PhD and Postdoctoral Positions in Intestinal Mucosal Immunology, Mucus and Goblet Cell Biology Karolinska Institutet in Sweden

Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden is recruiting for two fully funded research positions in the Elisabeth Nyström lab: a PhD student and a Postdoctoral researcher in intestinal mucosal immunology, with a strong focus on mucus biology, goblet cells, and epithelial barrier function.

The PhD project will investigate how diverse mucus-producing cell populations shape mucus properties and how changes in cell composition influence mucus function through post-translational modifications of mucus proteins. The work uses intestinal infection models, single-cell RNA sequencing, ex vivo mucus analysis, mass spectrometry, and biochemical validation.

The postdoctoral project will establish and validate a genetic targeting strategy to specifically target goblet cell subtypes in vivo and functionally analyze their role in mucus- and goblet cell-mediated defense mechanisms. Methods include advanced imaging, transcriptomics, proteomics, and ex vivo tissue analysis.

The lab works in a highly collaborative environment at Karolinska Institutet and the Center for Molecular Medicine, with close interactions with the groups of Eduardo Villablanca, Camilla Engblom, and Gustavo Monasterio Ocares. The research is interdisciplinary, combining molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, physiology, and omics approaches.

Eligibility highlights: PhD applicants need a relevant master’s degree, documented experimental lab experience, mouse handling certification, and English proficiency. Postdoc applicants need a PhD in a relevant field plus strong experience with complex mouse strains and genetically modified models. Experience with intestinal infection models, scRNA-seq, proteomics, imaging, FACS, and bioinformatics is advantageous.

Funding: both positions are fully funded. The PhD is a doctoral studentship with salary for up to 4 years full-time. The postdoc is a full-time temporary employment.

Application window: the postdoctoral position closes on 2026-05-29. The PhD position closes on 2026-05-22. Applications are submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.