Summary
Karolinska Institutet invites applications for a Doctoral (PhD) student position in clinical cell manufacturing within the Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine division. The project, supervised by Assistant Professor Joel Nordin with several co-supervisors, focuses on developing hospital-based, non-viral CRISPR knock-in CAR T cell production and register-based studies to evaluate apheresis techniques for CAR T cell manufacture. The position is funded by a BioLabX grant and is offered as a doctoral studentship (maximum four years full-time).
Designation
Doctoral (PhD) student in clinical cell manufacturing (CAR T cell production)
Details
| Employer | Karolinska Institutet (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine) |
| Location | Huddinge Campus / Karolinska University Hospital area, Stockholm, Sweden |
| Employment type | Doctoral studentship (full-time, up to 4 years) |
| Research area | Clinical cell manufacturing, CAR T cell engineering, non-viral CRISPR-based knock-in methods, translational cell and gene therapy |
| Funding | BioLabX grant; employed on a contractual doctoral studentship salary scale |
| Supervisors | Primary: Joel Nordin. Co-supervisors: Prof. Stephan Mielke, Prof. Matti Sällberg, PhD Hannes Lindahl. |
Research Area
The project targets the development of a hospital-adapted CAR T-cell production pipeline using ex vivo non-viral CRISPR-based knock-in methods. Work includes optimizing CAR constructs and knock-in loci, functional in vitro evaluation, process refinement for GMP standards, and scale-up to clinical production levels. Parallel register-based studies will evaluate apheresis parameters and other production-relevant clinical data to inform product success.
Location
Work will be based at Karolinska Institutet’s Huddinge Campus within the Department of Laboratory Medicine (Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine division) and will involve close collaboration with Karolinska University Hospital for clinical manufacturing and translational activities.
Eligibility / Qualification
Applicants must demonstrate both general and specific eligibility for doctoral education and satisfy the position-specific requirement:
- Mandatory position-specific requirement: Biomedical Scientist degree or legally recognized Biomedical Scientist license (only applicants with this qualification may apply for this BioLabX-funded position).
- General eligibility (A) — one of the following by the application deadline:
- A second-cycle/advanced/master qualification (master’s degree), or
- Course credits of at least 240 ECTS, of which at least 60 ECTS at second-cycle/master level, or
- Substantially equivalent knowledge acquired in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
- Specific eligibility (B) — proficiency in English equivalent to English B/English 6 at Swedish upper secondary school.
- Karolinska Institutet will verify authenticity of submitted documents; false documentation may lead to revoked admission and legal action.
Desirable skills and experience
The following are particularly meritorious and will strengthen an application:
- Experience in hospital-based production of ATMP products and clinical clean-room work
- Practical experience with cell manipulation in clinical settings (eg. HSCT, CD34-selection)
- Experience with CliniMACS Prodigy (Miltenyi) and electroporation systems for primary cells (eg. MaxCyte)
- Experience with knock-out/knock-in analysis in primary cells and cultivation of primary immune cells
- Meritorious: register-based data analysis, off-target editing analysis after CRISPR, flow cytometry of immune populations, and in vitro potency assays for CAR T cells
- Excellent spoken and written English; teamwork, initiative, and dedication to translational research
Scholarship Description
This doctoral studentship supports a PhD education comprising up to four years of full-time doctoral studies. The student will conduct experimental and translational research to develop a non-viral CRISPR-based CAR T-cell production pipeline suitable for hospital-based clinical implementation. The role includes laboratory work (construct optimization, cell editing, functional assays), scale-up and GMP adaptation for clinical manufacturing, register-based analyses, participation in group meetings and seminars, potential supervision of students, and completion of required doctoral courses.
How to Apply
Submit your application and supporting documents through Karolinska Institutet’s Varbi recruitment system. Use the Apply button on the recruitment page and follow the instructions. Applications are preferred in English but may be submitted in Swedish.
Your application must include:
- Personal letter outlining motivation and relevance of experience
- Curriculum vitae
- Degree projects and previous publications (if any)
- Documentation demonstrating desirable skills and personal qualities where applicable
- Documents certifying general eligibility (A) and specific eligibility (B) for doctoral education
Selection
Selection will be made among eligible applicants based on the ability to benefit from doctoral education. Assessment criteria include documented subject knowledge relevant to the project, analytical skills, and other documented knowledge or experience relevant to doctoral studies. All applicants will be informed when the recruitment is completed. Salaries for doctoral students are set according to KI’s salary scale.
Last Date for Apply
Until position filled
Apply Link
Apply and find the full announcement at:
https://kidoktorand.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:975419/type:job/where:4/apply:1
