Summary
Karolinska Institutet is offering a PhD scholarship in Proteomics and Insulin Resistance related to metabolic diseases. This fully funded position is for a highly motivated doctoral student to join Dr. Amir Ata Saei’s research group at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC). The project focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms driving insulin resistance in adipocytes and its reversal after bariatric surgery, utilizing advanced mass spectrometry-based proteomics and multi-omics approaches.
Designation
PhD Student (Doctoral Candidate)
Scholarship Details
| Scholarship Type | Duration | Funding | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhD Scholarship | Up to 4 years (full-time) | Fully Funded (contractual salary) | Doctoral Employment |
Research Area
- Proteomics
- Insulin Resistance
- Metabolic Disease
- Adipocyte Biology
- Bariatric Surgery
- Mass Spectrometry
- Bioinformatics
- Multi-omics Integration
Location
Solna, Stockholm County, Sweden (Karolinska Institutet)
Eligibility & Qualification
Basic Eligibility Requirements (A)
Applicants must meet one of the following:
- Hold a second-cycle degree (Master’s degree).
- Have completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at the second-cycle level.
- Have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in another way.
Specific Eligibility Requirements (B)
- Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary school course English B/English 6 (with a passing grade).
Skills and Personal Qualities
- Highly motivated and curious, capable of taking responsibility for a long-term research project.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Strong educational background in biomedicine, molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, metabolism, or a related field.
- Practical research experience in at least two project-relevant areas (e.g., mammalian cell culture, molecular biology/biochemistry, quantitative analysis of biological data).
- Experience with bioinformatics/statistics and R or Python for analysis of large biological datasets.
- Good analytical and problem-solving skills, well-organized, and able to document and communicate scientific work clearly.
- Excellent English language skills (spoken and written).
Meritorious Qualifications
- Experience with mass spectrometry-based proteomics or metabolomics, including sample preparation or quantitative omics analysis.
- Experience in metabolism, adipocyte biology, insulin signaling, obesity, type 2 diabetes, or related metabolic research.
- Experience with 3D cell culture, CRISPR/Cas9 or gene knockdown, metabolic functional assays, or other methods for functional validation.
- Experience working with human samples or a research/degree project resulting in a publication or equivalent scientific outcome.
Scholarship Description
The successful candidate will work on a project defining the molecular mechanisms driving insulin resistance in adipocytes and its reversal post-bariatric surgery. The project involves proteomic analysis of adipose tissue and plasma samples from bariatric surgery patients. The work combines mass spectrometry-based proteomics, quantitative data analysis, bioinformatics, and multi-omics integration. The PhD student will investigate protein abundance and stability in white adipose tissue using advanced proteomic analyses. Prioritized proteins or metabolites will be tested in human 3D adipocyte spheroids with functional measurements, potentially involving CRISPR/Cas9 or gene knockdown for mechanistic follow-up and in vivo validation with collaborators. The role includes planning and conducting experiments, data analysis and interpretation, presenting results, contributing to manuscripts, and active collaboration within the research groups.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the Varbi recruitment tool using the provided apply link. The application should preferably be in English, but Swedish is also accepted. Required documents include:
- A personal letter and curriculum vitae (CV).
- Any theses and publications.
- Other documents supporting the required skills and qualities.
- Documents proving basic eligibility (A).
- Documents proving specific eligibility (B).
Karolinska Institutet performs document verification to detect falsifications and reserves the right to withdraw admission decisions if falsifications or inaccuracies are found.
Last Date for Apply
2026-10-09
