Uppsala University, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology

The position is located at the Department of Cell- and Molecular Biology and within Sanna Koskiniemi's reserach group. The department of Cell- and Molecular Biology at Uppsala University has a strong and international research and teaching environment and is organized in six major research programs; Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Microbiology, Molecular Biophysics, Molecular Evolution, Molecular Systems Biology, Structure and Molecular Biology. Please read more at: http://www.icm.uu.se.

Project description: The proposed project will take place in an active research group at the department of Cell and Molecular biology. The focus of this research group lies in understanding the role of bacterial toxin delivery systems in biology. Bacterial toxin delivery (e.g. bacteriocins, type 6 secretion and contact-dependent growth inhibition systems) has previously been shown to be important for antagonistic interactions, allowing bacteria with these systems a competitive advantage in environments where resources for growth are scarce and shared with other bacteria. In addition to their role in competition, these systems have been found to function in cell-cell communication. In this project we will investigate how presence of toxin delivery systems affect bacterial ability to colonize, infect and replicate within a host.

Duties: As a PhD student in this project are you expected to independently drive scientific projects within the area, with help from the supervisor. Duties include general bacteriological laboratory work, bacterial infection experiments in mice, and molecular biological work such as PCS, Sanger and Illumina sequencing and bioinformatic analyses. Scientific writing and editing as well as research presentations are a natural part of the position. In addition to research, the PhD student is expected to take part in teaching as a laboratory assistant for undergraduates and/or at a graduate level up to 20% of the time. 

Requirements: We are looking for applicants with a MSc degree in biology or biotechnology with a strong focus in a relevant area such as Molecular Biology, Microbiology or Molecular Biotechnology. You should be a highly-motivated individual, with the ability to work independently and a strong interest in pursuing a PhD degree in microbiology with focus on bacterial interactions.The candidate is expected to take own initiatives as well as to collaborate with colleagues both within and outside of the research group. Ability to independently perform primer design, simple bioinformatic analyses (sequence comparisons, blast searches etc.), molecular biology (PCR, sequencing, cloning) and SDS-page / western blot is required. Good oral and written communication skills in English are essential. Finally, significant weight will be given to personal suitability such as; personal maturity, stubbornness, articulateness and stability. The applicant is expected to work well with others, have good problem-solving ability, and ability to structure his/her work adequately and use good judgement.
When scientific writing and editing as well as research presentations are a natural part of the position is good written and oral skills in English is an absolute requirement.

Additional qualifications:

  • Documented expertise in bacterial infections of mice is highly meriting
  • Documented passing of courses required to participate in animal experiments (that adhere to the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations course plan for FELASA category C. (E.g. Laboratory animla science 4.5hp UU) is meriting
  • Ability to independently perform advanced construction of bacterial mutants, run flow cytometry or perform microscopy are highly meriting.
  • Ability to teach in Swedish is highly meriting.

Application: Please submit your application including:

1) CV

2) a letter describing your research interests, skills and motivation to apply for the position

3) transcript of records

4) publications and/or a copy of master thesis

5) up to two reference letters

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines http://regler.uu.se/?languageId=1.

Salary: According to local agreement for PhD students.
 
Starting date: As soon as possible or as otherwise agreed.

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

Scope of employment: 100 %

For further information about the position please contact: Sanna Koskiniemi, +46 18 471 66 83, sanna.koskiniemi@icm.uu.se. Information about the research group can be found at http://www.icm.uu.se/Program/Microbiology/.

Please submit your application by March 19th 2021, UFV-PA 2021/384.

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.

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment Snarast
Salary Fixed salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100 %
City Uppsala
County Uppsala län
Country Sweden
Reference number UFV-PA 2021/384
Union representative
  • ST/TCO, tco@fackorg.uu.se
  • Seko Universitetsklubben, seko@uadm.uu.se
  • Saco-rådet, saco@uadm.uu.se
Published 04.Feb.2021
Last application date 19.Mar.2021 11:59 PM CET

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