Doctoral student in Medical Science - Molecular medicine

Om jobbet

The University of Gothenburg tackles society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 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 positionin Medical Science

Project title: Heart-Lung crosstalk and applications for heart failure prevention and treatment

The Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine is located at the Institute of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. Our primary research focus at the department is on metabolism, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. We support and promote research and teaching in translational medicine to improve health and to benefit society.

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

Project: The major heart (heart failure) and lung (asthma, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease [COPD]) diseases frequently co-exist, which confers worse outcomes. The current PhD project will seek to systematically assess the importance of heart-lung interorgan crosstalk in the context of heart failure, asthma and COPD, using a combination of experimental and clinical study designs. Human genetic studies from our group have pointed to shared molecular pathways for heart and lung disease which are increased in the airways of asthma/COPD patients and targeted by current treatments, pointing to a role for interorgan crosstalk.

The doctoral student will work with state-of-the-art in vitro and in vivo models of heart and lung disease, clinical human samples, and a variety of molecular biology methods. The project will also include analysis of clinical/epidemiological data, and may be tailored to the profile and interests of the student. The student will thus obtain broad perspectives on molecular medicine methods and translational perspectives including drug development and repurposing.

The project will be conducted within the translational research unit led by professor Gustav Smith at the Wallenberg Laboratory of Gothenburg University. Tuition will include weekly mentor and group meetings, journal clubs, and retreats. The group includes experimental, bioinformatic and clinical PhD students, bioinformaticians, research nurses, postdoctoral and senior researchers. The group is passionate about excellent research on the international level but also a good working environment characterized by respect and consideration where we strive for all members to feel involved, stimulated and well supported. In summary, this PhD project offers a unique opportunity to work at the interface of cardiovascular and pulmonary research in a highly collaborative translational setting.

Our research group is looking for a highly motivated, curious, and talented candidate with a background in, for example, molecular medicine, biomedicine, biology, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, or related disciplines. Documented experience with cell culture, animal handling, basic molecular techniques like PCR, blotting, ELISAs and histology, and data analysis are a merit. Experience with vitro and in vivo models of heart or lung disease is also a merit. Emphasis will be placed on personal characteristics including communicative and collaborative skills as well as scientific curiosity.

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 Molecular and Clinical Medicine. 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,
Gustav Smith, Professor, Institute of Medicine
e-mail: gustav@wlab.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:2026-02-23

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.