Postdoctoral fellow in Oral microbiology and immunology, institute of Odontology

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.

The institute of Odontologyprovides education for dentists, dental hygienists and dental technicians at undergraduate and graduate levels. All education programs lead to a professional degree as well as a general degree. The department also conducts research and postgraduate education in odontological science, as well as continuing education activities. The department collaborates with the Västra Götaland Public Dental Service in the clinical part of the undergraduate education and in clinical research.

The research activities at the department of oral microbiology & immunologyinvolve studies on microorganisms present in the oral cavity and their interactions with the immune system. Furthermore, immune function in health and during oral diseases is studied.

Subject area

Inflammation around the teeth, gingivitis, is a rather normal condition triggered by bacteria residing in the gum line.Gingivitis is reversible and non-destructive, but in some individuals it progresses intoperiodontitisthat is a pathology featuring permanentdestruction of the tooth supporting apparatus and resorption of bone. The individual factors determining whether gum inflammation remains non-destructive or becomes destructive are largely unknown.

Gum inflammation of both kinds involve a large influx of white blood cells,neutrophils, into the gingival pockets. These cells are potent phagocytes that effectively eat and kill microbes, but they also have the ability to regulate various immune processes. Rare defects in neutrophil numbers or function can lead to remarkably aggressive forms of periodontitis. While it was believed that defective microbial killing caused the disease, later data rather indicate that the absence of fully functional neutrophils result in adysregulated inflammatory process. This implies that neutrophils are more than microbe-killers and that their presence/activity may in fact dampen destructive inflammation.

Rare primary neutrophil defects resulting in aggressive periodontitis offer clues as to what particular neutrophil functions that are vital to avoid disease. Surprisingly, one such factor isneutrophil serine protease (NSP)activity. NSPs are potent proteases that are abundant in gingival exudate and traditionally thought to worsen tissue destruction by degrading matrix proteins such as those anchoring teeth to bone. However, the clinical reality of genetic loss of NSP activity is anexceptionally aggressive and severe form of periodontitis. This indicates that NSP activity is in fact a neutrophil mechanism that counteracts destructive periodontal inflammation. In our experience, NSP activity in the healthy population vary enormously and we believe this may help explain why certain people get periodontitis, whereas others can live entire lives with gingivitis that never turns destructive.

We want to understand how neutrophils and their NSPs counteract destructive inflammation and see if individual differences in NSP activity can help explain why (only) certain individuals develop destructive periodontal disease.

Job assignments

The postdoctoral researcher will work independently as part of a larger research team, performing in vitro assays with primary human immune cells isolated from blood and tissues of healthy donors and/or patients with varying degrees of periodontal disease. Typical laboratory methods include flow cytometry, fluorescence and/or luminescence plate reader assays, immunoblotting, fluorescence microscopy, and ELISA. Depending on previous experience and interests, the postdoc may also participate in bioinformatic analyses of proteomic and transcriptomic data from primary human granulocytes.

The postdoc will be responsible for planning, executing, and troubleshooting experiments, as well as analyzing and interpreting results. The postdoc will be expected to present data both orally and in writing, contribute to manuscript preparation, and participate in national and international collaborations and meetings when appropriate.

In addition, the postdoc will contribute to the supervision and mentorship of project, master's, and/or PhD students within the department.

Eligibility

To qualify as a postdoctoral researcher the applicant should hold a PhD in a relevant subject. Since postdoctoral constitutes a qualifying appointment for junior researchers, we aim to target those who have a doctoral degree not older than 3 years from the application deadline.

Assessment

Experience with in vitro studies using primary human immune cells is preferred, and specific knowledge of oral immunology and/or neutrophil biology would be advantageous. Experience with bioinformatic analyses would be beneficial, though not essential. Clinical experience in dentistry is not required but could be valuable.

Employment

The employment is limited (temporary) for 2 years, 100% of full-time, and is placed at the Institute of Odontology. Starting date: as soon as possible or as agreed.

Contact information

If you have questions regarding the employment please contact Professor Johan Bylund, +46 766 185018, johan.bylund@gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply

Application

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by clicking the "Apply" button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

Please enclose PhD certificate with the application.

Applications must be received by: 2026-01-08.

Information for International Applicants

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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.