Doctoral student in Natural Science, Specialising in Biology with focus on Helicobacter pylori patho

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 Natural Science, Specialising in Biology

Research and graduate education at the department of chemistry and molecular biology comprises a wide scientific field from the atomic and molecular levels all the way through cells to intact organisms. Much of the phenomena studied here impact on our natural environment and living systems. We participate in undergraduate programs in chemistry, molecular biology, medicinal chemistry, biology, marine sciences, and pharmacy.

The Kaisa Thorell group is studying Helicobacter pylori and host-microbe interaction focusing on bioinformatic analysis of bacterial omics data. H. pylori is a bacterium that chronically colonizes the stomach of almost half the world's population and that can cause ulcers and gastric cancer. H. pylori's resistance to antibiotics is rapidly increasing and more knowledge is needed in terms of virulence and colonization mechanisms and the bacterial interaction with the gastric mucosa.

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 focus of the position will be to characterize a newly discovered ancient ecospecies of Helicobacter pylori that we recently identified in regions of high gastric cancer risk (Tourrette, ...Thorell, Falush. Nature, 2024). The candidate will be responsible for the microbiology work and comparative analyses of different bacterial strains. The project will mainly focus on gene regulation and host-microbe interaction including in vitro infection of human cells.

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:

(i) have a second-cycle (advanced-level) degree in a relevant* subject area in the natural sciences, or (ii) have completed studies for at least 60 higher education credits at a second-cycle level in relevant subject areas in the natural sciences, or (iii) have completed a corresponding program of relevance to the planned third-cycle program, in Sweden or in another country, or have equivalent qualifications.

*Relevant for the planned third-cycle education

The specific entry requirements also include an acceptable command of spoken and written English. Guidelines for assessing English proficiency may include a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL test (or 213 on the TOEFL-CBT, or 79 on the TOEFL-iBT).

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:

A Master's degree in Microbiology, molecular biology or similar, or an equivalent foreign degree. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.

Merit education, knowledge and experience, personal qualities

Previous experience in culturing Helicobacter pylori with a focus on outer membrane proteins and their gene regulation.

Previous experience in molecular biology techniques for assessing gene expression.

Previous experience in co-culture of Helicobacter pylori with other bacteria and/or host cells.

For the position, you should have very good oral and written communication skills in English in your daily work.

As a person you are highly motivated and able to work both independently and collaboratively with well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills. Additionally, the following aspects are strongly meriting:

• Experience in bioinformatics analysis such as R and PyMol
• Experience in comparative genomics or proteomics.
• Interest in working with large scale data such as RNAseq analysis.

The group is young with engaged and ambitious colleagues as well as a creative, international and dynamic working environment. We have strong emphasis on cooperation, and where you will have the possibilities of taking part in and contribute with your experience to several other projects.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability and ability to collaborate.

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.

Type of employment:Fixed-term employment, four years full time

Extent:100 %

Location:Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Gothenburg

First day of employment: As soon as possible based on agreement

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Please note, doctoral studies at The department of Chemistry and Molecular biology require physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, The department of Chemistry and Molecular biology 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

Kaisa Thorell, kaisa.thorell@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
• Two references (name, e-mail, telephone number, relation)

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.

Applications must be received by:2026-01-07

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.