The Department of Laboratory Medicine conducts cutting-edge research and education spanning basic, translational, and clinical medicine. The department consists of several research divisions that work in close collaboration with healthcare, industry, and international academic partners to develop innovative therapies for human disease.
The research group of Professor Samir EL Andaloussi focuses on one of the greatest challenges facing modern therapeutics: the efficient delivery of biological medicines to target tissues in vivo. The group develops advanced extracellular vesicle (EV)- and lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based technologies for the delivery of proteins, RNAs, and genome-editing systems, with particular emphasis on central nervous system applications. The group is internationally recognized for pioneering work in extracellular vesicle engineering, targeted drug delivery, and gene therapy.
This project will be conducted in close collaboration with Professor Per Svenningsson’s research group at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet. The Svenningsson laboratory is internationally recognized for its research on Parkinson’s disease, neurodegeneration, and translational neuroscience. Together, the two groups provide a highly interdisciplinary environment at the interface of neuroscience, gene therapy, nanomedicine, and therapeutic development.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and accumulation of pathological α-synuclein. Although current treatments provide symptomatic relief, there are currently no therapies capable of slowing or halting disease progression. Developing disease-modifying therapies therefore remains one of the major challenges in neuroscience and neurology.
This project aims to develop innovative therapeutic approaches for Parkinson’s disease using bioengineered extracellular vesicles as delivery vehicles for CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-editing systems. The project builds on recent advances in extracellular vesicle engineering and gene editing to establish proof-of-concept for correcting disease-causing mutations associated with Parkinson’s disease and restoring neuronal function in the central nervous system.
The project combines advanced approaches in nanomedicine, molecular neuroscience, and translational therapeutic development. Using genetically engineered extracellular vesicles, genome-editing systems will be delivered to target neuronal populations in cellular and animal models of Parkinson’s disease. The project will further investigate strategies to improve delivery across biological barriers and achieve efficient targeting of vulnerable neuronal populations in the brain.
The successful candidate will work in a highly collaborative environment and contribute to the development of next-generation therapies for neurodegenerative disorders.
The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for planning, conducting, analyzing, and publishing experimental studies related to Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis and therapeutic development.
The work will involve:
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Performing in vivo studies using established mouse models of Parkinson’s disease.
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Conducting behavioral phenotyping and functional assessment of motor and non-motor symptoms.
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Investigating molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and neuronal dysfunction.
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Performing molecular and cellular biology experiments, including cell culture, gene expression analyses, protein characterization, immunohistochemistry, and advanced microscopy.
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Evaluating blood-brain barrier transport and central nervous system delivery of therapeutic cargo.
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Characterizing extracellular vesicle-mediated delivery systems and assessing their biological activity in vitro and in vivo.
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Evaluating CRISPR/Cas9-based gene-editing approaches targeting Parkinson’s disease-associated mutations.
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Analyzing and interpreting experimental data and integrating findings across molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels.
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Preparing manuscripts for publication in international peer-reviewed journals and presenting research findings at scientific conferences.
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Contributing to collaborative projects within the EL Andaloussi and Svenningsson research groups.
Postdoctoral scholarships may be established for foreign researchers who pursue their merit in Sweden. A foreign researcher is a person living in another country who comes to Sweden with the intention of only staying in Sweden for all or part of their postdoctoral education at KI. Persons who are resident in Sweden and/or have carried out all or part of their academic education at KI or some other educational institution in Sweden cannot be considered for scholarships. 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 post-doctoral education.
We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious researcher with a strong interest in neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, gene therapy, and translational therapeutic development.
The successful candidate should have:
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A PhD in neuroscience, neurobiology, molecular medicine, pharmacology, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, or a related field.
- Strong experience with molecular and cellular biology techniques, including cell culture, qPCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, microscopy, and related methods.
- Experience working with animal models and in vivo experimentation, preferably within neuroscience, neurodegeneration, or related biomedical research areas.
- Experience with behavioral phenotyping and functional characterization of rodent models. Knowledge of mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier biology, neurological disorders, or related research fields.
- Demonstrated ability to independently design, conduct, analyze, and communicate scientific research.
- Excellent communication skills and proficiency in spoken and written English.
The following qualifications are considered particularly meritorious:
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Research experience in Parkinson’s disease or other neurodegenerative disorders.
- Experience with blood-brain barrier biology or central nervous system drug delivery.
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Experience with transcriptomics, metabolomics, bioinformatics, or other omics-based approaches.
- Experience with extracellular vesicles, lipid nanoparticles, RNA therapeutics, gene delivery systems, or nanomedicine.
- Experience with genome-editing technologies, including CRISPR/Cas systems.
- Experience bridging mechanistic neuroscience with therapeutic development and translational research.
Personal suitability will be given significant consideration. We are looking for a collaborative, enthusiastic, and scientifically driven individual who enjoys working in an interdisciplinary and international research environment.
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: Flemingsberg, Stockholm, Sweden.
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.
An application must contain the following documents in English:
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A complete curriculum vitae, including date of PhD defence, previous academic positions, current position, academic distinctions, and other relevant qualifications
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A complete list of publications
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A summary of current research activities and future research interests (maximum one page)
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Contact information for at least two academic references
KI applies individual and differentiated salary setting in accordance with our collective agreements RALS and RALS-T
The application is to be submitted on the Varbi recruitment system.
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Anställningsform: postdoktoralt stipendium | Anställningens omfattning: heltid | Antal lediga befattningar: 1 | Sysselsättningsgrad: 100% | Ort: Huddinge | Län: Stockholms län | Land: Sweden | Referensnummer: STÖD 2-2628/2026 | Kontakt: Samir El Andaloussi , | Publicerat: 2026-06-15 | Sista ansökningsdag: 2026-07-06
