EU funded PhD student in Medical Cell Biology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

EU HORIZON-EIC Pathfinder Open Co-funded PhD Student Position in Medical Cell Biology:
Bio-Inspired Synthetic Mucin Hydrogels for Lubrication, Infection Prophylaxis, and Immune Modulation in Transplantation Medicine

We are thrilled to announce a doctoral student position with Dr. Hongji Yan at the Department of Medical Cell Biology (MCB), Uppsala University. Dr. Yan works within the ImmunoPhysiology research group, which is led by Professor Mia Phillipson and is pioneering the development of translational gels that (1) can lubricate the epithelium and prevent viral infection, supported by the HORIZON-EIC Pathfinder Open-2024; and (2) can be used to construct advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) for transplantation and regenerative medicine, supported by the VR Establishment Grant-2023 and the VR3R-2021.

Nature has spent hundreds of millions of years optimising elegant solutions to extremely complicated problems.

One example is the mucus gel that covers the human body's wet epithelial surfaces. Mucuses moisturise and lubricate our epithelium, protect us from invaders such as bacteria and viruses, and maintain the homeostasis of tissues. Mucin glycoproteins are the major non-aqueous components. Mucins are made up of a protein backbone decorated by sugar molecules. This produces remarkable chemical diversity, allowing mucins to play various roles in nature.

Having learned how the body's natural defense function protects us, Dr. Yan focused the last 7 years on developing bioinspired gels for various biomedical applications and has demonstrated synthetic "mucus-like" gels can augment lubricity and viral infection prophylaxis efficacy, such as for HIV-1 and HSV-2 [1]. Furthermore, Dr. Yan has showed engineered "stable" mucin gels can modulate immune response upon implantation, thereby, evading immune recognition-mediated foreign body response [2-3], augmenting the healing and revascularization of rat critical-size calvarial bone defects [4], and preserving the immune-privileged niche of the nucleus pulposus, safeguarding intervertebral discs from degeneration after discectomy [5].

KEY REFERENCES (*Corresponding Author)
¹M Kretschmer et al., and Yan* (2022) Adv. Sci., 2203898
²Yan et al., and Crouzier (2019) Adv. Func. Mater., 29:46,1902581
³Yan* et al., and Crouzier (2021) Adv. Func. Mater., 31:42,2203898
⁴Chen, et al., and Yan* (2023) Bioact. Mater., 25:176-188
⁵Wang et al., Yan* and Li (2024) Adv. Sci., 2404496

Duties

My research also shows that the complexity and structural integrity of mucins and mucus gels with specific material properties are important to their function [1-5]. In this PhD project, the candidate will develop mucin gels with tailored properties for use as an antiviral lubricant, which can trap viral particles within the gels and excrete them from the epithelium before the viral particles reach the epithelium, and for islet transplantation, where the gels can microencapsulate islets within gel microdroplets, establish an immune-privileged niche upon transplantation, and thereby enable adequate re-vascularisation. In brief, purified mucins will be assembled into "mucus-like" gels, "stable" mucin gels, and gel microdroplets. The correlation between gel properties and bioapplications will be assessed using in vitro and in vivo biological assays.

You will be involved in high-impact, multidisciplinary research in a well-resourced and supportive environment and are expected to contribute to a project of significant scientific and societal importance. In parallel, you will gain an extensive network for collaboration and professional growth.

Requirements
To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must

• - hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in biomedical engineering, biomedicine, biochemistry, pharmacology, cell biology, biotechnology or biomaterials, or other relevant field, or
• - have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• - have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

The applicant must demonstrate a strong interest in both basic and applied research focused on developing bio-inspired hydrogels to address the two disease areas mentioned above. Documented knowledge and practical experience in any of biomedical engineering, biomedicine, biochemistry, pharmacology, cell biology, biotechnology or biomaterials, or other relevant field, is required. Candidates with a laboratory animal license are preferred.

The candidate is expected to have excellent study results, and be proficient in oral and written communication in English. Employment as PhD student requires that the candidate is, or will be, admitted for postgraduate studies at Uppsala University.

We consider very high motivation and enthusiasm as fundamental prerequisites for these positions, encompassing initiative-taking and active collaboration with fellow researchers.

In addition, the candidates must possess:

• Educational credentials: Experience of expertise in biomaterials, biomedical engineering, cell biology/immunology/physiology, demonstrated through degrees, publications and other relevant qualifications
• Exceptional organizational skills, and a high degree of motivation to excel in a dynamic research environment
• Autonomy: the capability to independently perform complex tasks with supervision
• The ability to onboard and supervise new group members and students
• Excellent problem-solving skills, strong analytical skills, protocol development expertise
• Proficiency in scientific writing, and in summarizing results and data

The application should contain a short personal letter with a brief description of research interests and relevant experiences (1/2 A4) together with a full CV, copies of diplomas and transcripts, the applicant’s thesis (or a draft) and documentation from other to the position relevant experiences.

Please also submit two letters of reference or contact information of previous direct research supervisors.

Selection of candidates is based on qualifications, previous work experience, and personal suitability.

Additional qualifications

The application should contain a brief motivation and description of relevant experiences, CV, copies of diplomas and transcripts, and the applicant’s MSc thesis (or similar). Please also include contact information of previous research supervisors or other references.

The doctoral student employment is limited to a maximum of 4 years full-time studies. Holders of PhD positions shall primarily devote themselves to their own postgraduate education, but other work such as teaching and administrative work may be included up to 20 % of the employment. The position will be extended with the teaching period to enable four years of full-time studies.

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

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Dr Hongji Yan, hongji.yan@mcb.uu.se, and Prof. Mia Phillipson, mia.phillipson@mcb.uu.se

Please submit your application by November 7 2024, UFV-PA 2024/3294.

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