Job ID: 121252

Postdoctoral studies in Experimental Systems Neuroscience – Stagkourakis Lab

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 2 February 2025

City: Stockholm

Country: Sweden

Institution: Karolinska Institute & SciLifeLab

Department: Neuroscience

Description:

Do you want to contribute to top-quality medical research? The Stagkourakis lab, located in state-of-the-art facilities at the interface of Karolinska Institute and the Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) in Stockholm, is recruiting for filling a postdoctoral position in experimental systems neuroscience. The lab is integrated in a leading, highly interdisciplinary, world-class environment for neuroscience research – the Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institute, and is also part of SciLifeLab, a Swedish national center for large-scale research in molecular biosciences, cutting-edge infrastructure, and expertise in data analytics. The aim of the lab is to contribute to a better understanding of the neural basis of prototypical behaviors, including instinctual and homeostatic behaviors, such as aggression, fear, food, and water intake. Primary experimental techniques utilized in our lab include but are not limited to; in vivo large-scale electrophysiology, miniscope and 2P imaging, AAV-mediated transduction of neural circuits of interest, and animal behavior.

Applicants must submit their application through Varbi. For a short overview of the lab and related publications to the lab’s research program see https://www.scilifelab.se/researchers/stefanos-stagkourakis/.

Division. The Department of Neuroscience at Karolinska Institute hosts 35 research groups and teams dealing with different aspects of the function of the nervous system, both under normal conditions and during different diseases:
https://ki.se/en/neuro/research/group-leaders-at-the-department-of-neuroscience

SciLifeLab is a national resource of unique technologies and expertise available to life scientists, closely intertwined with the community of researchers in areas such as biomedicine, ecology, and evolution. Its purpose is to bring scientists together across traditional boundaries and foster collaborations with industry, health care, public research organizations, and international partners. See also: https://www.scilifelab.se/

Candidate’s profile. Research in our lab integrates a variety of approaches, making us open to individuals from diverse backgrounds. A foundation in quantitative fields (e.g., mathematics, engineering, computer science, physics) or prior experience in experimental techniques (e.g., molecular biology, high-channel density silicon probe electrophysiology in vivo or in vitro, advanced animal behavior designs and analysis, miniscope or two-photon imaging) is advantageous. Candidates are expected to demonstrate previous productivity, often by publications, but not exclusively.

A combination of at least some of the following skills is essential:

  • A high degree of independence.
  • Ability to construct/maintain and use complex experimental setups.
  • Proficiency in “big” data analysis (using MATLAB or Python).
  • Design of novel, custom behavioral paradigms in mice.
  • Use of hardware and (custom) software to interface and synchronize behavioral and neural recording setups.
  • Familiarity with Arduino, Bonsai, DataJoint, and/or neural data recording platforms.
  • Assembly, maintenance and use of complex electrophysiology or imaging systems.
  • Combination of behavior with large-scale neural recordings using silicon probes, miniscope, or 2P imaging.
  • Ability to explore and analyze large datasets using modern machine learning methods and a data-centered approach.
  • Previous participation in collaborative projects with computational or experimental researchers.
  • scRNA sequencing.
  • Expertise in non-traditional animal models.

What we provide. A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institute (KI) is one of the world’s leading medical universities. At KI, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. Here, you will get to meet researchers working in a wide range of 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. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top-quality education and research.
In the Stagkourakis lab, alongside comprehensive on-the-job training in scientific and technical skills, we mentor postdocs in various professional aspects, including writing research proposals and papers, analyzing and presenting data, giving talks, supervising students, and more. The greatest strength of the laboratory is its people, and we are committed to fostering a strong collaborative culture. Postdocs will also benefit from exposure to the vibrant Neuroscience community at KI and will receive support of outstanding technical teams at KI and SciLifeLab on approaches including microscopy, RNA sequencing, bioinformatics, data science, animal husbandry, and animal behavior. They will also be supported administratively and experimentally by staff.

Required academic qualifications. Scholarships for postdoctoral qualification can be established for foreign researchers who place their qualifications in Sweden. The purpose of scholarships for postdoctoral qualification is to promote internationalization and contribute to research qualification after a doctorate or equivalent. A scholarship for carrying out postdoctoral research can be granted for a maximum of two years within a four-year period following the receipt of a doctoral degree or equivalent.
To be eligible for a postdoctoral scholarship, the person must have obtained a doctorate or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctorate. Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the (intended) start date of the post-doctoral education.
The head of the department determines whether their previous training and scholarly qualifications correspond to a Swedish doctorate or higher.