PhD position in Microbiology

The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology (IMBIM) at Uppsala University provides a broad international environment for research and teaching. Research at IMBIM) broadly spans the areas of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, tumour biology, comparative genetics, functional genomics, immunology, bacteriology, and virology. The research is essentially of fundamental nature, but with relevance and application in health and disease in both animals and humans. More info: Research - Uppsala University

We seek a highly motivated individual, with an ability to work independently and a strong interest in pursuing a PhD degree in medical microbiology. The expected starting date is spring 2025, or as otherwise agreed.

Project description 

The research group where the candidate will work studies heteroresistance and its mechanisms with a focus on how variations in gene copy number affect evolution of antibiotic resistance and horizontal gene transfer. The successful candidate will have access to a large collection of genetically well characterized and clinically problematic bacteria (E. coli, S. enterica and K. pneumoniae) that will be studied via experimental evolution, precise genetic constructions, ddPCR, Illumina and Nanopore sequencing as well as proteomics and RNA seq. The position is one of 10 PhD positions in the new Horizon Europe-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Doctoral Network ENDAMR (https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/315956)

Examples of recent publications that the project is based on are:

1. Nicoloff H et al (2019). The high prevalence of antibiotic heteroresistance in pathogenic bacteria is mainly caused by gene amplification. Nature Microbiology. 4: 504 (see also News and Views, Nature Microbiology 2019, 4: 1606).
2. Andersson DI et al (2019). Mechanisms and clinical relevance of bacterial heteroresistance. Nature Reviews in Microbiology. 17:479.
3. Pal A and Andersson DI (2024). Bacteria can compensate the fitness cost of amplified resistance genes via a bypass mechanism. Nature Communications, 15:2333.
4. Nicoloff H et al (2024). Three concurrent mechanisms generate gene copy number variation and transient antibiotic heteroresistance. Nature Communications. 15:3981.
5. Heyman G et al (2025). Prevalence, misclassification and clinical consequences of the heteroresistant phenotype in E. coli bloodstream infections in patients in Uppsala, Sweden: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet Microbe, Jan 16:101010.

Duties

The successful candidate will primarily engage in research work and doctoral studies. Other duties at the department are administration and teaching that may be included in the employment at a maximum level of 20 %.

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

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in Genetics, Microbiology, Evolutionary Biology or a related 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.

We are looking for a candidate who has laboratory experience in molecular biology, bacterial genetics and microbiology. Very good oral and written communication skills in English are required. Emphasis will also be given on personal qualities such as collaboration and communication skills as well as analytical capacity. Ability to take own initiatives as well as to work well independently and in interaction with other research groups is an asset.

Additional qualifications
Working knowledge in bioinformatics is a merit.

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 %. The salary is €3078 before tax including a mobility allowance of €600 and possible family allowance of €660. Starting date as soon as possible or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Professor Dan I. Andersson, Dan.Andersson@imbim.uu.se

Please submit your application by April 30, 2025, UFV-PA 2025/538.