PhD position within new strategies for new antibiotics - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry (ILK) is located at the Uppsala Biomedical Centre campus and hosts about 85 employees. It is a multidisciplinary research environment with a strong focus on research and education in the field of drug discovery. Further information on the department can be found at www.ilk.uu.se.

We are searching for a motivated, creative and enthusiastic PhD student who will thrive in a collaborative environment. The PhD student will be primarily supervised by Associate Senior Lecturer (biträdande universitetslektor) Lindon Moodie at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, who is affiliated with the Uppsala Antibiotic Centre (UAC). Secondary supervision will be provided by Professor Anders Karlén, who leads the Drug Design and Discovery research group at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry (www.ilk.uu.se/research-groups/ldlu_en/).

Description:

The emergence and progression of antimicrobial resistance against frontline antibiotics represents a significant threat towards society. To help overcome this, identifying new antibiotic classes, which operate via novel modes of action, is paramount. To place further constraints on this problem, it is also desirable to develop selective antimicrobials in order to reduce collateral damage upon our beneficial resident microbial species, the human microbiome. The current project aims to address these concerns by employing chemical probes to identify bacterial protein targets suitable for antibiotic drug discovery efforts. Concurrently, relevant probes will be used to elucidate interactions between human microbiome relevant small molecules and both the host and other bacterial species. The PhD student will primarily focus on synthetic organic chemistry, but a willingness to involve themselves in biological evaluation and proteomic studies will be encouraged. Therefore, any previous involvement in these areas is highly beneficial. 

Duties:

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and seminars, as well as completing PhD courses. Work duties can also include lab and tutorial supervision, seminars and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Qualifications:

The applicant should ideally have a strong background in synthetic organic chemistry, and should be interested in applying these skills towards biologically orientated research problems. Experience in chemical biology-based research, e.g. small molecule target identification, proteomics, etc. is highly desirable. Candidates with strengths in microbiology, molecular biology, or related fields who wish to develop their skills in organic chemistry are also encouraged to apply. The candidate should have, or expect to soon have, a Masters degree (or equivalent degree) in chemistry, chemical biology, pharmacy or a related field. 

Due to the collaborative nature of these projects, good communication and interpersonal skills are required. A high proficiency in spoken and written English is essential.

Information about research-level education, eligibility requirements, and admission regulations can be found at www2.medfarm.uu.se/utbildning/forskarniva/.

Applicants will be ranked by the supervisor in consultation with the Department Research Education group. The Committee for Research Education at the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine-Pharmacy will admit the PhD student. Salaries will follow local guidelines at Uppsala University.

Rules governing PhD candidates are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala university's rules and guidelines regler.uu.se/search/?hits=30&languageId=1&search-language_en=English. The holders of PhD student position primarily devote their time to own research-level education. Other duties at the Department involving teaching and administrative tasks maybe included in the framework of the position (max 20%). The PhD program normally lasts for 4 years research, plus maximally one year of teaching.

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.

Desirable/other merits:

Good knowledge of Swedish is a merit.

The application should be written in English and include the following documents:

1. A cover letter describing the applicant’s research interests and their motivation to conduct a PhD in organic chemistry/chemical biology/antibiotic discovery.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. A summary of their research experiences (two page maximum).
4. Academic transcripts.
5. Copies of degrees/diplomas.
6. Contact information for at least two references.

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

Starting date: As soon as possible or by agreement.

Type of position: Temporary full time position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7.

For further information about the research project please contact:

Associate Senior Lecturer Lindon Moodie, lindon.moodie@ilk.uu.se

For further information about the position please contact:

Head of Department Anders Karlén, anders.karlen@ilk.uu.se

You are welcome to submit your application no later than 28 October 2019, UFV-PA 2019/3339. 

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 ifss@uadm.uu.se.

In case of a disagreement between the English and Swedish version of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.