Garduate student (PhD student)

Description

We are seeking a PhD student at the Department of Clinical Microbiology.
The project aims to identify and characterize how mast cells respond during fungal infections and how they regulate host inflammation and fungal clearance.
You will develop model systems to study pathogenesis and host responses under these conditions. You become part of a research group that uses state-of-the-art technologies and collaborates with other leading researchers.

Our goal is to obtain new, cutting-edge knowledge and enable the development of new treatments for fungal infections. We offer an international, stimulating and collaborative research environment that promotes your scientific career development.
The employment is limited to four years, starting as soon as possible or by agreement.

The project

Despite major advances in health care, the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases remains a major challenge. This is especially true for fungal infections (mycoses) which are often difficult to diagnose and can cause systemic, life-threatening infections, especially in individuals with impaired immune systems.

My research team strives to understand the interaction between pathogenic fungi and our innate immune system, with a particular focus on mast cells. These cells are tissue-borne and act as rapid response catalysts for the recognition of infections or tumor growth. Mast cells are best known from studies in the field of allergy, as mast cells are mainly responsible for symptoms within an allergic reaction. The role of mast cells in infection, on the other hand, is less well known.Because mast cells are very powerful cells, new knowledge can probably be used for more effective therapy approaches against infections. You will use advanced microscopic, immunological and biochemical methods to investigate the response of mast cells and will deepen analyzes using reconstructive three-dimensional tissue and organ models as well as using various mouse strains such as for instance strain lacking expression of certain mast cell genes.

Other information

The postgraduate service gives you the opportunity to develop into an independent researcher who plans and performs experiments on her/his own, interprets results and puts them in a scientific context.

• You will be presented and discuss your research with other researchers within and outside the group.
• You are actively involved in compiling and publishing research results.
• You will also be able to supervise Swedish and foreign students at the bachelor / master's level, and participate in the department's teaching obligation.
• You will complete graduate education with compulsory and electable courses, active participation in seminar series and journal clubs.
• You also act in accordance with the university's policy on equal opportunities and data protection.

Eligibility and qualifications

You must have at least 240 credits (ECTS), of which at least 60 credits at the advanced level paired with fundamental knowledge of immunology.
An educational background in the natural sciences, biomedicine or medical sciences is a merit for the position.

Applicants must be proficient in both oral and written communication in English, be able to work independently as well as in collaboration with others and be very motivated.
Applicants should have a keen interest in innate immunity and opportunistic mycoses, and be willing to take on scientific and methodological challenges. Previous practical experience with cell culture models and experience working with innate immune cells is a merit, as is experience in immunological research on non-infectious disorders, such as for instance cancer.

Application

The application should contain the following:

Send application electronically via Varbi labelled.
The documents should be compiled in one file in word or pdf-format.
Last day of application 2021-09-30.

Welcome with your application!