Postdoc in Experimental Diabetes Research : Gothenburg, Sweden

POSTDOCTOR IN EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES RESEARCH

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, 2 years
Extent: 100 %
Location: Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg

INTRODUCTION
We are seeking a highly motivated and talented person for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes with the long-term goal of finding new anti-diabetic treatments. The successful applicant will have a key role in a project that is in the front line of metabolic research. The project is truly translational and will utilize human pancreatic islets as the starting point to identify the physiological and gene expression changes that contribute to defective insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes. The candidate will study human islets physiologically and work closely with experts on single-cell RNA sequencing to study the associated gene expression changes. The candidate will also study different functional pools of islet cells to identify the characteristics of high- and low-responding cells in order to better understand the pathophysiology. The human studies will be combined with studies on rodent tissues. We aim to translate the most relevant findings to our patient cohorts both to validate the disease relevance of the findings and to identify new means to counteract disease progression in patients (as in e.g. Rosengren AH et al., Science 2010, Tang Y et al., Science Translational Medicine 2014, Axelsson AS et al., Science Translational Medicine 2017)

The candidate will work closely with Anders Rosengren, Patrik Rorsman and Anders Ståhlberg at the University of Gothenburg and will have a central role in a joint effort to better understand the pathophysiology of defective insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes and how to treat it. The candidate will be part of the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine in Gothenburg.
The project has a clear experimental focus, but the candidate will also have extensive contact with the clinical members of Anders Rosengren’s research group, which gives the project a high patient relevance and enables effective translations of the experimental findings.

SUBJECT AREA
Experimental diabetes research

SPECIFIC SUBJECT DESCRIPTION
Experimental diabetes research

JOB ASSIGNMENTS
The candidate will make an in-depth experimental characterisation of disease pathways and central disease genes in human pancreatic and rodent islets. The candidate will use cell-physiological techniques, electrophysiology, molecular biology, transfection and expression systems. The candidate will also work closely with experts on single-cell RNA sequencing, but the work will mainly focus on the cellular physiology.

ELIGIBILITY
To qualify as a postdoctoral researcher the applicant should hold a PhD in a relevant subject. Since postdoctoral constitutes a qualifying appointment for junior researchers, we aim to target those who have a doctoral degree not older than 3 years from the application deadline.

ASSESSMENT
The applicant must have a PhD degree and is expected to have a strong record of scientific productivity with publications as first author in internationally renowned journals. 
The applicant must have extensive experimental background in cell physiology and/or cell biology. Experience with cell-physiological techniques and electrophysiology is an advantage. Previous research in diabetes is beneficial but not required. 
The successful applicant is expected to plan, execute and analyse experiments in an independent manner and to actively contribute scientifically to the group. Candidates must have excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

APPLICATIONS

Only applications online at the link below will be considered (applications via email will not be considered):
https://www.gu.se/english/about_the_university/job-opportunities/vacancies-details/?id=2612