaches as well as electrophysiological techniques in cellular systems (like oocytes from Xenopus laevis and mammalian cells), to modulate signaling pathways and measure ion channel activity and the response to endogenous and exogenous modulation.

You will study both healthy wild type channels and ion channels carrying disease-associated mutations.

As postdoc, you will principally carry out research. A certain amount of teaching may be part of your duties, up to a maximum of 20% of working hours.

Qualifications

To be qualified to take employment as postdoc, you must have been awarded a doctoral degree or have a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree.  This degree must have been awarded at the latest by the point at which LiU makes its decision to employ you.

Your doctoral degree must have been awarded no more than three years before the application deadline for this position. If there are special grounds, applicants who were awarded their doctoral degree earlier may also be considered, for example due to medical internship or specialist medical training, or various types of statutory leave. You must hold a doctoral degree awarded by a higher education institution other than Linköping University.

We are looking for you: 

• with a PhD degree in medical sciences or similar
• good theoretical and practical knowledge in electrophysiology in cellular systems is a must, which includes practical expertise in electrophysiological approaches for studying ion channels in mammalian cells and/or Xenopus oocytes
• extensive theoretical and practical experience of ion channel physiology and ion channel pharmacology, with focus on voltage-gated ion channels, is considered a merit
• experimental experience of working with posttranslational modifications is a merit

We seek you who are structured, independent, keen on high quality, and with good ability to collaborate.

The position requires good skills in English, both written and spoken.

The workplace

You will work at the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), the Division of Cell- and Neurobiology (CNB), in the group of Sara Liin.

The research group is focused on ion channels in cardiac, neuronal and smooth muscle tissue. They aim to understand how endogenous molecules and genetic variants affect ion channel function, and develop compounds rescuing abnormal ion channel function.

You will be a team member who interacts closely with other team members and collaborators using complementary techniques such as molecular dynamics and structural biology. You will also interact with local technical electrophysiology platforms.

The employment

The position is a full-time, fixed-term appointment for three years.

Within the framework of the appointment, the postdoctoral researcher may spend 6–12 months at a higher education institution abroad, funded by the Foundation.

Before the third year of the appointment, the postdoctoral researcher may apply to the Foundation for an independent research grant of approximately SEK 500,000. The grant is intended for a researcher who has the ambition and, in the Foundation’s assessment, the ability to establish an independent research environment.

The starting date will be agreed upon, with commencement during 2027.

Salary and employment benefits

The position is funded by the Högbom-Cocozza Research Foundation and carries a salary of SEK 43,000 per month.

More information about employee benefits is available here.

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button. Your application must be received no later than the November 30, 2026. 
 
Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered. 
 
Please attach your selected research publications electronically, in pdf or word format, in the application template. Research publications, e.g. monographs, which cannot be sent electronically should be sent in three sets by mail to the University Registrar at Linköping University, University Registrar, S-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. The publications must be received by Linköping University no later than the deadline for application. 

Please note that printed publications will not be returned. They will be archived at Linköping University. 
 
In the event of a discrepancy between the English translation of the job announcement and the Swedish original, the Swedish version shall take precedent. 

We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody's equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities.




We look forward to receiving your application!





Linköping university has framework agreements and wishes to decline direct contacts from staffing- and recruitment companies as well as vendors of job advertisements.