Doctoral student in Biology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Project description

The aim of this PhD project is to investigate the functional consequences of polymorphisms in immune genes. Many genes involved in the immune system are highly polymorphic, and population genetic analyses have shown that this is often a result of “balancing selection”, that is natural selection favouring different alleles under different circumstances. However, little is as yet known about the nature of these selection pressures. The present project will address this issue by studying phenotypic effects of polymorphisms in immune genes, in particular how such polymorphisms affect immune responsiveness to different pathogens. The project will focus on innate immune genes, such as genes in Pattern Recognition Receptor signalling pathways. The main study system will be wild rodents, but complementary work with laboratory mice is a possibility. The project will primarily be based on ex vivo assays of immune function, in particular measuring gene expression in cell cultures by qPCR and/or RNA-seq. The project may also involve other experimental approaches, depending on the interests of the candidate.

Main supervisor: Lars Råberg (lars.raberg@biol.lu.se). Co-supervisor: Fredric Carlsson (fredric.carlsson@biol.lu.se).

Required qualifications

We seek a highly motivated candidate with a genuine interest in host-pathogen interactions. The applicant should have a master in biology or molecular biology, with specialization in immunology, microbiology, molecular ecology, or similar. Experience and demonstrated skills in relevant laboratory work, such as cell culturing and qPCR, is required. Experience of bioinformatics, statistical analyses using R or equivalent, and work with experimental animals in the lab or wild, is meriting. Good communication skills in writing and speaking English are required.

Eligibility
Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who- have completed a second-cycle degree- have completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or- have acquired largely equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Type of employment
Limit of tenure, four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.