The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.
Doctoral position in Medical Science
Project title: The role of extracellular vesicles in asthma
Krefting Research Centre, the Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, is located at the Institute of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
Krefting Research Centre is now recruiting a PhD student. The centre consists of approximately 25 researchers, students, medical doctors and research nurses divided into three research areas; epidemiology of asthma, mechanistic studies of inflammation, and extracellular vesicles, see http://krefting.gu.se.
The centre has over 25 years of experience working with asthma and one of the largest epidemiological studies of asthma and lung disease in Europe has been conducted at Krefting Research Centre which is combined with basic research of molecular mechanisms in asthma. Another strong line of research within the centre is focused on extracellular vesicles, where the group have over 15 years of experience, with the focus of the role of extracellular vesicles in asthma and inflammation and the development of EVs as drug candidates.
General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university’s doctoral student pages https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies
Duties
Doctoral education in Medical Science comprises carrying out a scientific project and completing at least 30 credits of courses at third-cycle level. The doctoral student must also write a scientific compilation thesis or monograph corresponding to at least 120 credits. For more information about third-cycle studies at Sahlgrenska Academy, see https://www.gu.se/en/sahlgrenska-akademin/doctoral-studies
The overall goal of the suggested PhD project is to characterize important vesicle-mediated molecular mechanisms in the airway epithelium during inflammatory reactions. Specifically, this PhD project will work based on the hypothesis that airway epithelial cells and their extracellular vesicles change their cargo (proteins, RNA, lipids) during asthma and by doing so they contribute to the pathology of airway inflammation. We will apply a broad approach isolating extracellular vesicles from both lung epithelial cell cultures, experimental mouse models of asthma and human patient samples. The cargo and how it is altered during different types of inflammation will be determined, as well as how these airway-derived EVs activate immune cells and airway epithelial cells to understand how they participate in chronic inflammation. Extracellular vesicles will be analysed using methods such as flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, electron microscopy and analysis of inflammatory signals will be analysed by ELISA. By better understanding the chronic inflammation that occur during asthma, we can identify the molecular mechanisms and thereby identify new potential therapeutic targets.
Doctoral studies comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree. As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period, and result in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.
Eligibility
Doctoral education requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.
The general eligibility requirements for doctoral studies are:
1. having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
2. the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or
3. the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.
Specific entry requirements for this subject, according to the general syllabus, are:
having successfully completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies.
Assessment criteria
The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the doctoral studies. The assessment shall attach particular importance to documented qualifications for:
– specific knowledge and skills within the subject area and related research fields
– experience of scientific theory and relevant research methodology
– scientific analysis and presentation verified through an academic paper, degree project, scientific
journals or the like.
Admission and employment
Once you have been admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg. The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100. Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time. A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at doctoral level for four years.
Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.
The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.
Please note, doctoral studies at the Institute of Medicine requires physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, the Institute of Medicine has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.
Contact information
For more information about the project please contact principal supervisor,
Cecilia Lässer, Associate Professor, Institute of Medicine,
e-mail: cecilia.lasser@gu.se
Unions
Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande
Application
You can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.
You must include the following, in pdf format
- Personal letter
- CV
- Diploma and transcripts showing that you meet with the general entry requirement
- Proof of completion of English 6 course or the acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies
If your degree is from a university outside of Sweden, make sure that you attach a diploma and full transcripts that makes assessing your degree easier.
If your degree has not been verified by a Swedish authority you need to provide contact details to the issuing university, registrar or similar, that can verify the degree at our request.
For information on what you need to submit in order to fulfill the English language requirement see https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/
Applications must be received by: 2025-02-27
Information for International Applicants
Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:
https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/
The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.
Salaries are set individually at the University.
In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.
In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.
Apply