Postdoctoral studies in stem cell transplantation and spinal cord injury (scholarship)
Karolinska Institutet · Solna · Postdoctoral scholarship · Deadline 2026-10-25
Karolinska Institutet is recruiting a researcher for **postdoctoral studies in stem cell transplantation and spinal cord injury**, based at the BioClinicum on Campus Solna. Funded through a **tax-free scholarship**, the position is granted for one year with the possibility of extension up to a maximum of two years. Working in the Li Research Group within the Division of Neurogeriatrics, the fellow will investigate how stem and progenitor cells respond to the injured spinal cord and explore methods to enhance their regenerative capacity. Key responsibilities include conducting experimental spinal cord injury models, carrying out stem cell transplantation, culturing and differentiating stem cells, applying molecular perturbation tools, and collaborating with computational researchers to interpret single-cell and spatial omics data alongside histological and functional analyses. Applicants must hold a **doctorate or equivalent foreign degree** completed within the last four years, or complete all degree requirements before starting. Because the scholarship is dedicated to international qualification, eligibility is restricted to foreign researchers who reside abroad and intend to visit Sweden solely for postdoctoral training; individuals residing in Sweden or who conducted any part of their academic education in Sweden are ineligible. Candidates need documented hands-on experience in experimental spinal cord injury models or surgery, in vivo experimentation, relevant cellular and molecular techniques, stem or progenitor cell culture, and proficiency in English. Practical experience with CRISPR, organoid models, omics technologies, advanced imaging, or a FELASA certificate is advantageous.
Organisation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics
Do you want to contribute to improving human health?
The Li Research Group at Karolinska Institutet investigates how the human central nervous system (CNS) develops, how these programs are disrupted by injury and disease, and how they can be harnessed for regeneration and repair.
Our research integrates single-cell and spatial multi-omics, human developmental tissue, stem cell and organoid models, perturbation approaches, and in vivo models to uncover mechanisms controlling cell states and cell fate. Current directions include spinal cord development and regeneration, stem cell responses to spinal cord injury, neural stem cell transplantation, CNS organoids, and developmental mechanisms of brain tumours.
Our long-term goal is to move from mapping human CNS cell states to understanding and ultimately controlling them, creating new opportunities for regenerative medicine and neurological disease treatment. The group provides an interdisciplinary environment connecting experimental biology, computational science, and translational collaborations.
Division
The Division of Neurogeriatrics at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, conducts multidisciplinary research on the mechanisms underlying neurological and neurodegenerative disorders across the lifespan. Research spans molecular and cellular neuroscience, human tissue studies, biomarkers, genetics, imaging, experimental models, and clinical and translational research.
The division has particular strengths in neurodegeneration, brain aging, disease mechanisms, and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, with close links between basic, translational, and clinical research. This provides a stimulating environment for projects that connect fundamental mechanisms of CNS development, injury, regeneration, and disease with questions of human health and therapeutic innovation.
Duties
The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to a research programme investigating how stem and progenitor cells respond to the injured spinal cord environment and how their survival, differentiation, integration, and regenerative potential can be improved. The duties will combine experimental models of spinal cord injury with stem cell transplantation, gene perturbation, and molecular profiling using single-cell and spatial omics.
Key duties include:
- Establishing and performing stem cell transplantation experiments in spinal cord injury models.
- Conducting and optimizing experimental spinal cord injury models and related tissue collection and characterization.
- Performing stem/progenitor cell culture and differentiation, with opportunities to use CNS organoid or related advanced cellular models.
- Applying genetic or molecular perturbation approaches to investigate mechanisms regulating cell fate, integration, and regeneration.
- Generating and interpreting single-cell, spatial, or other omics data together with computational researchers in the group.
- Performing complementary molecular, histological, imaging, and functional analyses to validate key findings.
- Contributing to experimental design, data interpretation, manuscript preparation, and development of new projects within the broader research line.
The successful candidate will join a growing and interdisciplinary research environment combining spinal cord injury models, stem cell transplantation, CNS development, organoid and perturbation systems, and cutting-edge single-cell and spatial omics. The fellow will have opportunities to work closely with experimental and computational researchers, develop new scientific directions within the broader programme, and build an independent research profile. We actively support fellows in applying for external postdoctoral fellowships and research grants through scientific mentoring, project development and feedback on applications.
Entry requirements
We are looking for a highly motivated experimental researcher with a strong background in stem cell biology, spinal cord injury, neural regeneration, or related areas.
The successful candidate should have:
- Documented hands-on experience with experimental spinal cord injury models and/or spinal cord surgery.
- Experience with stem or progenitor cell culture, preferably involving neural differentiation or transplantation.
- Experience with in vivo experimentation, including tissue collection and downstream histological or molecular analyses.
- A strong interest in combining stem cell transplantation, gene perturbation, and molecular profiling to study mechanisms of CNS repair.
- Experience with molecular and cellular biology techniques relevant to neural stem cell or regeneration research.
- Ability to independently plan and perform experiments, troubleshoot protocols, analyse data, and contribute to scientific writing.
- Good communication skills in English and the ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment.
Experience with cell transplantation, CRISPR or other gene perturbation approaches, organoid models, single-cell or spatial omics, advanced imaging, or quantitative analysis is considered an advantage. A FELASA certificate or equivalent documented training in laboratory animal science is also considered a plus. Applicants are not expected to have expertise in all these areas.
Eligibility for scholarship
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.
What do we offer?
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: BioClinicum, Solna Campus
Type of scholarship
One year postdoctoral scholarship, with a possibility of extension.
Postdoctoral scholarships can be granted for a maximum of two years.
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.
Application process
_An__application__must__contain__the__following__documents__in__English_:
- A complete curriculum vitae, including date of the thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions, and committee work
- A complete list of publications
- A summary of current work (no more than one page)
The application is to be submitted on the Varbi recruitment system.
Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all
The Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) conducts world leading research in aging, dementia, epidemiology and care sciences. This research extends from basic molecular and cell levels to clinical research and societal studies. NVS educates almost a third of KI students at basic and advanced levels. The Department has approximately 540 employees and a revenue 2025 of 580 million SEK. It comprises seven divisions, located at Campus Flemingsberg and Campus Solna.
The Division of Neurogeriatrics consists of about 65 employees. The division conducts experimental and translational research related primarily to Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, but also more general molecular mechanisms with biomedical relevance are studied. The division is mainly located in BioClinicum, KI Campus Solna, and partially in Neo, KI Campus Flemingsberg.
Jobbfakta
Fält – Värde
Type of employment – Postdoctoral scholarship
First day of employment – According to agreement
Salary – Scholarship
Number of positions – 1
City – Solna
County – Stockholms län
Country – Sweden
Reference number – STÖD 2-3849/2026
Contact – Johanna Hillgren, HR, 08-52486835, johanna.hillgren@ki.se; Xiaofei Li, Assistant professor, 070-3167775, xiaofei.li@ki.se
Union representative – Robert Lindberg, SEKO, +46104821803, Robert.G.Lindberg@seko.se; Marie Beckeman, OFR/ST, marie.beckeman.2@ki.se; Taher Darreh-Shori, SACO, taher.darreh-shori@ki.se
Published – 04.Oct.2026
Last application date – 25.Oct.2026