PhD student in Cancer and Oncology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Clinical Sciences Lund is one of six departments at the Faculty of Medicine. Clinical Sciences Lund cooperates closely with Skåne University Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine in order to optimize the conditions for preclinical and clinical translational research, research strategies and development, as well as education on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Within the department we aim to maintain a good working environment based on mutual respect and consideration. We constantly strive to improve the conditions for work, development and participation for all employees.

The Functional breast cancer genomics research group
Future cancer care will include individual mapping of mutations in tumour DNA to match each patient to the best treatment. We must therefore better understand which mutations that are critical. Today, emphasis is put on mutations that are easier to interpret, while so-called ‘silent’ or synonymous mutations that do not directly change a protein are filtered out. However, also synonymous mutations can be functional through effects on e.g. mRNA splicing or the speed of translation. We study synonymous mutations in breast cancers from thousands of Swedish women to analyse their effects on tumour properties. The work includes both bioinformatic analyses and functional studies. Through our research we want to demonstrate that also ‘silent’ mutations are important, so that more patients can have access to targeted therapy. Our work may also lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets and a re-evaluation of the standards for sequence data analysis.

The Functional breast cancer genomics research group is now looking for a PhD student for research education in the project ”Re-evaluating silent mutations in breast cancer - biological function and clinical impact”. The position is full time for four years. Preliminary starting date is April 1st 2020 (negotiable). 

Work assignments
We are looking for an ambitious and well-organised PhD student to study the biological and clinical impact of genetic variation in breast cancer with specific focus on synonymous variants. The project involves bioinformatic analyses of large next-generation sequencing datasets, including variant calling and gene expression analysis, as well as experimental work using cell line models and standard molecular biology techniques.

Qualifications
Applicants should fulfil the basic eligibility requirements for the Faculty of Medicine (see https://www.medicine.lu.se/study/phd-programme/prospective-phd students/entry-requirements) with a degree in a relevant subject such as molecular biology, biomedicine or biotechnology and documented training in bioinformatics.

Applicants should also have an excellent command of English, both written and spoken.

Meriting
Documented practical experience of next-generation sequencing (laboratory work and data analysis) as well work using sterile techniques (e.g. human cell culture or microbiology) are meriting.

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 Statutes 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§.