PhD student in Biochemistry – water channels in fish

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology conducts high-quality research and education in chemical sciences and molecular life sciences. Our research and education focuses on a deep understanding of chemical and biological processes in cells and in the environment.

We address important societal issues such as antibiotic resistance, cancer, brain diseases, environmental problems and climate change. In this way, we contribute to achieving the UN's global goals for sustainable development in the areas of good health and well-being, sustainable energy for all, sustainable cities and communities, and combating climate change.

The department is an international environment with interdisciplinary collaborations in both research and education, and contributes strongly to the University of Gothenburg's top ranking in life science.

The department is responsible for postgraduate education in the subject area Natural Sciences with a focus on chemistry, biophysics, biology and educational science. In addition, the department hosts educational programs in molecular biology, genomics and systems biology, chemistry, organic chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry, as well as prescription education. The department collaborates with various societal actors such as schools, business and authorities. The Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology has around 250 employees. We are located in new and central premises, Natrium, on Campus Medicinareberget in Gothenburg

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages. 

https://medarbetarportalen.gu.se/doktorand/?languageId=100001&skipSSOCheck=true   

 

Duties   

In the cellular membranes of all living species, proteins are embedded to handle the exchange of water between the cell and its surrounding. Those proteins are called aquaporins and they are essential for the regulation of cellular volume and osmotic homeostasis. Aquaporins located in the epithelia, the cell layer that defines the border between the interior and the exterior of an organism, also has a more overall function in the regulation of the osmotic homeostasis in the whole animal as well as in different organs. One example are the aquaporins located in the intestine of fish living in salt water where these water channels enable movement of water from the intestine to the blood. Aquaporins are also important in the fish sperm which are exposed to major differences in osmotic pressure in fresh as well as salt water and the aquaporins are therefore essential for the regulation of the cell volume in the sperm.

In this multidisciplinary project, we aim at increasing the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of the aquaporins in fish focusing on the intestine and sperm. Knowledge about the function of these water channels will give insight into how homeostasis can be maintained, it will also shed light on the molecular conditions for good health and welfare in fish farming, both for the salt/water balance and to the reproduction.

The PhD project aims at studying the structure and function of the aquaporins as well as how their permeability is regulated. To understand the function at the molecular level, the high-resolution 3D structure will be determined. The functional characteristics of the aquaporins can then be studied by reconstitution of the proteins in liposomes which are exposed to solutions with various osmotic pressure. Both these methods will be used to increase the understanding of the function of the aquaporins in fish as well as how they assist the fish and their sperm to acclimatize to the surrounding.

Our research is consistent with Agenda 2030, focusing on the sustainability goals 2, 3, 12 and 14: we thrive for sustainable production of healthy food through fish farming focusing on the health and welfare of the fish.

The PhD project will be based in the Research division of Biochemistry and structural biology at the Department of chemistry and molecular biology, in close collaboration with the Department of biology and environmental sciences. Since 2023, we are colocalized in Natrium with proximity to research groups and laboratories essential for the project.

The project is also built on established collaboration with Biochemistry and structural biology at Lund University and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Spain.

The PhD project includes molecular biology methods such as PCR, cloning, mutagenesis, and transformation of DNA to both bacteria and yeast. The protein of interest will be overproduced in yeast for purification and characterization of both structure and function. Functional studies of water transport in liposomes from the fish intestine as well as whole animal studies of salmon in fresh and salt water, respectively, combined with cell- and gene expression studies in the intestine constitute essential parts of the project which will also be supplemented by immunoblots and mass spectrometry analysis. Modelling and theoretical calculations are also part of the project.

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   

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 courses and study programs 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.

To meet the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies, applicants must: (i) have a second-cycle (advanced-level) degree in a relevant* subject area in the natural sciences, or (ii) have completed studies for at least 60 higher education credits at a second-cycle level in relevant subject areas in the natural sciences, or (iii) have completed a corresponding program of relevance to the planned third-cycle program, in Sweden or in another country, or have equivalent qualifications.

*Relevant for the planned third-cycle education

The specific entry requirements also include an acceptable command of spoken and written English. Guidelines for assessing English proficiency may include a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL test (or 213 on the TOEFL-CBT, or 79 on the TOEFL-iBT). 

Assessment criteria   

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: advanced biochemistry, cell- and molecular biology as well as modelling. Experience of working with eukaryotic integral membrane proteins is seen as a merit.

Employment   

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, four years full time

Extent: 100 %

Location: Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Gothenburg

First day of employment: As soon as possible based on agreement

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.

In addition to the research education, tasks within the undergraduate education, research and administration can be included.

University applies local agreement on salaries of graduate students.

 

Contact information 

Kristina Hedfalk, kristina.hedfalk@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   

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
• Two references (name, e-mail, telephone number, relation)

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.

Applications must be received by: 2024-05-22

 

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.