PhD student in Medical sciences

Skilled and committed employees are a crucial factor in the success of Linköping University. And we need more of them. Our core expertise comes from teachers and researchers, but a successful university requires experienced and motivated employees in many fields. Everyone is important. We need to recruit many new employees thanks to, among all, an expansion in our research activity. We need you here. We look forward to receiving your application!

The Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences (HMV) conducts teaching and research across a wide range of medical disciplines and is noted for its interdisciplinary profile. The aim of the department’s operations is to provide relevant training against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving healthcare sector and a society in constant flux. HMV is located both in Linköping and Norrköping .
Read more at: www.liu.se/en/organisation/liu/hmv

We are looking for a PhD student in Medical sciences with a position in the Division of Diagnostics and Specialist Medicine (DISP), HMV

Your work assignments
As a doctoral student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20% of full-time.

Description of the PhD project “Regulation of innate immunity in coronary artery disease”
A proportion of patients with coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction show persistent low-grade inflammation despite revascularization and extensive drug treatment. This means an increased risk of recurring disease, so-called residual inflammatory risk. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that cells from the innate immune response, such as neutrophils, play a role in increasing risk for future cardiovascular events. The research group has previously shown that neutrophils in coronary heart disease patients are more likely to activate compared to neutrophils from healthy individuals. In addition, there are indications that neutrophil counts in coronary heart disease patients are associated with vulnerable plaque type in the coronary vessels. Regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are well documented as regulators of adaptive immunity. Recently, their potential role in the regulation of innate immunity is receiving increasing attention. The number of Treg cells has been shown to be lower in patients with myocardial infarction. The interaction between neutrophils and Treg cells has not previously been studied in coronary heart disease.

Coronary heart disease patients also have disorders in their hormonal profile such as elevated levels of leptin and dysregulated cortisol secretion. Both leptin and cortisol have immunomodulatory effects.

The purpose of the current PhD project is to study how Treg cells can affect the activation and survival of neutrophils in coronary heart disease patients and healthy people ex vivo. Furthermore, a population-based study will be included to investigate the connection between 1) leptin levels in plasma, Treg cells, neutrophils and asymptomatic atherosclerosis, and 2) the connection between glucocorticoids and survival of neutrophils. The observational findings will be further studied in in vitro models.

Main supervisor for the project is Professor Lena Jonasson, and Co-supervisor is Assistant professor Rosanna WS Chung.

Your workplace
We conduct research and teach within subjects relating to cardiovascular sciences such as cardiovascular and clinical physiology, cardiology, thoracic and vascular surgery and thoracic anesthesia. Our research is multidisciplinary and involves basic science, methodological as well as clinical research.

Your qualifications
You have graduated at the Master’s level in the field of human biology and molecular biology or completed courses with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses in the field of human biology and molecular biology. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way.

Eligible for employment as a doctoral student is only those who are admitted or have already been admitted to postgraduate education.

You should preferably have experience in experimental laboratory work with human immune cells. Competence in flow cytometry and cell culture is also an advantage. You should also have a good ability to express yourself orally and in writing in both English and Swedish (the latter is important for the conduct of clinical studies).

Terms of employment
In connection with your admission to the doctoral program, your employment as a doctoral student is handled. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available here.

The employment has a duration of four years’ full-time equivalent. You will initially be employed for a period of one year. The employment will subsequently be renewed for periods of maximum duration two years, depending on your progress through the study plan. The employment may be extended up to a maximum of five years, based on the amount of teaching and departmental duties you have carried out. Further extensions can be granted in special circumstances.

Starting date
By agreement.

Salary and employment benefits
The salary of doctoral students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives
Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants

Application procedure
Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must be received at latest May 31 2022.

Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.

Equal opportunities

We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody's equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities .

We look forward to receiving your application!

Linköping university has framework agreements and wishes to decline direct contacts from staffing- and recruitment companies as well as vendors of job advertisements.

URL to this page
https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies?rmpage=job&rmjob=19162&rmlang=UK