PhD student in Biophysics (B)

Ref. No. SU FV-0158-23

at the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics . (Closing date: 21 February 2023.) Prolonged application time - New closing date: 7 March 2023

SciLifeLab (SciLifeLab ) is a national center for molecular biosciences with focus on health and environmental research. The center combines frontline technical expertise with advanced knowledge of translational medicine and molecular bioscience. SciLifeLab is a national resource hosted by Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Uppsala University. The center also collaborates with several other universities.

The employment will be placed at the Department of biochemistry and biophysics, at Stockholm university.

Project description
Your studies in Biophysics will be in the project: "Cryo electron microscopy polyclonal epitope mapping applied to infectious and auto-immune diseases”.

The Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics offers a 4-years PhD position to study “Cryo electron microscopy polyclonal epitope mapping applied to infectious and auto-immune diseases”, in the group of Dr. Marta Carroni. The group is located at SciLifeLab and benefits from its lively scientific environment made of about 200 research groups, 1500 researchers and 40 national infrastructure units.

The PhD student will learn to purify antibodies and fab fragments from patient or animal model sera, will express and purify antigen proteins using bacterial and eukaryotic systems, prepare specimens for cryo-EM, operate the electron microscope in different modalities and determine structure of molecular complexes. The PhD student will work also in close collaboration with the group of immunologist Prof. Adnane Achour at SciLifeLab-KI to learn immunology functional assays.  The PhD student will be able to develop and test research hypothesis about structure and function of protein complexes involved in immune response. The technical and theoretical knowledge that the student will acquire will be useful for future work possibilities in both the research and biotechnological/industry work environments.

The PhD student will work closely with a senior postdoc and another PhD student as well as with members of the Cryo-EM Facility at SciLifeLab (Stockholm, Sweden). The student will have access to two Titan Krios (equipped with Gatan Bioquantum-K3 cameras and CetaD for electron diffraction), one Talos Arctica (Falcon 3 and K2) and a powerful GPU computer cluster. SciLifeLab offers access to a number of other facilities such as super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, compound screening, NMR and structural mass spectrometry offering numerous possibilities to learn, explore cutting edge techniques, and to collaborate with different experts.

Qualification requirements
In order to meet the general entry requirements, the applicant must have completed a second-cycle degree, completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

In order to meet the specific entry requirements for acceptance in the Biophysics program, the applicant must have passed courses within the first and second cycles of at least 120 credits in Physics or Chemistry and at the second level, courses of at least 60 credits Biophysics, Biochemistry or Physical Chemistry including a 30 credit Degree Project (thesis).

The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications. 

Selection
The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to successfully complete the program. Important criteria when assessing this capacity are; documented knowledge and skills in the field of the thesis project, written and oral proficiency in English, the capacity for analytical thinking, the ability to collaborate, as well as creativity, initiative, and independence. The assessment will be based on previous experience and grades, the quality of the degree project, references, relevant experience, interviews, and the candidate’s written motivation for seeking the position. 

Experience with molecular biology techniques such as cloning or mutagenesis and knowledge of Linux commands scripting will be considered as an advantage.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University are available at: www.su.se/rules and regulations .

Terms of employment
Only a person who will be or has already been admitted to a third-cycle programme may be appointed to a doctoral studentship.

The term of the initial contract may not exceed one year. The employment may be extended for a maximum of two years at a time. However, the total period of employment may not exceed the equivalent of four years of full-time study.

Doctoral students should primarily devote themselves to their own education, but may engage in teaching, research, and administration corresponding to a maximum of 20 % of a full-time position.

Please note that admission decisions cannot be appealed.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
For more information, please contact project leader Marta Carroni, [email protected] .

General information about the PhD programs can be given by the Director of Doctoral Studies, Pia Ädelroth, [email protected]  or the Head of the Department, Martin Högbom, [email protected] .

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, [email protected] , Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, [email protected] , [email protected]  (SEKO), and PhD student representative, [email protected] .

Application
Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of degree projects/theses
• Project proposal/Research proposal describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Degree certificates and grades confirming that you meet the general and specific entry requirements (no more than 6 files)
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 6 files)
• Degree projects/theses (no more than 6 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position .

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

URL to this page
https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs/phd-student-positions-1.507588?rmpage=job&rmjob=19933&rmlang=UK