Doctoral student in Clinical Neurochemistry

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The Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry is located at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Faculty of Health Care Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. At the Department research is conducted on human behaviour, neuropsychiatric processes as well as psychiatric treatment and diagnosis in close collaboration with Västra Götaland region and a number of international partners. We participate in the undergraduate programmes in Medicine and within The National Research School in Psychiatry/Southwest Sweden. At the Department there are some 15 research groups and four research centers.

Project title: Biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases – the MIRIADE project

Job assignments

The PhD education in Medical Science comprises carrying out a scientific project and completing at least 30 credits of courses at third-cycle level. The doctoral student must also write a scientific compilation thesis or monograph corresponding to at least 120 credits. For more information about third-cycle studies at Sahlgrenska Academy, see https://www.gu.se/en/sahlgrenska-akademin/doctoral-studies

The project is being pursued in the framework of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network miriade.eu (Multi‐omics Interdisciplinary Research Integration to Address DEmentia diagnosis). The overarching goal of the MIRIADE project is to train a novel generation of scientists able to accelerate dementia biomarker development. MIRIADE comprises of ten world-leading research organisations, 5 small to large industries and 2 patients organisations, from 12 countries in the EU, South-Korea and USA. A total of 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) will be hosted across the network. The project will leverage existing proteomics datasets to identify the most promising candidate biomarkers for the major forms of dementias. It will develop an openly accessible integrated data platform for biomarker development (ESR1). ESR project 2 will focus on the prediction of protein-antibody interactions success in biomarker assay development. ESR3 will characterise protein surface accessiblility states in specific biological matrices, to improve biomarker assay development. ESR4-6 will develop specific reaction monitoring assays and validate these in CSF and blood of patients with AD (ESR4), FTD (ESR5) or DLB(ESR6). ESR7-10 will develop novel immunoassays in CSF and blood for all dementias (ESR7); AD (ESR8), FTD (ESR9) or DLB (ESR10). ESR11 and 12 will focus on the market-ready development of plasma abeta42 and abeta40 assays (ESR11) or neurofilament light (ESR12). ESR13 will develop reference methods for SRM assays for amyloid and neurofilament light CSF and blood assays. ESR14 and 15 will focus on innovation of the process, in order to generate a roadmap for efficient biomarker development. ESR14 will study how data are organized, shared, reused and integrated in academia and ESR15 will compare and evaluate different workflows of biomarker development.

The goal of WP2, where the current PhD student would work, is to generate assays for the candidate biomarkers selected in WP1, which are common and specific for each dementia type. Biomarker assays in CSF and blood will be developed using state-of-the-art protein technologies (e.g., Simoa, targeted mass spectrometry). Calibrators and quality controls will be developed. The same biomarkers will be developed on different technologies, for optimal synergism and comparison of the efficacies of each strategy to build a roadmap for optimised development in WP5. There will be continuous interaction of WP2 with WP1 and among the ESRs in WP2 for selection of biomarkers and reagents (e.g., antibody prediction evaluation, use antibodies to increase SRM sensitivity).

Third-cycle studies are equivalent to four year full-time and lead to a Degree of Doctor. Those appointed to doctoral studentships shall primarily devote themselves to their studies. Those appointed to doctoral studentships may, however, work to a limited extent with educational tasks, research and administration (departmental duties). Before a PhD degree has been awarded, duties of this kind may not comprise more than 20 per cent of a full-time post.

Eligibility

To be eligible for third-cycle studies, the applicant must meet both the general and specific entry requirements.

A person meets the general entry requirements for third-cycle studies if he or she:
1. has been awarded a second-cycle qualification
2. has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
3. has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad

A person meets the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies in Medical Science if he or she has successfully completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies

Assessment

In selecting between applicants who meet the general and specific entry requirements, their ability to benefit from third-cycle studies shall be taken into account. The assessment shall attach particular importance to documented qualifications for:
– specific knowledge and skills within the subject area and related research fields
– experience of scientific theory and relevant research methodology
– scientific analysis and presentation verified through thesis, degree project, scientific journals or the like.

Documented experience of laboratory work with biomarker assays (e.g., ELISA) relevant for the project is of merit. A strong dedication for science and strong motivation to conduct a PhD education, a strong personal drive and good collaboration skills is highly desirable. Personal suitability is of great importance.

Employment

After admission to third-cycle studies you will be appointed to doctoral studentship. Regulations for employment of doctoral students are given in SFS 1993:100. The initial appointment may apply for no longer than one year. An appointment may be renewed for no more than two years at a time. A person may be appointed to a doctoral studentship for a total of eight years. The total employment period may, however, not exceed the time corresponding to full-time third-cycle study for four years.

Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed. MSCA employment in a Marie Sklodowska Curie Program with MSCA financing.

Salaries for doctoral students are regulated in a local agreement at the University.

Additional information

In order to be approved for MSCA financing the applicant, at the time for the application, should not have resided in Sweden more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Moreover the applicant must be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

For further information regarding the position

For more information about the project please contact the supervisors:

Ulf Andreasson, Associate Professor, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology,
e-mail: ulf.andreasson@neuro.gu.se

Henrik Zetterberg, Professor, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology,
phone: +46 768 672647, e-mail: henrik.zetterberg@neuro.gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg:
https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply

Information for International Applicants

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https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services

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How to apply

In order to apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to register an account in our online recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

You must include the following, in pdf format

• Personal letter
• CV
• Diploma and transcripts showing that you meet with the general entry requirement
• Proof of completion of  English 6 course or the acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies

If your degree is from a university outside of Sweden, make sure that you attach a diploma and full transcripts that makes assessing your degree easier. 

If your degree has not been verified by a Swedish authority you need to provide contact details to the issuing university, registrar or similar, that can verify the degree at our request.

For information on what you need to submit in order to fulfill the English language requirement see https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/

Closing date: 2021-10-18

The University of Gothenburg promotes equal opportunities, equality and diversity.

Applications will be destroyed or returned (upon request) two years after the decision of employment has become final. Applications from the employed and from those who appeal the decision will not be returned.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.

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