Postdoctoral Researcher in Adipose Tissue Development Using Lineage Tracing

Karolinska Institutet; Stockholms kommun; On-site; SEK 470,000 - 570,000; Full time

Job summary

Karolinska Institutet's Rydén and Mejhert laboratory in Stockholm seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to study human adipose stem and progenitor cells and adipocyte formation using a transplantation model.

The project combines cell culture, FACS, genetic manipulation, lineage tracing, and in vivo transplantation with single-cell and spatial profiling, in collaboration with a bioinformatician. English communication essential; PhD required within three years advantageous.

Qualifications

• PhD or foreign degree equivalent to Swedish PhD required.
• Strong hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and molecular techniques.
• Experience with flow cytometry and cell sorting to identify and isolate cell populations.
• Experience with in vivo mouse models, cell transplantation or tissue regeneration.
• CRISPR-based genetic manipulation and stable cell labeling desirable.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English for collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design and perform experiments, develop methods, and generate data.
• Investigate lineage relationships among progenitor populations and adipose tissue formation.
• Collaborate with bioinformaticians for single-cell and spatial data analyses.
• Validate spatial transcriptomics findings with immunostaining and microscopy.
• Lead the project and contribute to an independent research profile.

Skills

Experimental cell biology

Stem cell biology

Developmental biology

Mammalian cell culture

Molecular techniques

Flow cytometry and cell sorting

In vivo mouse models

Genetic manipulation (CRISPR)

Immunostaining

Fluorescence microscopy

Spatial data analysis

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Tools

CRISPR

Transplantation models

Immunostaining

Job description

Postdoctoral Researcher in Adipose Tissue Development Using Lineage Tracing

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Rydén and Mejhert laboratory is a multidisciplinary research group of 15–20 members, including postdoctoral fellows, PhD and master’s students, and technical staff. We investigate how alterations in human white adipocyte function contribute to cardiometabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerosis. Our work combines experimental research in a well‑equipped preclinical laboratory at Biomedicum with clinical studies at a dedicated research unit at Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge.

Your mission

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to investigate how human adipose stem and progenitor cells (ASPCs) contribute to adipocyte formation and tissue organization. The project builds on our identification of distinct human ASPC populations and an established transplantation model that enables the formation of human adipose tissue in mice.

The overarching aim is to determine how ASPC identity and adipogenic priming influence cell fate and tissue development. The successful candidate will investigate the lineage relationships between progenitor populations, define their individual and combined contributions to tissue formation, and identify mechanisms that enable transplanted cells to establish adipose tissue in vivo.

The work will combine cell culture, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), genetic manipulation and lineage tracing with in vivo transplantation and tissue imaging. Single-cell and spatial profiling will connect experimental findings to cellular states and tissue organization, in close collaboration with a dedicated bioinformatician responsible for computational analyses. An integral part of the project will be to validate findings from spatial transcriptomics using immunostaining and microscopy.

The successful candidate will take a leading role in experimental design, method development, data generation, and interpretation. This position offers the opportunity to develop an independent research profile within an interdisciplinary environment with strong links to clinical and translational metabolic research.

Your profile

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in experimental cell biology, stem cell biology, developmental biology, or a related field. Hands‑on experience with mammalian cell culture and molecular techniques is essential. Specifically, experience with flow cytometry and cell sorting, including the identification and isolation of defined cell populations, is highly valued. Experience with in vivo mouse models, particularly cell transplantation or tissue regeneration, is also an important asset. Genetic manipulation of mammalian cells, including CRISPR‑based approaches, stable cell labeling, or lineage tracing, is highly desirable. Experience with immunostaining, fluorescence microscopy, and quantitative image analysis is also valuable for validating cell identities and spatial organization. Applicants should bring substantial expertise in several of these areas and a willingness to develop complementary skills.

The candidate should be able to independently design, perform, and troubleshoot experiments, manage a research project, and critically evaluate results. Intellectual curiosity, scientific rigor, and effective collaboration are essential. Previous experience in adipose tissue biology or metabolic research is welcome but not required. Computational analysis expertise is not required; the candidate will work closely with bioinformatics colleagues to interpret single‑cell and spatial data. Proficiency in written and spoken English is required for effective communication, manuscript preparation, and collaboration within an international research environment.
To be eligible for employment as a postdoctoral researcher, a PhD or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a Swedish PhD is required. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision. Completion of your doctoral degree within the last three years is considered an advantage. If there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment with wide‑ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement.

KI applications individual and differentiated salary setting in accordance with our collective agreements RALS and RALS‑T

Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all!

Type of employment

Type of employment Temporary position

Contract type

Contract type Full time

First day of employment

First day of employment According to agreement

Salary Monthly salary

Number of positions

Number of positions 1

Full‑time equivalent 100 %

City

City Stockholm

County

Country

Country Sweden

Reference number

Contact

Union representative

• Robert Lindberg, Seko, [e-mail]