PhD student in veterinary medicine, Immunology

Department of Biomedical Sciences and veterinary public health

The Department of Biomedical Sciences and veterinary public health belongs to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health,
and is responsible for teaching, research and PhD education in Pathology, Pharmacology, Toxicology, Immunology, Virology,
Bacteriology, Food-Safety, Parasitology and Epizootology.

Extracellular vesicle-based vaccination as a novel strategy to fight Ant-Helmintic Resistance

Description:

Development of anthelmintic (multi)resistance (AHR) in parasitic roundworms of livestock and horses is a well-established problem in veterinary medicine, but parasitic AHR is also an emerging problem for human medicine. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms linked to development of AHR. Furthermore, if and how immunomodulating extracellular vesicles (EV) released by parasites contribute to AHR is completely unknown. To gain further insight into the molecular mechanisms of AHR and to study how EV impacts on the development of AHR we will use equine, canine and pig roundworms as model organisms. To increase our mechanistic insight of AHR we have developed in vitro-cultures from infective larva stages roundworms, (multi)AHR or non-resistant, and EV will be collected and used in the different aims. Using different omics-methods, i.e. label free proteomics and RNA-seq, the “cargo load” in EV and gene expression profiles in infective larva stages, before and after exposure to anthelmintics, will be analysed. Furthermore, the communication potential and immunogenicity of EV will be characterized, the latter as an indication for the development of an EV-based vaccine. The prevalence of AHR is growing steadily and the ultimate goal of this project is to find new alternative treatment methods.

Qualifications:

To apply you should have a Master degree in biology/biochemistry/biomedicine, or a degree from a Biomedicine program; Civil Engineering in biotechnology/biochemistry; Medical school; Veterinary school. Experience in experimental parasitology and immunology, as well as bioinformatics are valued merits. The appointment will be based on personal skills and experiences, as well as the project related motivation to why this position is of interest to the applicant. The applicant should be well organized and have good cooperative qualities, in combination with a willingness to take own initiatives and to work independently. A documented ability to communicate well in English, orally and in writing, is an absolute requirement. The exam project-work thesis and eventual scientific publications as stated in merits should follow the application.

Place:

Uppsala

Form of employment: 

Employment as a doctoral student for 4 years

Starting date:

As agreed

Application:

Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2023-02-03

To qualify for third-cycle (Doctoral) courses and study programmes, you must have a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification.
Alternatively, you must have conducted a minimum of four years of full-time study, of which a minimum of one year at second-cycle
level. 

To your application with personal merits you should also add a project related motivation to why you are interested in this position.

Applicants will be selected based on their written application and CV, degree project, copies of their degree certificate and transcript of
records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution, two personal references, and
knowledge of English. More information about the English language requirements can be found
here: www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/new-doctoral-students/english-language-requirements/

Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, a transcript of records from
previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution. Applicants who are not Swedish citizens need to
submit an attested copy of their passport’s information page containing their photograph and personal details.

Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is a world-class international university with research, education and
environmental assessment within the sciences for sustainable life. Its principal sites are in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, but activities are
also conducted at research stations, experimental parks and educational establishments throughout Sweden. We bring together people
who have different perspectives, but they all have one and the same goal: to create the best conditions for a sustainable, thriving and
better world.

SLU has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern,
attractive environment on its campuses.

Contact person: 

Magnus Åbrink

Lecturer

018-67 27 83 (only on prior agreement via mail) 

magnus.abrink@slu.se

Contact person

URL to this pagehttps://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/jobs-vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=7598&rmlang=UK