Doctoral student in Medical Science - Immunity to influenza

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Doctoral position in Medical Science

Project title: Studies on immunogenicity and antigenicity of influenza Neuraminidase

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology is located at the Institute of Biomedicine at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.  

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

The doctoral project will investigate immunogenicity and antigenicity of influenza neuraminidase. Seasonal influenza virus infection still causes significant morbidity and mortality. Influenza also presents the danger of a 1918-like pandemic, with millions of deaths, due to the introduction of a novel antigenic virus from the animal reservoirs. Virions present three surface proteins: hemagglutinin (HA), Neuraminidase (NA) and the ion channel M2e, with the first two being the main targets of neutralizing Abs. While HA-specific immune responses have been studied reasonably well, NA-immunity remains poorly understood.

In this project we have two main aims: 1) Determine B cell and Antibody targets on Neuraminidase and 2) Harness nanobodies for antiviral therapy. The results from this doctoral project will provide important information for the deisgn of novel influenza vaccines and therapeutics.

For the first aim the goal is to determine NA antigenicity, immunogenicity and immunodominance. The student will produce and express recombinant NA, immunize animals and generate mAbs, specific for NA. Such mAbs will be used to map antigenic sites, study viral escape and define Ab-effector functions. Immunodominance will be studied both at the antibody level by ELISA as well as at the B cell level by multicolor flow cytometry and ELISPOT. An important part of this aim is understanding the interplay between HA and NA immunity. For the second aim the student will produce several recombinant NA and immunize alpacas, in collaboration with A. Rojas-Fernandez group (U. Austral del Chile). Obtained nanobodies will be characterized in vitro for viral neutralization, virus binding, etc and in vivo for protective activity against a variety of viruses.

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.    

Documented experience within immunology and virology is a merit. Documented previous experience with recombinant protein expression, enzymatic assays (such as MUNANA or ELLA), in vivo animal work, multicolor flow cytometry, ELISA, ELISPOT are strong merits.

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 Biomedicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology. 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,
Davide Angeletti, Associate Professor, Institute of Biomedicine,
e-post: [email protected]     

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: 2022-05-23

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.