Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has over 54,000 students, more than 7,500 employees and a turnover of around SEK 8 billion.

The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology is organized into seven research programmes which all focus on different areas of cell and molecular biology: Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Microbiology and Immunology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Biophysics, Molecular Evolution, Molecular Systems Biology and Structural Biology. The scientific basis of what we do lies in biology, but our research overlaps with other areas such as medicine, computer science, mathematics, chemistry, engineering sciences and physics. In total, we are over 200 staff and ~60 Ph.D. students. Please read more about the department’s work at https://icm.uu.se.

This PhD position will be placed in Lisa Klasson’s research group in the Molecular Evolution program. https://www.icm.uu.se/molecular-evolution/ 

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University

Project description
The aim of the project is to study how symbiotic interactions between bacteria and animal hosts affect both partners’ genetic material and evolution using large-scale sequencing and bioinformatic analyses. Our model system is the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia in different Drosophila species, primarily from the willistoni group. 

Duties 
The work will mostly consist of bioinformatic analyses of sequence data from different species of the Drosophila willistoni group. Such work can include, for example, de novo assembly of sequence data, genome annotation, phylogenetic analyses and comparative genomics. To a lesser extent, the work might also include handling Drosophila and using standard molecular lab techniques such as DNA extractions and PCR.

The Ph.D. student shall primarily focus on postgraduate studies, but other duties related to teaching and administrative work may be involved, up to a maximum of 20 % of the time. Information about doctoral education, eligibility requirements and admission rules can be found on the faculty website, http://www. teknat.uu.se/utbildning/utbildning-pa-forskarniva/

Requirements To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must 

  • hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in bioinformatics, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, or another subject that the employer considers to be equivalent, or
  • have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or 
  • have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

The applicant must have a good ability to work independently as well as in a group. A prerequisite is good written and oral skills in English, as the work takes place in an international environment. To work creatively, goal-oriented and structured are central abilities during a doctoral education and will therefore be given special consideration.

Additional qualifications
Previous experience working with sequence data and bioinformatic analyses is a plus, familiarity with work in a Linux/Unix environment and a scripting language such as Python, R or Perl is highly desirable. Previous experience working with standard molecular biology techniques like DNA extractions and PCR and handling Drosophila or other insects is also meriting.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University’s rules and guidelines.

The application: Your application is preferably written in English and must include:

  • A personal letter where you describe yourself, your research interest, your experiences and why you are interested in the position (max. 2 pages).
  • A CV containing your education and other qualifications that are relevant to the position. 
  • A copy of your diploma(s) and your degree thesis.
  • Contact information of two reference persons.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as soon as possible or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Lisa Klasson, lisa.klasson@icm.uu.se, tel. 018-471 6403

Please submit your application by 14 augusti 2023, UFV-PA 2023/2377.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? Find out more about what it´s like to work and live in Sweden.  

Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

Submit your application through Uppsala University’s recruitment system.

Placement: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology

Type of employment: Full time , Temporary position

Pay: Fixed salary

Number of positions: 1

Working hours: 100 %

Town: Uppsala

County: Uppsala län

Country: Sweden

Union representative: ST/TCO tco@fackorg.uu.se
Seko Universitetsklubben seko@uadm.uu.se
Saco-rådet saco@uadm.uu.se

Number of reference: UFV-PA 2023/2377

Last application date: 2023-08-14

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