One PhD Position in chemokine immunobiology - HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN Doctoral Network “B-ACTIVE”

22 Mar 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Ilya Pharma

Research Field

Medical sciences » Other

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Sweden

Application Deadline

31 May 2024 - 12:00 (Europe/Stockholm)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

H2020 / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101120187

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

These projects, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)-doctoral network program  "B-ACTIVE", is a EU-funded collaboration between the universities of Leuven, Copenhagen, Graz, Ljubljana, Uppsala and several industrial partners located in Copenhagen, Uppsala, Graz, Cambridge and Paris (see https://b-active-dn.eu ). In the B-ACTIVE consortium, fundamental and clinical scientists and companies will study the impact of posttranslational modifications of chemokine ligands and receptors while training 10 doctoral candidates into future experts with translational and interdisciplinary mindsets. The doctoral candidates will characterize interactions between chemokine ligands, receptors and glycosaminoglycans, study signaling pathways and recognize their importance in inflammatory reactions. B-ACTIVE thus provides training in the complexity of inflammatory responses from basic science to clinical applications and industrial development. B-ACTIVE aims to unite fundamental and clinical scientists with pharmaceutical companies to explore the impact of posttranslational modifications of chemokine ligands and receptors. The project’s goal is to enhance our comprehension of inflammatory responses, pinpoint the right drug targets, and actively contribute to pharmaceutical development, ultimately improving patient treatment. The MSCA doctoral networks aim to train creative, entrepreneurial, innovative and resilient doctoral candidates, able to face current and future challenges and to convert knowledge into societal benefit.

Ilya Pharma AB

Ilya Pharma is a biopharmaceutical development company, with its own technology platform and drug candidates for the healing of skin or epithelial wounds. The projects are in various stages of development from translational to late phase 2 clinical trials, and are mainly targeting interdisciplinary unmet medical needs such as surgical wounds or as lung infections in obese and diabetic patients and immune check point inhibitor-induced colitis in cancer patients. The company is private and was founded in 2016, have since attracted significant funding from EU-programs and investors, and have hosted 2 Industrial PhD students which graduated during 2023. More information can be found at www.ilyapharma.se

Ilya Pharma offers 4-year funded Industrial PhD Student position in chemokine immunobiology (project below) with rotation of 6 months to Uppsala University  Research group of Professor Mia Phillipson and 2 months to the University of Copenhagen Research Group of Professor Mette Rosenkilde. The Industrial PhD student will be registered at Uppsala University with Professor Mia Phillipson as main supervisor and the project will be co-supervised by senior drug development experts at Ilya Pharma.

The Ilya Pharma team is small, international, dynamic and have been very successful in developing the first drug candidate, INN emilimogene sigulatibac being a lactic acid bacteria genetically modified to express the human chemokine CXCL12. This drug candidate is currently evaluated as a topical and an oral formulation for indications in skin wounds in at risk populations and for colitis in cancer patients, respectively. The company has a fully equipped laboratory, and have ongoing collaborations with Uppsala University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Science.

Uppsala University, Department of Medical Cell Biology

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has over 54,000 students, more than 7,500 employees and a turnover of around 8 billion SEK.

The Department of Medical Cell Biology at Uppsala University is a strong and international research environment. The department has more than 100 employees, of which about 25 are doctoral students, 10 postdoctoral fellows, and 40 researchers, teachers and professors. More information about the department and its activities can be found at https://www.mcb.uu.se/ .

The research group of Professor Mia Phillipson is an international, dynamic and very successful team with a well-established collaborative network and strong funding. The conducted research is aiming to uncover novel roles of immune cells and to find means to regulate their specific functions in settings spanning from organ development and regulation of homeostasis to tissue healing, angiogenesis and inflammation. The laboratory is equipped with or have access to advanced technical tools and technologies.

PhD project: Investigation of biochemical and biological properties of recombinant CXCL17 and CXCL17 forms expressed from lactic acid bacteria

CXCL17,previously referred to as DMC and VCC-1,is the most recent of the described chemokines and was identified for the first time in 2006. Its biological effects are currently being revealed, where data from in silico profiling and comparisons to other proteins suggest antimicrobial properties. Ilya Pharma has previously overcome the challenge of developing chemokines as pharmaceuticals by expressing CXCL12 from a lactic acid producing bacteria, Limosciliobacillus reuteri, currently known as emilomogene sigulatibac (ILP100). This drug candidate is developed in a topical formulation which is now being tested in patients with diabetic foot ulcers in a phase II clinical trial, and in an oral formulation to be tested in a phase 1/2a clinical study in patients with immune check-point inhibitor induced colitis.These bacteria continuously produce the chemokine on site in wounded skin or mucosa, and at the same time stabilizes the produced chemokines by the produced lactic acid which inhibits enzymatic degradation. This PhD project will focus on characterizing biological and biochemical properties of CXCL17, including main partner receptors, biofunctionality in and on different mucosal surfaces with different subsets of resident immune cells, as well as  structure and bioactivity in vitro and  in vivo. Methods to be used are different biochemical, molecular and cell-based assays to understand receptor interactions in conditions mimicking mucosal and inflammatory environments, e.g. lung and gastrointestinal tract, and study its functional effect on different immune cell populations including chemotaxis. The overall goal is to reveal if this relatively unknown chemokine can be used when developing next generation immunotherapies.

Requirements

Research Field

Medical sciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Profile

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to contribute to this project at Ilya Pharma AB under supervision of Prof. Mia Phillipson, Uppsala University. Applicants should have a master degree in Biomedical Sciences, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Immunology, Microbiology, or closely related fields, and a genuine interest in immunology and physiology. We require candidates to be self-driven, ambitious,  well-organized and enthusiastic about science and to work well in teams. Emphasis will be placed on previous work in laboratory environment and research experience. Experience with proteomics and metagenomics is considered meritorious for applicants when filling the position. Successful candidate will be part of an international network with industrial and scientific partners across Europe via the MSCA/Doctoral Network 'B-ACTIVE'. Regular meetings, workshops and international secondments within the B-ACTIVE network will supplement the training and support provided at the host laboratory.

Specific Requirements

Eligibility criteria

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7, in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines and by the HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN Doctoral Network (https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/how-to-apply#PhD ).

We welcome applications from Doctoral Researcher candidates fulfilling the following criteria:

1. Researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not having already received a PhD or equivalent degree by any institution; researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.

2. Applicants can be of any nationality but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Sweden for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date. Time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention (1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol), compulsory national service, and/or short stays such as holidays are not considered. Applicants preferably have not more than 3 years post-master seniority.

3. Applicants must be eligible to work as PhD student in Sweden according to national and European regulations (e.g. visa requirements), and also to travel/work in other European countries for collaborations/secondments and trainings.

4. Applicants should be proficient in written and spoken English and agreeing to use such language both for work and for any other official matter, including the selection process.

5. Applicants must be available to enroll full-time by November 2024, but an earlier start date is possible.

6. Applicants are aware of and adhere to the principles set out in the Commission Recommendation on the European Charter for Researchers (https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/european-charter ).

7. Applicants agree to undertake the PhD training program associated to this position (https://mp.uu.se/en/web/info/forska/forskarutbildning/medicin-och-farmaci/ ), in case they are selected.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information
Benefits

About the employment

The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7.

Salary indication:

Scope of employment is 100 %. Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

Salary is offered in accordance with Uppsala Universitys fixed salary ladder for PhD students, levels for 2023 can be found here: https://www.saco.fackorg.uu.se/doctoral-students/doctoral-student-salar…

Read more about benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University  here: https://www.uu.se/en/about-uu/join-us/

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7, in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines and by the HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN Doctoral Network (https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/actions/how-to-apply#PhD ).

We welcome applications from Doctoral Researcher candidates fulfilling the following criteria:

1. Researchers must be doctoral candidates, i.e. not having already received a PhD or equivalent degree by any institution; researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.

2. Applicants can be of any nationality but must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Sweden for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date. Time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention (1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol), compulsory national service, and/or short stays such as holidays are not considered. Applicants preferably have not more than 3 years post-master seniority.

3. Applicants must be eligible to work as PhD student in Sweden according to national and European regulations (e.g. visa requirements), and also to travel/work in other European countries for collaborations/secondments and trainings.

4. Applicants should be proficient in written and spoken English and agreeing to use such language both for work and for any other official matter, including the selection process.

5. Applicants must be available to enroll full-time by November 2024, but an earlier start date is possible.

6. Applicants are aware of and adhere to the principles set out in the Commission Recommendation on the European Charter for Researchers (https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/european-charter ).

7. Applicants agree to undertake the PhD training program associated to this position (https://mp.uu.se/en/web/info/forska/forskarutbildning/medicin-och-farmaci/ ), in case they are selected.

Selection process

Selection process

Applicants must attach the following documents:

- a CV including info on study results (including transcripts of marks obtained during master education, ranking within student group), publications (if any), previous laboratory experience, knowledge of languages, and a brief statement of research interests;

- 1-page motivation letter, with the expected date of availability;

- Recommendation letters (min 2; max 3);

Be aware that official transcripts of any degree achieved, preferably including average or final marks and explanation of the related assessment scale or criterion (mandatory for the main graduate degree, optional for the others) will be required for the enrolment in the University/PhD program. All documents must be in English.

 

The selection of the Doctoral Researcher candidates will be carried out in compliance with the general rules for MSCA-DN projects and will be based just on individual merit. The selection process will be entirely carried out in English. Candidates fulfilling the eligibility criteria will be pre-selected for online interviews. A Selection Committee was appointed by the B-ACTIVE Consortium for the evaluation of the application of the candidates. Applications which do not meet the minimal prerequisites listed in the Eligibility Criteria section, or which are not submitted according to the procedure specified in the Offer Description section, or which are received after the submission deadline has expired, will be rejected. Whenever necessary, it will be also entitled to ask the candidates to provide any further document, information or clarification deemed useful to properly complete the assessment process. Personal data will be stored for the purpose of carrying out the application procedure only.

 

Additional comments

For further information about the positions, please contact: Evelina Vågesjö, [email protected]

 

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Ilya Pharma AB

Country

Sweden

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

City

Uppsala

Website

https://www.ilyapharma.se

Street

Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 30

Postal Code

752 37

STATUS: EXPIRED