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The Department of Laboratory Medicine comprises seven divisions and is active across many areas of Laboratory Medicine to promote human health in short and long term. The department collaborates closely with Karolinska Hospital and engages in advanced basic, clinical, and epidemiological research. It is also one of the largest teaching departments at Karolinska Institutet.

The research group of Dr. Ping Chen in the Division of Clinical Chemistry is seeking a postdoctoral fellow with expertise in RNA splicing and computational method development. The Chen lab is interested in developing advanced computational approaches to decipher RNA diversity and its regulatory mechanisms in human metabolic diseases, with the goal of advancing diagnostics and therapeutic strategies. The group works closely with multidisciplinary teams, integrating biobank resources, longitudinal clinical data, and multi-omics technologies with innovative computational and experimental methods. A two-year postdoctoral position will be available starting 1 January 2026 in the Chen lab.

Division

The Division of Clinical Chemistry is carrying out research to elucidate the molecular basis of cardiometabolic disease integrating basic science, clinical medicine, and translational approaches.

Duties

The growing prevalence of obesity is amplifying disease burden worldwide, with broad effects on population health and healthcare systems. Your work will deepen understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive obesity and associated metabolic disorders, with a primary focus on RNA splicing. You will analyze state of the art bulk, single cell, and spatial omics data and develop new computational methods to identify key regulators of disease onset and progression. Responsibilities include processing large-scale sequencing data, developing and benchmarking methods for splicing and regulatory network inference, integrating multimodal data with clinical information, collaborating with experimental partners on validation, maintaining clear and reproducible code and documentation, and communicating findings through presentations, manuscripts, and contributions to grant applications.

Entry requirements

To quality, the applicants must hold a PhD in computational biology or bioinformatics and have strong knowledge of RNA biology and biomedical sciences. Experience with sequencing data preprocessing, RNA splicing, deep learning and analysis of human multi-omics data is an advantage. The candidate should exhibit a high degree of independence but on the other hand also value a collaborative approach to science and enjoy working in a team. Motivation, the ability to work with people of different disciplines, executive capacity and good communication skills in English are important. A strong publication track record and good manuscript writing skills are desirable. Experience with biopsy specimen collection, flow cytometry, cell culture, and library preparation for single-cell sequencing is beneficial but not essential.

Scholarships for postdoctoral qualification can be established for foreign researchers who place their qualifications in Sweden. The purpose of scholarships for postdoctoral qualification is to promote internationalization and contribute to research qualification after a doctorate or equivalent.

A scholarship for carrying out postdoctoral research can be granted for a maximum of two years within a four-year period following the receipt of a doctoral degree or equivalent. To be eligible for a postdoctoral scholarship, the person must have obtained a doctorate, or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctorate. Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the (intended) start date of the postdoctoral education.

The head of the department determines whether their previous training and scholarly qualifications correspond to a Swedish doctorate or higher.

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. Here, we conduct innovative medical research and provide the largest range of biomedical 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. Students and employees have free access to our modern gym facilities with trained staff on site.

Location: The position is located within the Department of Laboratory Medicine, KI Campus Flemingsberg within the research group of Dr. Ping Chen at the Division of Clinical Chemistry.

Type of scholarship

A scholarship for carrying out postdoctoral research can be granted for a maximum of two years within a four-year period following the receipt of a doctoral degree or equivalent.

The amount is tax free and it is set for twelve months at a time, paid out on a six months basis. In exceptional cases, shorter periods may be acceptable.

Application process

An application must contain the following documents in English.

• Curriculum vitae and qualifications, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet’s qualifications portfolio https:-ki/qualifications-portfolio
• A motivation letter
• A summary of current work and achievements
• A complete list of publications

The application is to be submitted on the Varbi recruitment system.

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