PhD position in germline stem cell development and fertility (PA2024/1090)

Description of the business

Our research focuses on the role of extracellular singling in cell fate decisions during development and disease. The group, led by Dr. Sandeep Gopal, is located at the Biomedical Center in Lund. The research group is part of Lund's Stem cell Center and the Department of Experimental Medical Science. We are looking for a PhD student who has an interest in extracellular biology and germline stem cells. The goal of the project is to elucidate how glycans and glycan binding molecules regulate germline stem cells and fertility. This project has a combinatorial approach using both Caenorhabditis elegans and in vitro mammalian models. 

Visit the link for more information about our research Here

Duties and areas of responsibility

The main tasks for a doctoral student are to devote themselves to their doctoral education and therefore you will be both accepted as a student and an employee at Lund University.

The project focuses on the role on the glycans and glycan binding proteins in regulating germline stem cell development and fertility. The project employs both in vitro and in vivo models. Our goal is to identify how protein bound and free carbohydrate chains are their interactors control stem cell fate and fertility. To decipher the basic signalling, we employ Caenorhabditis elegans, an invertebrate with highly conserved signalling in germline stem cells. We use 2D and 3D cell culture models for application-level studies. The duties of the applicant include planning and performing the experiments in the lab. The PhD student will have to collect data and participate in discussions with members of the lab. The project will involve learning novel biochemical, genetic, and gene modification tools such as CRISPR/Cas9, confocal microscopy and bioinformatics.  

Qualifications

Requirements for admission are:

completed degree at advanced level, completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at advanced level, or in some other way within or outside the country acquired essentially equivalent knowledge. good ability to assimilate the postgraduate education special authority, as establishedat faculty level, for example:- knowledge from XX university education or equivalent education,
- specific professional experience
- necessary language skills or other conditions conditioned by
the education.

Requirements for the position are:

-An MSc in biomedicine or similar, or equivalent knowledge acquired in Sweden or abroad.

-Excellent oral and written proficiency in English.

-Previous experience in research labs during degree projects.

-Proven ability in thesis writing.

-Good understanding of cell-molecular biology and a strong interest in extracellular biology and stem cells.

 Meritorious for the position are:

-Expertise Immunocytochemistry and microscopy techniques.

-Experience in extracellular matrix biology.

-Knowledge in R software.

-Previous experience with bioinformatics tools and coding.

Great importance will be placed on how the applicant, through his experience and competence, is judged to have the ability needed to pass the doctoral program.

We offer

Lund University is a state authority, which means you get special benefits, generous holidays and a favorable occupational pension.

As a doctoral student at Lund University, you are both accepted as a student and an employee, which provides several benefits. Read more about being accepted and employee at the university's website.

As a PhD student, you will have the opportunity to participate in high quality research, attend international conferences and interact with world class researchers in the department.
Read more on the university's website about being employed by us Work with us

About the employment

The employment is a fixed-term employment for a total of four years, 100% with a start date 1th of June 2024 or according to agreements. The main rule is that employment at Lund University is conducted in Sweden, you are therefore expected to be able to perform your work on site in Lund.
Regulations regarding employment as a doctoral student can be found in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), ch. 5 §§ 1-7. Provisions regarding admission to postgraduate studies can be found in ch. 6. Section 3 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). More information is available at the university's website.

Miscellaneous

For doctoral students, there is a special salary scale linked to each faculty and salary is set according to the current salary scale.

This is how you search

Applications are to be submitted via the University’s recruitment system. The application should include a personal letter justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. The application should also include a CV, degree certificates and any other document to which you would like to draw attention. CV should include names and contact details of three referees.

Eligibility
Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who- have completed a second-cycle degree- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Type of employment
Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.