Doctoral student in Medical Science - Neutrophils role in inflammatory arthritis

Organisation/Company

University of Gothenburg

Research Field

Medical sciences » Medicine

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Sweden

Application Deadline

14 Jun 2023 - 22:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Reference Number

1035--1-30414

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

No

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Doctoral position in Medical Science

Project title: Role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis

The Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, is located at the Institute of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. Inflammation is the main topic of the research conducted within the department. Our research groups perform studies of inflammatory diseases, whether caused by allergy, infection, or autoimmune disease. The goal is to investigate the mechanisms underlying the body's tissues become inflamed. Many of our researchers are also working as a specialist physician at the clinic at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, which is also one of our greatest assets.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages https://medarbetarportalen.gu.se/doktorand/?languageId=100001&skipSSOCheck=true     

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

Project: Inflammatory arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis are chronic diseases characterized by inflammation of the joints. The use of novel therapies has led to substantial improvements in clinical outcomes for patients suffering from inflammatory arthritis. However, a large unmet clinical need persists as 30-50% of patients with moderate or severe inflammatory arthritis have no- or suboptimal improvement in their symptoms despite these treatments. Thus, better understanding of disease pathogenesis is urgently needed to aid in the development of new drugs to reduce suffering of patients unresponsive to the currently available therapies.

The early phase of the disease and the flares are characterized by a heavy infiltration of neutrophils to the inflamed joints and there are increasing evidence which imply neutrophils as important players in the pathogenesis of inflammatory arthritis. Neutrophils are important regulators of inflammatory processes with the capacity to eliminate invading microbes and restore homeostasis during tissue damage. Yet, the precise mechanisms behind how neutrophils are recruited to the joints of patients with inflammatory arthritis, and how they contribute to joint damage are largely unknown. It is also largely unknown if neutrophil-derived inflammatory mediators are present and aid in driving and/or terminating the inflammatory processes in patients with inflammatory arthritis. The main goal of this PhD project is to gain mechanistic insights into the role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of joint inflammation, and to identify alternative neutrophil-derived biomarkers that can aid physicians to better monitor and more effectively treat patients with inflammatory arthritis.

Education at third-cycle level 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. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.    

Education at third-cycle level requires general eligibility and specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.  

The general eligibility requirements for education at third-cycle level 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 completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies. 

The selection of applicants who are considered to have the ability required to benefit from the study programme and who meet the general and specific eligibility requirements are assessed based on the following documented qualifications:
- 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 thesis, degree project, scientific journals or the like.    

Once you have been admitted for education at third-cycle level, 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 third-cycle level for four years.   

Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Medicine, Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.

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

For more information about the project please contact the principal supervisor, 
Huamei Forsman, Associate Professor, Institute of Medicine,
e-mail: huamei.forsman@gu.se  

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:   
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande      

You can apply to be admitted for education at third-cycle level via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. 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.   

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: 2023-06-15

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.

Research Field

Medical sciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Medical sciences » Medicine

Years of Research Experience

None

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

University of Gothenburg

Country

Sweden

City

Göteborg

Postal Code

40530

Street

Medicinaregatan 3

Website

https://web103.reachmee.com/ext/I005/1035/main?site=7&validator=9b89bead79bb725…

City

Göteborg

Street

Medicinaregatan 3

Postal Code

40530