Doctoral (Phd) position in biomedical engineering focused on microphysiological systems for cancer research

Admission to Doctoral (PhD) Studies in the subject Engineering Sciences with specialization in Biomedical Engineering

at the Division of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Uppsala University

Join us!

About the Department

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering aims to be an environment for successful and valuable research and education with a focus on materials science solutions for important societal challenges. Our department is an exciting workplace with research in a broad technology-related area, from basic research to large-scale applied research, and with close contact with students through the department's involvement in engineering and master's programs. Our research and teaching are conducted within seven divisions with different research focus.

Read more about us here

About the division
The Division of Biomedical Engineering is part of the Department of Materials Science, and Engineering at the Ångström Laboratory. We perform research within the development and evaluation of new materials in interaction with biological systems to understand the underlying principles. For us, it is equally important to study the impact of materials on biological processes as well as the impact of biological processes on materials. Our ambition is to foster a dynamic teaching and research environment that is internationally recognized for its excellence in connecting basic research with clinical applications.

This position is the first recruitment within Patrick Sandoz's newly established research group at the Division of Medical Engineering. As an early member of the group, you will play a key role in building new research activities focused on microphysiological systems and biomaterials to study cancer immunobiology, specifically the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment. Research funding has been secured through a prestigious grant from SciLifeLab, a Swedish national center for advanced research and one of Europe’s leading molecular biology laboratories, driving innovation in the life sciences. This creates an exciting platform with state-of-the-art infrastructure to conduct high-quality research, foster collaborations with other Swedish and international universities, and generate significant societal impact.

Read more about the research group here

Read more about SciLifeLab here

Project description
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with many types showing resistance to standard treatments, posing significant challenges for healthcare and research. There is growing interest in microsystems that can replicate the local physiology of tumors, providing a platform to identify and optimize therapeutic candidates. Our group specializes in developing technologies to assess the multicellular environment within three-dimensional microtumor models. This work addresses a critical knowledge gap in cancer immunobiology and supports the development of more accurate disease models.

Duties
The main duty for a doctoral student is to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and PhD courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Being a PhD student means independently running projects within a specific subject. You collaborate on an ongoing basis with other doctoral students and researchers to create results within various projects and have one or more supervisors for support during your doctoral studies. However, you work independently to a great amount, e.g. by working in a laboratory environment and writing articles for journals and for results for your doctoral thesis. Usually some form of half-time seminar is included after about half of the doctoral studies.

When you are admitted to doctoral studies, you are offered employment as a doctoral student. A position as a doctoral student at Uppsala University corresponds to full-time PhD education for four years.

Read more about being a Doctoral student here.

In this project, your responsibilities will include investigating the structural and biophysical properties of miniaturized tumor environment models. You will be responsible for fabricating these systems using both cleanroom-based and life science techniques. Additionally, you will assess the system’s performance in replicating morphological features and measuring molecular signatures. A multidisciplinary approach is expected, integrating microfabrication, cell component and biomaterial incorporation, staining of specific biological features, and computational modelling of intrinsic properties. The evaluation of results and further application of these platforms will focus on translating the developed tools and insights into clinically relevant, novel diagnostic modalities.

Requirements
Master’s degree in biomedical engineering, engineering sciences, materials science, nanotechnology, biotechnology or a related field, or other education considered equivalent to these qualifications.

We expect that you hold documented experience in at least one of the following areas (e.g. from your MSc thesis):

1. Culture and characterization of mammalian cells, preferably cancer or immune cells
2. Microfluidics systems for biomedical applications
3. Functional biomaterials for life science applications

We require good oral and written skills in English.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100) chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

Additional qualifications
It is advantageous to have documented knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Microfabrication in a clean-room facility
• Staining and advanced imaging techniques (e.g., confocal microscopy)
• Isolation of primary immune cells or culture of patient-derived cell components
• Antibody-based biochemical assays

We place high importance to your personal qualities and seek a creative individual, with strong problem-solving skills and a curiosity-driven mindset, who can work both independently and collaboratively. Adaptability is also essential, as research directions and methodologies evolve, requiring flexibility and openness to learning new techniques. You should have the willingness to develop technical competencies and apply them toward innovative solutions that translate fundamental research into practical applications. Additionally, you must be able to communicate your research effectively and be structured in planning and leading your own work.

Your application must include
A short cover letter in which you describe yourself, why you want to do a PhD and why you are suitable for this position.

• CV (max 2 pages)
• A certified copy of your master's degree and your course grades.
• Copies (or drafts) of your master's thesis and other documents, such as publications, that you wish to refer to.
• Names and contact details of at least two contact persons who have accepted to be references for you, with any additional letters of recommendation. It must also be stated what relationship you have had with the respective referent.

The application should be written in English. We will continuously read applications and call for interviews.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date 01-08-2025 or as agreed upon. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Patrick Sandoz +4670 167 91 55, patrick.sandoz@scilifelab.uu.se, Karin Magnusson +4618 471 72 43, karin.magnusson@angstrom.uu.se

Please submit your application by 15 May 2025, UFV-PA 2025/872

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