Doctoral student in Medical Science - Aggressive B-cell lymphoma

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Doctoral position in Medical Science

Project title: Interferon-related proteins in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma - prognosis, function and therapy

The Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition is located at the Institute of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. At the Department, research in several different areas are conducted, such as endocrinology, hematology, gastroenterology, hypertension, pulmonary medicine and allergology and clinical nutrition. Research is focused on body composition and energy metabolism. Research is conducted in close cooperation with health care at both the Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Mölndal hospital.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages Doctoral studies | University of Gothenburg (gu.se)    

Duties   

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

Project: Despite advances in both treatment and genetic classification of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), between 30 to 40% still die from the disease. DLBCL is a heterogeneous disease where both the malignant clone and the tumor microenvironment contribute to the variable clinical picture. However, the complexity can probably not only be explained by genetic changes and it can also be difficult to predict whether such changes really affect protein expression and thus the properties of the tumor cell.

By performing parallel studies of global protein and gene expression in tumor tissue from high-risk patients, we have found over-expression of interferon-stimulated proteins, which previously has not been described in DLBCL, which appears to affect both prognosis and response to treatment. Interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) play an important role primarily in antiviral immunity, but in recent years it has become increasingly clear that they can also affect immunosuppressive mechanisms in various forms of cancer and then induce both tumor progression and treatment resistance.

The purpose of the project is to test the hypothesis that interferon-stimulated proteins have prognostic significance and influence the emergence of treatment resistance in DLBCL, and the specific objectives are:

1. To investigate the prognostic value of digital immunohistochemical analysis of interferon-stimulated proteins in large patient materials.
2. To investigate the functional role of these proteins in DLBCL:
   a. through in vitro studies in different DLBCL cell lines
   b. by mapping activity and relevance in associated signaling pathways
   c. by investigating the therapeutic effect of blocking/downregulation of such genes/proteins, as proof-of-concept in vivo, in DLBCL mouse models.

The applicant is expected to have excellent communication skills in English, both spoken and written. Furthermore, the applicant should be able to work independently, have good organizational and initiative skills and a pronounced drive for performing research. Great emphasis will be attached on personal suitability.

Education at third-cycle level comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree.  As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.    

Eligibility   

Education at third-cycle level requires general eligibility and specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.  

The general eligibility requirements for education at third-cycle level are:    
1. having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
2. the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or  
3. the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.  
 
Specific entry requirements for this subject, according to the general syllabus, are: 
having completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies. 

Assessment criteria   

The selection of applicants who are considered to have the ability required to benefit from the study programme and who meet the general and specific eligibility requirements are assessed based on the following documented qualifications:
- 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 with experimental studies in cell culture is advantageous, as is experience with histological methods, RNA/protein preparation and knowledge of PCR and RNA sequencing. Furthermore, experience of working with mouse models is advantageous.

Employment   

Once you have been admitted for education at third-cycle level, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg. The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100. Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time. A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at third-cycle level for four years.   

Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.   

Contact information 

For more information about the project please contact principal supervisor,
Per-Ola Andersson, Professor, Institute of Medicine, 
e-mail: per-ola.andersson@medic.gu.se

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:   
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande     

Application   

You can apply to be admitted for education at third-cycle level via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application 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/

  

Applications must be received by: 2024-07-25

 

 

Information for International Applicants 

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit: 

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

  

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

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.