Postdoctoral research fellow in clinical memory research, focused on proteomics in neurodegenerative diseases

Description of the workplace

We study the biological processes behind Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. We work with cohorts of patients and cognitively healthy volunteers, who undergo extensive testing with brain imaging, biomarker measurements and neuropsychological testing, as well as animal and cell biology experiments. You can read more about the research here. The research group is led by Professor Oskar Hansson. The position is located at BMC in Lund.

Neurodegenerative diseases are complex and multifaceted. The overarching goal of the project is to contribute to improved ability to diagnose, prognosticate, and stratify various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and frontotemporal dementia. The project also aims to provide new insights into disease mechanisms and relevant molecular signaling pathways in different conditions. We plan to achieve the project's objectives through proteomics, investigating a large number of proteins in blood and cerebrospinal fluid from patients and healthy controls.

The research will be conducted under the leadership of Professor Oskar Hansson, university lecturer Niklas Mattsson-Carlgren, and assistant university lecturer Jacob Vogel.

We care about creating a positive, respectful, and stimulating environment. We value communication and collaboration and a workplace that promotes learning and development for all employees. We are also committed to building a safe and positive environment for all employees through mutual respect and tolerance.

We offer

Lund University is a governmental authority, which means you get special benefits, generous holidays and a favourable occupational pension. We also have a flexible time agreement that creates good conditions for a balance between work and leisure.

Read more on the university's website about being employed at Lund University, Work with us.

Work duties

The postdoctoral researcher will conduct statistical analyses of high-dimensional data collected from healthy control individuals and patients with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. The analyses will particularly focus on proteomics, both in our own large cohorts led from Lund and Malmö and in cohorts from other sources that we analyze in various collaborations. We utilize state-of-the-art proteomic methods, such as OLINK Explore HT, SomaScan, and NULISA. The project also involves integrative omics analyses, where proteomic data can be analyzed alongside genetics, metabolomics, and quantitative neuroimaging and neuropathology. The research will primarily consist of statistical analyses, writing scientific articles, and presenting results at national and international conferences. The majority of the research is conducted in collaboration with other members of the group. Other tasks within the research group may also be relevant.

Eligibility

Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position. This eligibility requirement needs to be met no later than the time when the employment decision is made, and evidence that this requirement is met needs to have been sent in by this time at the latest. Candidates should have completed their PhD degree no more than three (3) years before the last date for applications. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier. These circumstances refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, clinical work, positions of trust within trade union organizations or other similar circumstances.

Basis for assessment      

At Lund University, employment as a postdoctoral researcher provides opportunities for scientific and pedagogical merit. There is mainly room for merit in research, but also for certain higher education pedagogical training. Teaching may be included in the tasks.

For the employment as a postdoctoral research, scientific ability will primarily be taken into account.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Completed PhD in engineering, bioinformatics, genetics, statistics, computer science, mathematics, computational biology, or a related discipline
• Good knowledge of bioinformatics/statistical programming, eg in R, Python, or MATLAB
• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) environments and/or parallelized job submission
• Good knowledge of oral and written communication in English
• Very good communication, presentation and writing skills
• Good cooperation skills, and ability to work independently
• Good analytical and initiative skills

Meritorious:

• Specific interest and experience in neurodegenerative diseases or aging

Terms of employment

This is a full-time employment limited to 2 years, with a possible extension for up to one additional year. Preliminary start date 2024-06-01 or according to agreement. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral researcher”) between SACO-S, OFR/S and SEKO, dated November 19, 2021.

How to apply

The position is sought via the university’s recruitment system. Applications must include a personal motivation letter, in which you describe how you meet the qualification requirements and why you are interested in the position. The application must also contain a CV, contact information of two references, a diploma (including a grade transcript) and other documents you wish to be considered (e.g. letters of recommendation and list of publications).