Phd Student position Pharmaceutical sciences

Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences The Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences is an interdisciplinary environment where 10 research areas work to contribute to better medicines and a healthier world. With laboratories in the heart of Uppsala Biomedical Center and Sweden's only Faculty of Pharmacy, we are a vital engine in the development of education and research in the pharmaceutical sciences. More information about the department and its activities is available at uu.se/farmbio.

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Duties/Project description

The doctoral project is based on a method for detecting single-stranded DNA breaks (SSBs) that was developed in the research group. The method opens up new opportunities to study SSBs, both during natural cellular processes and as a consequence of injury by e.g., radiation. Using this method, we observed a strong accumulation of SSBs at promoter regions. The specific aims of this project are to determine the dependence of SSB formation upstream of transcription start sites for efficient transcription, identify the enzymes responsible for generating these SSBs, and explore potential drug candidates that inhibit SSB formation and thereby downregulate gene expression.

Requirements

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

• A Master (second-cycle) degree in a field relevant to the project, such as pharmaceutical, medicial or natural sciences. 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 acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way
• Proficient in spoken and written English
• Personal suitability, motivation, and interest in- as well as experience with molecular biology methods such as CRISPR/Cas9, DNA sequencing and cloning are merits.
• Basic knowledge in cell biology and DNA damage repair is advantageous.  

More information: Doctoral studies - Uppsala University

The selection of candidates is made by the supervisor in consultation with the department's doctoral education group. The Doctoral Education Committee within the disciplinary domain of Medicine and Pharmacy formally admits the doctoral student.

The selection is based on the qualifications mentioned above, grades in relevant courses, the relevance of the courses to the research area, and previous experience in work and research within the described field. An integrated assessment is made to recruit the most suitable candidate who is likely to succeed in the doctoral education and contribute positively to the development of the research program. Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities such as analytical ability, accuracy, flexibility, and the ability to collaborate.

About the Position

The position is a fixed-term appointment in accordance with Chapter 5, Section 7 of the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance. The employment is full-time, with a starting date to be agreed upon. The position is based in Uppsala.

Salary placement is determined according to local guidelines at Uppsala University.

To be eligible for the position, the candidate must be admitted or expected to be admitted to doctoral studies. Regulations for doctoral students can be found in Chapter 5, Sections 1–7 of the Higher Education Ordinance, as well as in the university’s rules and guidelines: http://regler.uu.se/. The doctoral student is expected to primarily devote their time to their own doctoral education. Other departmental duties, such as teaching and administrative tasks, may be included within the scope of the doctoral position (maximum 20%), which may involve working tasks requiring skills in Swedish.

Doctoral education normally comprises four years of full-time study, and may extend to a maximum of five years if departmental duties are included.

Application Procedure

The application should include a cover letter in which the applicant briefly describes themselves and their research interests. The application must also include a CV, copies of degree certificates and transcripts, the degree project (thesis), and any other documents the applicant wishes to submit in support of their application. Contact information for reference persons is desired.

For further information about the position, please contact: associate professor Johan Heldin, e-mail Johan.Heldin@uu.se. and professor Ola Söderberg, e-mail Ola.Soderberg@uu.se  

For further information around the position, please contact: administrative manager Marina Rönngren, e-post marina.ronngren@uu.se

Please submit your application by 5 mars 2026, UFV-PA 2026/416