Five CanFaster postdoctoral fellows within cancer research - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The research openings are connected either to the Faculty of Medicine or LTH at Lund University. LTH forms the Faculty of Engineering and carries out research of a high international standard with teaching methods adapting to current needs. The Faculty of Medicine has academic programs closely linked with the healthcare system. The research spans a broad field within experimental preclinical research, near-patient clinical research and health sciences research.

The positions are part of the CanFaster program (Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND program), which focuses on cancer research and entrepreneurship. The goal of CanFaster is to educate tomorrow’s cancer researchers in a broad set of scientific, transferable, and business skills in order to develop the mind-set of an entrepreneur. During this call, we will recruit the last five postdoctoral fellows out of 15 in total. The program is administrated by CREATE Health, located in the energetic and dynamic science park, Medicon Village. Lund University and the Life Science research in the Medicon Valley area has been nominated as one of 13 Brain belts in the world.

Call 4: Five CanFaster postdoc positions within four cancer research areas. For project description, eligibility criteria and special requirements for each position, please, visit www.canfaster.se. You can only apply to one position. For call-related questions contact us at: canfaster-postdoc@immun.lth.se

Exploring the rise of multicellularity on Earth and in the human body
Research subject: Translational medicine (PI: Emma Hammarlund)
Partners: Lund Stem Cell Center; Department of Laboratory Medicine at LU

Next generation immuno-oncological targets for cancer therapy
Research subject: Immunotechnology (PI: Kristina Lundberg)
Partners: SUS (Skåne University hospital)

Spatially resolved analyses of the tumour immune microenvironment (2 positions)
Research subject: Immunotechnology (PI: Sara Ek / Anna S. Gerdtsson)
Partners: the Nordic lymphoma group; SUS

CanLearn: Trustworthy machine learning in cancer treatment and care pathways
Research subject: Electrical and information technology (PI: Amir Aminifar)

Partner: Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) is Sweden’s largest individual research program ever, a major national initiative for strategically motivated basic research, education and faculty recruitment. The program addresses research on artificial intelligence and autonomous systems acting in collaboration with humans, adapting to their environment through sensors, information and knowledge, and forming intelligent systems-of-systems. The vision of WASP is excellent research and competence in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and software for the benefit of Swedish industry.

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Work duties
The main duty involved in a post-doctoral position is to conduct research. Most positions offer teaching only in relation to supervision of master thesis and doctoral students. Teaching of courses and seminars may also be included, but not more than 20%. Each position includes an opportunity for a three week-training in higher education teaching and learning.

The program is divided into three different work packages: WP1 = research within the defined research area (80-90%), WP2 = CanFaster specific training (5%), and WP3 = inter-sectoral training (5%). Within WP2, you will be able to attend courses in entrepreneurship and innovation processes; within WP3, you will have the opportunity to be educated in clinical aspects of cancer and attend seminar series at a business incubator. As a CanFaster fellow you will have the opportunity to perform secondments in the non-academic sector, such as clinic or industry. Team activities with other fellows within the CanFaster program will ensure the development of a network that lasts beyond the program and helps to boost your future career.

Instructions on how to apply
The application should be submitted through LU electronic application system, https://lu.varbi.com. In addition to providing all documents, you will be asked mandatory questions when submitting the application.

Eligibility
Mobility rule: Max 12 months of residency in Sweden during the last three years from the closure of the call. PhD degree (obtained 2019-2022) or at least 4 years of full-time equivalent research experience. Specific requirements: Each research subject has specific requirements on PhD subject and prior research experience. For details, please, visit: https://www.createhealth.lth.se/canfaster/open-postdoctoral-research-areas/

The application must be in English and include: CV; publication list; motivation letter; and one reference letter provided on the CanFaster template. All templates and further instructions can be found at: http://www.createhealth.lth.se/canfaster/apply-for-a-postdoctoral-position/

Assessment criteria and evaluation process
This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and their potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

An evaluation panel with internal and external experts is responsible for the selection process. Eligible applicants will be evaluated based on merits, motivation for the program, academic excellence, and personal qualifications such as collaborative and communication skills. Top 4-6 candidates will be selected for a video interview with the evaluation panel (May 2022). After the interview, provided references will be contacted and 2-3 top candidates for each position will be asked to write a full research proposal (3 pages) within the selected research area. External reviewers will score the full proposals and best candidates will be offered the postdoc position in June 2022 with a starting date flexible in the following range: August 2022 – January 2023.

Terms of employment
There are five positions available with a flexible start after August 1, 2022. Selected candidates will be offered a two-to-three-year postdoc position (40 hours/week) at Lund university within the selected research area. The employment benefits include health insurance, pension (16.5% on top of the salary), one-off relocation allowance of 500 EUR and five to six weeks of annual leave (age-dependent). Salaries will vary with candidate’s experience and the faculty of employment (3600-4100 EUR/month).

The employment is limited by an agreement, (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a postdoctoral researcher”) between SACO-S, OFR/S and SEKO, from 19.11.2021. See detailed information about employment at LU here: https://www.staff.lu.se/employment.

Re-dress procedure
Applicants who wish to submit an objection to the decision (redress/appeal) should do so in writing to the of the Programme director within three weeks from receiving the statement. In the redress, the points of objection in relation to the negative decision should be described and motivated. The executive unit of the CanFaster program will provide feed-back to the redress and will follow the LU guidelines for redress and Swedish law (Högskoleförordningen 1993:100, ch. 12).

Contact information:
Program Director: Prof. Sara Ek
Research coordinator: Dr. Jana Hladílková
Email: canfaster-postdoc@immun.lth.se