About the position

We are an academic research lab in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) at Karolinska Institutet (KI) and SciLifeLab in Stockholm, Sweden (https://www.hausserlab.org).

Technologies to quantify biological phenomena at the microscopic scale have exploded recently. In particular, the field cancer is currently blooming thanks to our ability to characterize the abundance of thousands of molecules in thousands of tumor cells and follow their dynamics as tumor grow or shrink.

However, our ability to articulate this avalanche of measurements into coherent theories has been lagging. This theoretical deficit puts cancer biology at the risk of drowning in a deluge of data and miss out on important lessons that the data could teach us.

To address that, we research quantitative principles by combining experiments in mouse cancer models, large-scale data analysis and theory. We then use these principles to interpret the complexity of tumor biology and guide therapeutic interventions.

Your mission

Our lab combines a broad spectrum of skills, from experimental to theoretical. You will bring in theoretical skills. Your responsibilities will include:

• developing mathematical theories of cancer in the context of our research questions and datasets
• collaborate with lab members, including experimentalists
• author manuscripts and present findings at conferences
• punctually help with lab organization
• apply for funding to help support your research and prepare your next career step 

Your profile

To qualify, you should have formal education in physics (Bachelor, Master or PhD).
No background in biology is required for this position; but any previous experience in that field will be appreciated. The candidate’s personal skills will be highly valued.

What do we offer?

• Exciting science in a lab uniquely positioned for you to apply your skills as a theoretician to an area of direct medical relevance. You will learn how to acquire the required background in biology, how technological advances are currently transforming biology into a quantitative science, how to handle and analyze large datasets produced by these technologies and how to collaborate with experimentalists and clinicians.
• A stimulating scientific environment and top research infrastructure. KI is among the world’s foremost medical universities and KI’s faculty awards the Nobel Prize in physiology and medicine. SciLifeLab is the Swedish national center for large-scale molecular bioscience, with stimulating researchers and top units in-house.
• High life quality. Stockholm consistently tops the rankings of cities with highest quality of life worldwide.

After this postdoc, you’ll be in a good spot for starting an independent research career or continue leveraging your physics background in biology in academia or industry (medtech, biotech, pharma).

University