Senior Research Specialist in Neuroscience with a focus on Advanced Microscopy

Senior Research Specialist in Neuroscience with a focus on Advanced Microscopy

Senior Research Specialist in Neuroscience with a focus on Advanced Microscopy

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institutet provides an international and interdisciplinary research environment for studies of nervous system function. We are seeking a Senior Research Specialist with broad, documented expertise in advanced microscopy across in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo preparations. The position combines independent experimental work and method development with scientific support, supervision and mentoring across multiple research projects.

Description of the subject area

The position concerns advanced microscopy and optical methods in experimental neuroscience, with particular emphasis on high-resolution confocal microscopy, light-sheet microscopy, FLIM-FRET, in vivo two-photon microscopy, functional calcium imaging and holographic/SLM-based optical methods.

Your mission

The successful candidate is expected to independently develop, optimize and perform advanced microscopy experiments across in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo preparations. Responsibilities include high-resolution confocal and Airyscan imaging, light-sheet microscopy and whole-brain clearing/iDISCO, FLIM-FRET, in vivo two-photon calcium imaging, and two-photon holographic/SLM-based photostimulation. The candidate is expected to support multiple parallel research projects, contribute to experimental design, data analysis and interpretation, and supervise and train students, doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers in advanced imaging methods.

Eligibility requirements

For employment as Senior Research Specialist at Karolinska Institutet, the eligibility requirements and assessment criteria stated in the Guidelines for non-teaching positions at Karolinska Institutet are applied in relation to the established profile of employment.

To be eligible for employment as a Senior Research Specialist, in addition to holding a PhD, or having a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a Swedish doctoral degree, the applicant must have demonstrated good level of research expertise with significant scientific output. The applicant must also have demonstrated a good scientific independence to which their own contribution has been significant and a research plan of high quality with clear future potential.

The applicant should have authored 15 original publications, the majority of which must be based on his/her postdoctoral research. Of these, at least two must be as first or last author, of which at least one as last author, conducted after PhD graduation and without any of his/her doctoral supervisors as co-authors.

In addition to the eligibility requirements above, documented broad and hands-on expertise in advanced microscopy across in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo preparations is required. The applicant must have documented experience in high-resolution confocal microscopy, two-photon microscopy and advanced optical stimulation or manipulation, as well as experience in method development and scientific supervision of junior researchers.

Assessment criteria

• Original scientific publications, their quality and quantity, with special consideration paid to  publications after doctoral education.
• Scientific independence demonstrated through leading and senior authorships, review articles and other scientific publications.
• Presentations and scientific assignments at international congresses.
• Research grants obtained in regional, national and international competition.
• National and international research collaborations.
• Research responsibility as supervisor for master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral degree projects
• Reviewer and assessor of other researchers’ scientific output.
• Research experience from a research group other than that in which doctoral studies were pursued.
• Development of a personal research profile within the relevant subject area.
• A plan for future research based on current science.

It is particularly meritorious that the applicant has shown

• Extensive documented hands-on experience in advanced microscopy across in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo preparations.
• Experience in in vivo two-photon calcium imaging of neuronal populations in mice.
• Experience in two-photon holographic photostimulation and/or SLM-based optical manipulation of neuronal populations.
• Experience in high-resolution confocal microscopy, including Zeiss Airyscan or an equivalent advanced confocal platform.
• Experience in light-sheet microscopy and whole-brain clearing of mouse tissue, including methods such as iDISCO.
• Experience in FLIM-FRET or comparable advanced fluorescence-based imaging approaches.
• Scientific independence demonstrated through leading and senior authorships, review articles and other scientific publications.
• Research responsibility as supervisor for master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral degree projects.

It is meritorious that the applicant has shown

• Experience in quantitative analysis of microscopy and calcium imaging data.
• Knowledge of basic biochemical techniques such as western blotting and immunofluorescence.
• Presentations and scientific assignments at international congresses.
• National and international research collaborations. 

After an overall assessment of the expertise and merits of the applicants in relation to the subject area, Karolinska Institutet will determine which of them has the best potential to contribute to a positive development of the activities at KI.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Here, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement.

Location: Solna

Department of Neuroscience | Karolinska Institutet

Molecular and circuit neuropharmacology – Gilberto Fisone research group | Karolinska Institutet

Application

We prefer that Your application is written in English, but You can also apply in Swedish. An application must contain the following documents: PhD certificate, resumé, qualifications and description of planned research, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet's qualifications portfolio.

The applications will be reviewed by external reviewers.

KI applies individual and differentiated salary setting in accordance with our collective agreements RALS and RALS-T.

The application must be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.

Permanent position is initiated by a six months trial period.

Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all!

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