PhD student position in the research group of Lars Forsberg - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University (www.igp.uu.se) has a broad research profile with strong research groups focused on cancer, autoimmune and genetic diseases. A fundamental idea at the department is to stimulate translational research and thereby closer interactions between medical research and health care. Research is presently conducted in the following areas: medical and clinical genetics, clinical immunology, pathology, neuro-oncology, vascular biology, radiation science and molecular tools. Department activities are also integrated with the units for Oncology, Clinical Genetics, Clinical Immunology, Clinical Pathology, and Hospital Physics at Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala. The department has teaching assignments in several education programmes, including Master Programmes, at the Faculty of Medicine, and in a number of educations at the Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology. The department has a yearly turnover of around SEK 400 million, out of which more than half is made up of external funding. The staff amounts to approximately 340 employees, out of which 100 are PhD-students, and there are in total more than 600 affiliated people.

Project description:
A PhD student position is available in the laboratory of Lars Forsberg at Uppsala University, Dept. of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with interest and experience in bioinformatics. The project will be focused on characterization and analyses of phenotypical effects from post-zygotic mutations, i.e. during life time acquired somatic genetic variation. The prevalence and effects from such mutations, ranging in size from point mutations to aneuploidies, in normal cells in aging and diseased humans represents an intense area of research in medical genetics. For example, specific post-zygotic variants have profound effects on various outcomes, such as a strong association between mosaic loss of chromosome Y in normal blood cells and increased risk for cancer and Alzheimer´s disease.

The main area of research will be analyses of transcriptional changes in human cells carrying various post-zygotic variants, both in single-cells and in bulk RNA. In these studies, we will apply existing bioinformatics tools as well as new tools that will be developed during the project. The analyses will partly be performed on data generated in the group but we also plan to perform extensive data mining in various online databases. A part of the project will therefore be to explore, validate and analyze such public data.

Further information on the activity of the research group can be accessed at http://forsberglab.com

The successful candidate will devote most of the time towards his/her research level education. Other service activities within the department, e.g. education and administrative work can be included within the framework of the employment (maximum 20%). The position will be extended with the time devoted to teaching to allow four years of full time graduate studies. 

Qualifications:
Applicants should have MSc degree in a relevant area (e.g. Master of Science in Molecular Biotechnology Engineering and Bioinformatics). Experience in working with R and documented training of analyses of single-cell data are required. Previous practice of bioinformatic analyses of genetic disease, somatic mutations and WGS data are meriting. Successful applicants is used to working in Linux/Unix and familiar with scripting in languages such as Bash, Java, Perl and Python. Personal qualities will be of importance and excellent skills in oral and written English are meriting. 

The application should include a CV, copies of exams, degrees and grades, contact details of two references and a short description of the applicant and his/her experience. Letters(s) of recommendation may be included. If the applicant has published scientific papers, they can also be included. Information about education at the postgraduate level, admission requirements and admission decisions can be found  at http://www2.medfarm.uu.se/utbildning/forskarniva/vill_du_borja/ 

Selection of applicants will be done by the future tutor for the selected student in consultation with the postgraduate study group of the Department. The Postgraduate Programmes Committee at the Disciplinary  Domain of Medicine will  formally approve the student's  admission. 

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

Starting date: According to the agreement.

Type of position: Full time position.

For further information about the position please contact:
Docent Lars Forsberg, lars.forsberg@igp.uu.se

You are welcome to submit your application no later than 2018-09-26, UFV-PA 2018/3060.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? If so, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus. You are also welcome to contact International Faculty and Staff Services at mailto:ifss@uadm.uu.se.