JobbSafari/Lediga jobb/Doctoral student in Medical Science - Postnatal development of the gut-brain axis
Doctoral student in Medical Science - Postnatal development of the gut-brain axis
Göteborgs universitetPublicerad: 2026-06-12
Ansök senast: 2026-07-01
Beskrivning
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Doctoral position in Medical Science
Project title: Role of the mucus layer in regulation of healthy postnatal development
The Department of Physiology is located at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
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
The PhD 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
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.
Project description:
Background: The first years of life represent a critical developmental window during which both the intestine and brain undergo rapid maturation. During this period, the intestinal microbiota plays a central role in shaping intestinal and neurodevelopmental processes. Microbial colonization supports healthy development by promoting maturation of intestinal barrier function, immune tolerance, and gut-brain communication, but when dysregulated, it may contribute to disease, including chronic intestinal inflammation and impaired neurodevelopment.
Despite the recognized importance of microbiota-driven signaling in postnatal development, the mechanisms that distinguish beneficial from detrimental host-microbe interactions remain poorly understood. In the intestine, goblet cells produce a mucus barrier that physically separates the microbiota from the epithelium, thereby limiting host-microbe interactions. This barrier undergoes rapid postnatal maturation and is a key regulator of intestinal homeostasis in adulthood. However, its role during early life-particularly in shaping immune maturation and systemic developmental processes-remains incompletely understood.
Purpose/Objective: The main objective of this doctoral project is to define the role of goblet cells and mucus in regulating postnatal intestinal and neurodevelopment. The doctoral student will use mouse models with an impaired mucus barrier to investigate the role of mucus in regulating the gut-brain axis, with a focus on immune and neuronal maturation.
Methods: Core methodologies include immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, proteomics, RNA sequencing, and RNAscope, alongside in vivo experiments in mice.
The student will join the Gustafsson Lab at the Department of Physiology, which is also part of the Mucin Biology Groups-a collaborative research environment focused on goblet cell and mucus biology.
Practical experience with laboratory animals is desirable. Experience in physiology, mucosal immunology, and goblet cell and mucus biology, as well as relevant techniques such as confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and transcriptional data analysis, will be considered merits.
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:
Specific entry requirements for this subject, according to the general syllabus, are:
having 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 Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Physiology. 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 Neuroscience and Physiology require physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, the institute 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 the project supervisor,
Jenny Gustafsson, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology,
e-mail: jenny.gustafsson@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
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.
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: 2026-07-01
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.
Doctoral position in Medical Science
Project title: Role of the mucus layer in regulation of healthy postnatal development
The Department of Physiology is located at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
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
The PhD 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
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.
Project description:
Background: The first years of life represent a critical developmental window during which both the intestine and brain undergo rapid maturation. During this period, the intestinal microbiota plays a central role in shaping intestinal and neurodevelopmental processes. Microbial colonization supports healthy development by promoting maturation of intestinal barrier function, immune tolerance, and gut-brain communication, but when dysregulated, it may contribute to disease, including chronic intestinal inflammation and impaired neurodevelopment.
Despite the recognized importance of microbiota-driven signaling in postnatal development, the mechanisms that distinguish beneficial from detrimental host-microbe interactions remain poorly understood. In the intestine, goblet cells produce a mucus barrier that physically separates the microbiota from the epithelium, thereby limiting host-microbe interactions. This barrier undergoes rapid postnatal maturation and is a key regulator of intestinal homeostasis in adulthood. However, its role during early life-particularly in shaping immune maturation and systemic developmental processes-remains incompletely understood.
Purpose/Objective: The main objective of this doctoral project is to define the role of goblet cells and mucus in regulating postnatal intestinal and neurodevelopment. The doctoral student will use mouse models with an impaired mucus barrier to investigate the role of mucus in regulating the gut-brain axis, with a focus on immune and neuronal maturation.
Methods: Core methodologies include immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, proteomics, RNA sequencing, and RNAscope, alongside in vivo experiments in mice.
The student will join the Gustafsson Lab at the Department of Physiology, which is also part of the Mucin Biology Groups-a collaborative research environment focused on goblet cell and mucus biology.
Practical experience with laboratory animals is desirable. Experience in physiology, mucosal immunology, and goblet cell and mucus biology, as well as relevant techniques such as confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and transcriptional data analysis, will be considered merits.
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:
- having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
- the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or
- 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 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 Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Physiology. 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 Neuroscience and Physiology require physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, the institute 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 the project supervisor,
Jenny Gustafsson, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology,
e-mail: jenny.gustafsson@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.
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: 2026-07-01
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.
