PhD student in Circadian Epigenomics

Are you interested in working with molecular and cell biology methods, epigenetics, and circadian regulation, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a PhD position in the Molecular Toxicology and Epigenetics (EpiTox) group at the Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University.

Research in the EpiTox group aims at understanding the role of epigenetic mechanisms in neurodevelopment effects of environmental chemicals and how circadian rhythms affect epigenetic patterns and toxic responses. The EpiTox group is part of the research program Physiology and Environmental Toxicology, a growing, vibrant research environment where experimental models and molecular tools are used to study and understand cellular and molecular mechanisms in animals and plants underlying whole organisms' physiology, development, and responses to the environment.

The PhD project is embedded in a VR-funded project addressing the question how DNA methylation patterns are regulated across the circadian cycle. Collaborator Philipp Antczak at the University of Cologne will act as a co-supervisor and advisor for bioinformatic analyses.

Duties
You will be largely based in the wet lab but also learn and perform the bioinformatic analyses of the produced datasets (DNA methylation and RNA-seq). Laboratory work will include mammalian cell culture and different molecular biology methods including DNA/RNA extraction and analyses as well as CRISPR-based tagging. Bioinformatic analyses will be conducted using R- or Python.

You are expected to plan, perform, analyse, and interpret their work independently after initial training, to communicate their research in oral and written form at conferences and in scientific publications, to advise master and bachelor students, and engage in the scientific and social activities in the group, at the program and the department.

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

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in molecular biology, cell-biology, or fields deemed similar/relevant by the employer, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education deemed relevant by the employer, 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.

Experience working with molecular biology methods is required.

As the work will be carried out in an international interdisciplinary environment, documented oral and written communication skills in English are required.

Emphasis will also be placed on personal qualities. We seek a highly motivated person with original, creative and analytical thinking and team spirit. The applicant is expected to take initiative and work independently.

Additional qualifications
Additional assets include experience with mammalian cell culture, CRISPR/Cas9-based techniques. A strong interest to learn, or already have experience in, bioinformatic analyses of DNA methylation and RNA-seq datasets is preferable. Background knowledge in epigenetic and/or circadian regulation is also a plus.

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: Joëlle Rüegg, joelle.ruegg@ebc.uu.se

Please submit your application by the 30th of January 2026, UFV-PA 2025/3799.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? Find out more about what it´s like to work and live in Sweden.