Postdoctoral in the Cellular Mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease

The Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences is an institution in the Faculty of Medical at Uppsala University. At the department, there is currently about 200 employees and further 150 scientists are linked to the department. The business consists of 11 research groups and education is conducted at all levels.

The research group Molecular Geriatry at the Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences is active at the Rudbeck laboratory. The research is primarily focused on cellular and molecular mechanisms that are central to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and takes place in collaboration with other university groups both internationally and in Sweden.

Clear changes in the brain at Alzheimer's disease depend on the clumping of harmful proteins. In addition, a chronic inflammation is underway during the course of the disease. Although it was long known for these changes, many question marks remain on the mechanisms that cause the disease to worsen and spread to new regions of the brain. The research in the field has for many years been focused on changes that take place in the nerve cells, but increasing attention is now directed against the brain's various supporting cells. The astrocyte is the most common type of supporting cell and has very much impact on the brain's health. Our results show that the astrocytes are involved in the disease progression and spread pathological protein units to adjacent cells with various mechanisms. The overall objective of the project is to understand how the astrocytes contribute to the spread of the pathology of Alzheimer's disease and thereby identify future treatment strategies.

Tasks
We are looking for a qualified and motivated postdoctoral records that will investigate new astrocyt-mediated spreading mechanisms, characterize how pathological inserts in astrocytes are affected by copper, and generate antibodies recognizing astrocyte The work will primarily be focused on studies of pathological protein aggregates in HIPSC-derived cell systems, but also include analyzes of human materials from patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Kvalifikationskrav
Doctoral degree in neurobiology, cell biology or molecular biology or a foreign degree that is deemed to correspond to a doctoral degree in neurobiology, cell biology or molecular biology. Degree must be met at the latest at the time when the employment decision is made.It should mainly be in question that has exhausted graduates for a maximum of three years ago. When calculating the framework of three years, the starting point is the last application date. If there are special reasons, such degree may have been completed before. With special reasons, leave for illness, parental leave, trust assignments in trade unions, etc.

For the current service, extensive experience of cell culture and molecular techniques is required. The applicant should also have:

• Documented experience of research in the field of cellular mechanisms at Alzheimer's disease.
• Good knowledge of English, speech and writing.
• At least two published first-authors in well-known scientific journals in the field.

Great emphasis will be added to personal qualities such as excellent cooperation skills, good initiative and high independence to drive the project forward. Experience in the following techniques is a requirement:

Cell culture:

• Cultivation and differentiation of human IPSC derivative astrocytes and neurons
• The cultivation of organoids
• Cell models for Alzheimer's disease, including amyloid beta exposure

Immunofärgning:

• Immunohistochemistry
• Immunocytokemi
• Confocal microscopy

Protein-analysis:

• Elisa
• Western blot
• Masspektometri
• HPLC
• Antikroppsutveckling
• Studies of Cu-Aβ Interactions
• Real-Time Quaking-Induced Conversion

Cloning, transfection and genotyping

• Transfection
• Transformation
• Genotyping / PCR
• Plasmid-treatment

Desirable / merit in general
Experience in the following techniques is desirable:

• Elektrofysiologi
• Multielectrode Array (Mea)
• Real-Time Quaking-Induced Conversion (RT-QUIC)
• Simoa
• Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis
• UV / VIS Absorption Spectroscopy
• Cultivation of primary nerve cells and Hippocampal Slice cultures

If the employment
The employment is time-limited in at least 2 year and at most 3 year according to central collective agreement. The scope is full time. Access 1 December or as agreed. Location: Uppsala

Disclosure of the employment is provided by: Anna Erlandsson, Email: anna.erlandsson@uu.se

In this recruitment, we have replaced the personal letter with questions that you answer in connection with your application. The answers will be used as part of the selection process.

Welcome with your application no later than the 16 October 2026, Ufv- PA 2026/2827.