PhD student in medical cell biology

PhD student in medical cell biology
The Department of Medical Cell Biology at Uppsala University is a strong and international research environment. The department has more than 110 employees, of which about 25 are doctoral students, 10 postdoctoral fellows, and 40 researchers, teachers and professors.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the major public health diseases of our time and despite extensive research efforts, the causes of this disease are still relatively unknown. The hallmark of the disease is an altered function of insulin- and glucagon-secreting cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. This change is due, at least in part, to disturbances in the cells' metabolism and protein synthesis. Primary cilia are small projections on the surface of cells, but their function is largely unknown. We have recently found that primary cilia on insulin-secreting cells sense local changes in the islets of Langerhans and that signaling within the cilia helps the cells adapt to these changes. This project aims to increase understanding of how this signaling regulates the cells in the islets of Langerhans, and to find out whether it is altered in diabetes.

Duties
Design and produce biosensors that enable real-time imaging of signaling inside primary cilia in living islets of Langerhans. Advanced fluorescence microscopy (confocal, TIRF, STED) and optogenetic tools will be applied to visualize cilia and to disrupt their normal function. Functional significance of cilia will be evaluated through loss-of-function studies (siRNA, CRISPR/Cas9) followed by biochemical and transcriptomic/proteomic approaches. The tasks may also include participation in teaching and other departmental work up to 20% of the working time.

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

• - hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in medicine, biomedicine, biotechnology, 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.

Good documented experience in cell culture, fluorescence microscopy for imaging of living cells and image analysis is also a requirement. Very good communication skills in oral and written English are also a requirement. 

Personal qualities, such as the ability to lead and run projects and at the same time be able to interact with other researchers are very important. The applicant must be goal-oriented, structured and able to work effectively both individually and in a group.

Additional qualifications
Experience in molecular biology work, work with islets of Langerhans and methods for studying primary cilia are meritorious but not a requirement for the position.

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 xx or as agreed. Placement: X

For further information about the position, please contact: Olof Idevall Hagren, 018-471 44 28, olof.idevall@mcb.uu.se

Please submit your application by May 3 2025, UFV-PA 2025/1430.

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