PhD student in Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology

Published: 2021-11-17

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 45,000 students, more than 7,000 employees and a turnover of around SEK 7 billion.

Project: Magnetic biosensors for non-invasive diagnosis of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

The Department of Pharmacy offers 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 in vitro ADME models, enabling formulations, advanced in vivo methods, computational modelling and simulations, 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: Molecular Pharmaceutics • Drug Delivery • Pharmaceutical nanotechnology • Pharmacokinetics • Pharmacodynamics • Pharmacometrics • Clinical Pharmacy • Pharmacoeconomics • Pharmacoepidemiology • Pharmacotherapy • Social Pharmacy.

More information at Farmaci

SciLifeLab (Scilifelab ) is a Swedish 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 hosted by four Swedish universities (Uppsala University, Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University) and collaborates with several other universities. 

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University

The research group: The PhD students will be linked to the research group Molecular Pharmaceutics. The group takes a multidisciplinary approach and combines computational chemistry and bioinformatics with cell- and molecular biology, biopharmaceutics, pharmaceutics and physical chemistry to find new ways to predict and define rate-limiting barriers to the absorption and organ distribution of different types of drugs. We anticipate that our research will provide insights into new mechanisms for drug absorption, disposition and delivery, which will support development of new therapeutic strategies for efficient oral drug delivery. More information at Bergström . The position is placed in the research group of Alexandra Teleki (Alexandra Teleki ) who is associated with SciLifeLab. The overall goal of the Teleki research group is to transform innovative nanomedical approaches to clinically relevant, patient-compliant diagnosis and treatment. The PhD position is funded by and part of the ERC Consolidator Grant MAGNETO that aims to develop a novel diagnostic and therapeutic platform to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children.

The project: The project is highly interdisciplinary acting at the interface of pharmaceutical and material sciences. The PhD student will work in the area of pharmaceutical nanotechnology with the aim to develop biosensors for quantitative diagnosis of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. The diagnosis will be based on magnetic imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic particle imaging (MPI). The latter is a novel preclinical imaging technique that produces high-contrast, highly sensitive images with a signal that can be easily quantified. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) will be used as contrast agents for these diagnostic methods. SPION will be produced by flame spray pyrolysis, functionalized with antibodies that are specific to biomarkers overexpressed during disease in the gastrointestinal tract and finally incorporated in inert microcapsules. The microcapsules will act as biosensors in the gastrointestinal tract after their oral administration. The disease state can thus be diagnosed and its activity even quantified non-invasively with the magnetic imaging techniques. The project will use relevant in vitro cell-based profiling methods as well as in vivo animal models for inflammatory bowel disease to study the functionality of the magnetic biosensors.

Focus areas of the PhD studies: Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology • Drug delivery • Cell culturing • Magnetic Imaging Techniques • Biomarker discovery • Nanoparticle synthesis and solid state characterization • Microencapsulation • Biosensors.

Qualifications: Applications from highly motivated candidates are welcome. The successful candidate should have a Master of Science in Pharmaceutics, Chemical/biochemical engineering, Chemistry, Biomedicine, Material Science or similarly relevant field, and have good communication skills in oral and written English. Previous experience of any of the core subjects are meritorious. The holder of a PhD-student position shall primarily devote her or his time to own research studies. Other departmental work, such as educational or administrative duties, can be part of the position (max 20%). Of time spent on other work duties, the time for research will be extended to correspond to 4 years full-time studies.

Information about postgraduate studies, including eligibility requirements and admission rules, can be found at Utbildning på forskarnivå inom medicin och farmaci .

How to apply: The application, preferably written in English, is submitted through the application portal of Uppsala university and should contain:

• a letter in which the applicant describes her- or himself, motivates why she/he has applied for the position, states relevant qualifications and indicates research interests and plans for the future.
• a CV including at least two references (phone number and email), and
• copies of relevant certificates, degrees and grades, and copies of your master thesis and other documents, such as publications, that you want to invoke.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date February 1, 2022 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Associate Professor Alexandra Teleki, tel 018-471 4745, e-post [email protected].

Please submit your application by December 8, 2021, UFV-PA 2021/4325.

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Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

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 [email protected]
Seko Universitetsklubben [email protected]
Saco-rådet [email protected]

Number of reference: UFV-PA 2021/4325

Last application date: 2021-12-08

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