PhD position in Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic modelling - Antibiotics

Published: 2022-11-18

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has over 54,000 students, more than 7,500 employees and a turnover of around SEK 8 billion.

PhD position in Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic modelling - Antibiotics

The Department of Pharmacy at Uppsala University has an interdisciplinary environment at the center of the pharmaceutical arena. With frontline research, first-rate education and extensive collaborations we constitute an important driving force in the development of our academic field. In this inspiring environment our rich diversity of research groups, several of international prominence, develop and conduct work of great scientific importance. Among our core competences are computational modelling and simulations, PKPD, in vitro ADME models, advanced in vivo methods, , as well as patient and societal aspects, from optimizing the use of drugs in individuals to societal pharmaceutical policies. Together, we form a unique cluster of academic competences within pharmaceutical science, playing a key role in shaping the future of pharmacy in both Sweden and globally.

Our scientific focus areas in selection: Pharmacokinetics • Pharmacodynamics • Pharmacometrics • Clinical Pharmacy • Drug Delivery • Molecular Pharmaceutics • Pharmaceutics and Nanotechnology • Pharmacoeconomics • Pharmacoepidemiology • Pharmacotherapy • Social Pharmacy

 More information www.farmaci.uu.se

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Duties/Project
A doctoral position focusing on the characterization of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationships for antibiotic therapy is available within the research area of ​​pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics, focusing on antibiotics, at the Department of Pharmacy.

The overall aim is to develop a strategy that enables the clinical development of antimicrobial therapy against serious infections caused by resistant bacteria. We will develop a model-based method that translates information on antibacterial efficacy from a rabbit lung infection model, which mimics clinical disease progression, to patients with severe lung infections. Antibiotic effects, the interaction between biomarkers and the severity of the disease will be characterized in mathematical models where parameters are scaled between species. The approach will enable a reduced number of patients in clinical trials investigating new treatments against difficult-to-treat pathogens.

The project involves a data-driven modeling platform that will support predictions between species. In the development, the focus will be on beta-lactamase-beta-lactamase inhibitor treatment in pneumonia infections. The platform will be evaluated on other treatments and difficult-to-treat pathogens and applied to identify optimized dosing strategies for antibiotics in pneumonia. Clinical trials will be simulated to investigate the possibility of reducing the amount of clinical efficacy data given different degrees of exposure-response information from preclinical pulmonary infection studies.

Requirements
The applicant should have an MSc degree in a relevant area, such as pharmaceutical sciences, medicine, engineering with minimum 240 credits or alternatively a Master in pharmaceutical modelling or in Drug development, including courses in pharmacokinetics, physiology, pharmacology, modelling and programming (e.g. in R).

The applicant should be highly motivated and have a genuine interest for research in the field of pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics, pharmacometrics, and dose optimization. Experience of research in antibiotics is a merit. The applicant is expected to have excellent skills in oral and written English. The applicant should also have good collaboration skills since the project involves interaction between different research groups and demonstrated capability to drive the research project in a structured and methodological way.

Further information about the research-level education, eligibility requirements, and admission regulations can be found at Research training programmes . Applications will be ranked by the supervisors in consultation with the Department Research-level Education group. The committee for Research-level Education at the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy will admit the PhD student. Salaries will follow local guidelines at Uppsala University. Rules governing PhD candidates are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala university's rules and guidelines Policies and regulations . The holders of PhD student position primarily devote their time to own research-level education. Other duties at the Department involving teaching and administrative tasks maybe included in the framework of the position (max 20%). The PhD program normally lasts for 4 years research, plus maximally one year of teaching.

Application
The application should include (i) a motivation letter with a brief description of the candidate and research interests as well as experiences in relation to the requirements and qualifications listed above, and the topics pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacometrics, and antibiotics (ii) the candidate’s CV, (iii) copies of diplomas and certificates, (iv) two recommendation letters (where at least one should preferably would be from a supervisor of the Master thesis) and (v) thesis, as well as other relevant documents that the applicant wish to refer to, such as proficiency in English.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 2023-02-01 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Professor Lena Friberg, lena.friberg@farmaci.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 19 December 2022, UFV-PA 2022/4300.

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Placement: Department of Pharmacy

Type of employment: Full time , Temporary position longer than 6 months

Pay: Fixed salary

Number of positions: 1

Working hours: 100 %

Town: Uppsala

County: Uppsala län

Country: Sweden

Union representative: ST/TCO tco@fackorg.uu.se
Seko Universitetsklubben seko@uadm.uu.se
Saco-rådet saco@uadm.uu.se

Number of reference: UFV-PA 2022/4300

Last application date: 2022-12-19