PhD position in Biochemistry - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The department of Chemistry–BMC is located within Uppsala University Biomedical Center. We conduct teaching and outstanding research in areas of Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry. Research education is given within these subjects. We have interfaces towards pre-clinical biomedicine and the clinic, pharmacy, physics and materials science. The department has approximately 140 employees, and of them around 40 PhD students and 10 Professors. 

You can find more information about us here .

We are looking for a PhD student in Biochemistry in the group of Dr. Ylva Ivarsson (https://ivarssonlab.com/).

Project description
The research in Ivarssonlab aims to elucidate protein-protein interactions of relevance for cell signaling and function. Our main focus is on interactions between short linear motifs (3-12 amino acids, found in the intrinsically disordered regions of proteins) and motif-binding proteins. We study both endogenous and pathogen protein-protein interactions. The information can be used for the design of peptidomimetic inhibitors.

As a PhD student in the group you will use and develop methods for charting motif-based protein-protein interactions. You will bioinformatically generated interactions and do in depth studies of selected interactions through biophysical and cell biological experiments.  This project will have a specific focus on how post-translational enable and/or disable interactions.

Appointment period
The PhD position is for four years, extendable with department duties at a level of at most 20%, typically teaching. The time for employment can be prolonged if specific reasons exist.

Duties
As a PhD student in our team you will perform graduate studies within the subject and is expected to carry out advanced research in biochemistry and to broaden your perspective and knowledge of biochemistry by taking relevant graduate courses.

Rules governing PhD candidates are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

PhD students with employment in our department are normally expected to teach and participate in general departmental work, such as instrument maintenance, to a level corresponding to a maximum of 20% of the employment time. You can read more about how it is to be a post graduate student with us here.

Requirements
To qualify for a PhD position, you must have at least 240 credits (hp), or an equivalent basic university education, with at least 90 credits in chemistry and 60 credits at the advanced level in the specialization subject. For a PhD education in biochemistry the requirements are at least 45 credits in biochemistry, of which 15 credits should be thesis work.

It is desired that you have a Master´s degree in Biochemistry or similar experience, and that you have experience of biochemical and biophysical methods, as well as previous experience of protein expression and purification.  It is of added value if you have experience of bioinformatics analysis and/or other biochemical, biophysical or cell biological methods.

To be employed as a PhD student, you must be accepted in the postgraduate program. Information concerning doctoral education, requirements and rules of admission can be found here and the study plan for postgraduate studies in biochemistry can be found here.

We place great emphasis on your personal qualifications. You need to have a strong motivation for the research project and to be able to contribute with creative ideas. This project requires that you are able to work independently, but that you also have excellent collaborative skills as you will collaborate with different people both inside and outside our university. You also need good language skills in English in order to be able to interact, write and publish internationally. Levels corresponding to IELTS: overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5; TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1-6) in written test and a total score of 575, internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0-30) in written test and a total score of 90; Cambridge: CAE, CPE are acceptable.

The project is focused on protein-protein interaction studies and how these regulate cell function. It is therefore desired that you have a general interest in cell signaling and the protein-protein interactions that regulate cell signaling. An interest in bioinformatics and network analysis of biological data is of added value.

Criteria for ranking
The ranking of applicants will be based on undergraduate grades, on the undergraduate education profile and on any additional experience of research in areas of relevance for the research project. Such additional experience should be demonstrated and included in your application, e.g. through articles published in international peer-reviewed journals or by employment at companies or other institutions active in the field of research. High emphasis will also be put on personal qualifications required for the project.

In filling this position, we aim to recruit the person who, in a combined evaluation of competence, skills and documented qualifications and are judged most suitable to carry out and develop the project-in-hand. Interviews will be performed with the top candidates through visits to us or by electronic means.

Your application
Your application must include a personal letter with a short description of yourself and the reasons why you are interested in the position. You must also include a CV, copies of degrees and diplomas, copies of your bachelor or master thesis and other documents, such as publications, that you want to provide. Names and contact details of at least two scientists that have offered to act as references for you must also be included, with a clear indication of their relationship to you.

Uppsala University strives to be an inclusive workplace that promotes equal opportunities and attracts qualified candidates who can contribute to the University’s excellence and diversity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people of all backgrounds.

Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students and teaching assistants.

Starting date: 2018-10-01 or otherwise agreed, temporary position

Working hours: 100%

For further information about the position please contact Ylva Ivarsson, ylva.ivarsson@kemi.uu.se

Please submit your application by 24 august 2018, UFV-PA 2018/2572.