Postdoctoral fellow for Targeted Nanoparticles - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Pharmacy at Uppsala University is an interdisciplinary environment at the center of the pharmaceutical arena. With frontline research, first-class education and extensive collaborations we constitute a driving force in the development of our academic field. In this inspiring environment our rich diversity of research groups, several of international prominence, develop and conduct work of great scientific importance. Among our core competences are computational modelling and simulations, in vitro ADME models, advanced in vivo methods and societal aspects from optimizing the use of drugs in individuals to societal pharmaceutical policies. Together, we form a unique cluster of academic competences within pharmaceutical sciences, playing a key role in shaping the future of pharmacy in both Sweden and globally.

Our scientific focus areas in selection: Molecular Pharmaceutics • Drug Delivery • Pharmaceutical nanotechnology • Pharmacokinetics • Pharmacodynamics • Pharmacometrics • Clinical Pharmacy • Pharmacoeconomics • Pharmacoepidemiology • Pharmacotherapy • Social Pharmacy • Biopharmaceutics.

More information: department of Pharmacy

SciLifeLab (Scilifelab) is a Swedish national center for molecular biosciences with focus on health and environmental research. The center combines frontline technical expertise with advanced knowledge of translational medicine and molecular bioscience. SciLifeLab is hosted by four Swedish universities (Uppsala University, Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University) and collaborates with several other universities. 

The research group: The postdoctoral fellow will be linked to the research unit Molecular Pharmaceutics. The group takes a multidisciplinary approach and combines computational chemistry and bioinformatics with cell- and molecular biology, biopharmaceutics, pharmaceutics and physical chemistry to find new ways to predict and define rate-limiting barriers to the absorption and organ distribution of different types of drugs. We anticipate that our research will provide insights into new mechanisms for drug absorption, disposition and delivery, which will support development of new therapeutic strategies for efficient oral drug delivery. More information at Bergstrom. The position is placed in the research group of Associate Professor Alexandra Teleki (Scilifelab/alexandra-teleki) who is associated with SciLifeLab. The overall goal of the Teleki research group is to transform innovative nanomedical approaches to clinically relevant, patient-compliant diagnosis and treatment.

The project: This project is part of ERC Consolidator Grant MAGNETO that aims to develop a novel diagnostic and therapeutic platform to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children. The inflammation of gut tissue in IBD patients results in the overexpression of specific biomarkers. We have previously developed superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) functionalized with targeting ligands towards inflammatory biomarkers in IBD. Functionalization is achieved by click chemistry based bioconjugation. Such nanoparticles can be used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to non-invasively localize inflamed tissue in the gastrointestinal tract. The postdoctoral fellow will work with preclinical in vitro and in vivo (mouse) models for IBD to study the targeting capacity of the SPIONs and optimize their visualization of inflamed tissue by MRI. The project thus closely links nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization with their diagnostic performance in vivo in the gastrointestinal tract. A key focus will also be the detailed investigation of nanoparticle-cellular interactions with different cell types that play key roles in the pathogenesis of IBD to further guide the design and optimization of the theranostic platform in MAGNETO. 

Focus areas of the position: Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology • Nanomedicine • Magnetic Imaging Techniques • Theranostics • Magnetic Nanoparticles • Click chemistry •  Gastrointestinal Diseases

Duties: 100% post-doctoral research fellow. The post-doctoral fellow will primarily devote his/her time to experimental research work.

Qualifications: The successful candidate should have a PhD in Pharmacy, Biomedical Engineering, Material Sciences or other relevant area. Experience in working with laboratory animals and a FELASA certificate will be considered a strong bonus. Experience with imaging techniques applied ex vivo or in vivo, especially MRI and confocal microscopy, are meritorious. Previous experience with cell-based assays for nanoparticle evaluation is an advantage. Detailed understanding of nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization methods and solid state characterization techniques are crucial.

The successful candidate must be able to work independently and take own initiatives, but also as part of a team. Emphasis is placed on personal suitability. The applicant must also have good communication skills in English, both written and oral, due to the highly international work environment.

Eligibility: To be eligible to apply you must have a PhD or equivalent degree completed in a relevant area within three years of the application deadline. If you received your PhD earlier but special circumstances exist, you are also eligible to apply. Special circumstances refer to time off due to illness, parenteral leave, commissions of trust etc. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment.

How to apply: The application, preferably written in English, should be submitted via the application portal of Uppsala University and contain the following:

• a CV including a complete list of publications,
• a personal letter in which the applicant describes her- or himself, motivates why she/he has applied for the position, states relevant qualifications and indicates research interests and plans for the future,
• contact details of at least two references (email and telephone number),
• authorized copies of relevant certificates, degrees and grades, and
• copies of the three most important publications that the applicant wants to invoke.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date 1 June 2024 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Associate Professor Alexandra Teleki, email: alexandra.teleki@farmaci.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 29 March 2024, UFV-PA 2024/818.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? Find out more about what it´s like to work and live in Sweden.