Research assistant

The Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University has a broad research profile with strong research groups focused on cancer, autoimmune and genetic diseases. A fundamental idea at the department is to stimulate translational research and thereby closer interactions between medical research and health care. Research is presently conducted in the following areas: cancer precision medicine, cancer immunotherapy, genomics and neurobiology, molecular tools and functional genomics, neuro-oncology and neurodegeneration and vascular biology. Department activities are also integrated with the units for Oncology, Clinical Genetics, Clinical Immunology, Clinical Pathology, and Hospital Physics at Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala. The department has teaching assignments in several education programmes, including Master Programmes, at the Faculty of Medicine, and at the Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology. The department has a yearly turnover of around SEK 500 million, out of which more than half is made up of external funding. The staff amounts to approximately 345 employees, out of which 100 are PhD-students, and there are in total more than 700 affiliated people. Feel free to read more about the department's activities here.

Duties
The research assistant will work on investigating the role of nerve innervation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its potential applications to other solid tumors such as breast, colon, bladder, and pancreatic cancers. The primary responsibilities include conducting immunohistochemistry (IHC) and multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) staining on tissue samples, scanning and analyzing stained tissue sections using advanced imaging software and equipment, and performing statistical analyses, such as Chi-square tests and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, to assess correlations between nerve presence and clinical outcomes. The research assistant will also handle and process formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and fresh frozen tissues from clinical cohorts, identify and validate nerve markers for accurate assessment of tumor innervation, and develop and optimize staining protocols to ensure high-quality and reproducible results. Additionally, the role might involves extracting RNA, preparing tissue microarrays (TMA), performing gene expression analysis using microarray data, and documenting experimental results for scientific publications and presentations. Proficiency in image analysis software, statistical tools (e.g., Origin Pro, RStudio), and strong organizational and communication skills are essential for the successful execution of these tasks.
In terms of project management, the research assistant will work under the guidance of senior researchers and supervisors and will collaborate with team members and other departments. The role includes assisting in managing research projects to adherence to project timelines. Special responsibilities and decision-making powers include leading the application of new experimental pipelines such as RNAscope, providing critical analysis and interpretation of experimental data to inform research directions, managing laboratory resources including reagents and equipment, and ensuring all research activities comply with ethical standards and regulatory requirements.

Requirements
The candidate needs a master’s degree in molecular medicine or a related field, with demonstrated experience in molecular biology techniques including immunohistochemistry (IHC) and multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF). Proficiency in image analysis software and statistical tools such as Origin Pro and RStudio is essential, as is experience in handling and processing tissue samples, extracting RNA, preparing tissue microarrays (TMA), and performing gene expression analysis. Strong organizational and communication skills, the ability to work independently and as part of a team, high attention to detail and accuracy in experimental work, and problem-solving skills with the capability to develop new experimental protocols are required. A commitment to maintaining ethical standards and ensuring regulatory compliance in all research activities is also crucial.

Additional qualifications
Big interest in studying nerve innervation in tumors.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position, 6 months with possibility of extension. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Carina Strell, carina.strell@igp.uu.se

Please submit your application by July 5th 2024, UFV-PA 2024/2210.

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