Doctoral student in medical science with specialization in oral microbiology

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37 000 students and about 4 700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. And the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is what it is all about. But also about delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. This is simply where the future is built.

The Department of Odontology conducts teaching on the dental hygienist programme, the dentist programme and the dental technician program and oral, maxillofacial, and jaw research. We are now looking for one more doctoral student in our research group in oral microbiology.

Periodontitis (tooth loss) is an infection-induced disease that affects a large part of the world's population and leads to an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. When young people suffer from more aggressive forms of periodontitis, with a rapid loss of the tooth support, large amounts of the bacterium Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) are often found adjacent to the affected tissue. In our research, we have seen that in deep periodontal pockets (≥5 mm), Aa has largely disappeared. Earlier in the infection, however, Aa and the obligate anaerobic bacterium Filifactor alocis appear to favor each other. How these bacteria interact is not known, but we hypothesize that pocket formation is initiated by Aa, after which F. alocis is one of the bacteria that gradually takes over and drives the disease forward. As a doctoral student in the project, you study mechanisms for this, including analysis of samples from our well-characterized patient cohorts, as well as studying the role of a newly discovered toxin in F. alocis, FtxA. Our hope is that the project can serve as a basis for improved preclinical diagnostics, new therapeutic and preventive strategies and precision medicine against oral bacterial infections.

In order to be admitted to education at postgraduate level, the applicant must firstly have basic qualifications and secondly special qualification and are deemed to have such other abilities as are needed to complete the training.

Basic eligibility
Those who have completed an advanced degree have the basic eligibility for education at postgraduate level, completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits (hc), of which at least 60 hc at advanced level, or who in some other arrangement within or outside the country has acquired essentially the equivalent knowledge.

Special eligibility
In order to be admitted to postgraduate education in oral microbiology, the applicant must have:

Dentists/dental students: at least one course at basic university level in microbiology/molecular biology.

A person with MSc education: master's program in molecular biology or molecular biology with specialization in microbiology, selected basic courses in oral microbiology, etiopathogenesis of oral infections, including prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of dental diseases.

Necessary knowledge of English. This is checked by holding an admissions seminar in English at the department or for the department's doctoral education group.

Professional experience may in some cases be required to conduct clinical studies.

Applicants should have adequate knowledge of and experience in bacterial culture, cell culture, isolation of DNA/mRNA, and PCR-based methods. Experience of previous participation in research projects, as well as cultivation of anaerobic bacteria is advantageous. Applicants can combine doctoral work with up to 50% clinical work (dentist).

You who are admitted to postgraduate education at the Faculty of Medicine will be included in it the joint faculty postgraduate program. The program comprises 25 credits and is offered in two rates of study: 25 credits over 8 semesters (4 years in total) or over 12 semesters (6 years in total), with program start every fall and spring semester. More information about the program can be found at the faculty's website website for postgraduate education  Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Medicine - Handbook

A doctoral program is normally 100% for four years, but can be conducted at a lower extent if the doctoral student wishes, but at least 50% as the employment is limited to a maximum of eight years on a half-time basis (50%).Teaching and other institutional work (up to a maximum of 20%) can be included.Salary placement takes place according to the established salary scale for doctoral employment.Effective date for employment is 230301 or as agreed.

Here you can read more about education at postgraduate level: Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Medicine - Handbook

Here you can read more about the Department of Odontology:
Department of Odontology (umu.se)

Further information is provided by research leader Jan Oscarsson - [email protected]

You apply via the recruitment system Varbi no later than 230130. A complete application must contain:

• CV/résumé

• Personal letter with a brief description of your qualifications, research interests and a

justification for your application and contact details (max. 2 A4 pages)

• Copies of diplomas, relevant grades, diplomas, etc.

• Contact details for a reference person

Welcome with your application.