PhD student in Molecular Cardiology

Description of the workplace

The research group, which is led by associate professor Olof Gidlöf, has a translational research profile focused on heart disease. The research involves epigenetic and transcriptomic mapping of pathophysiological mechanisms in heart failure, with the purpose of identifying new potential targets for therapy. The work will be conducted within a large research environment which involves research groups at Lund University and Gothenburg University (and corresponding university hospitals) and includes preclinical and clinical doctoral students, a bioinformatician as well as postdoctoral and senior researchers. The research also builds on extensive national and international collaborations.

The research group strives to conduct excellent research on an international level while maintaining a healthy working environment where everyone should feel involved, stimulated, and supported.

The research group is now looking for a motivated, driven, and curious candidate for doctoral studies. The project focuses on pathophysiological mechanisms in the aging heart, how these contribute to heart disease and how they can be targeted for therapeutic benefit. The position is full-time for 48 months. The proposed starting date is June 1 2024 or upon agreement.

We offer
Lund University is a public authority, which means that employees get benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee:   Work at Lund university 

Work assignments
The work will be conducted within the PhD project “Identification and targeting of cardiac hallmarks of aging for prevention of heart degeneration and disease” and includes reading relevant literature; planning, conducting, and analysing experiments in vitro and in vivo; collection and analysis of clinical samples and some bioinformatic analyses. The purpose of the project is to study the effect of aging on the cells of the heart, with a special focus on the link between transcriptomic and genomic alterations and cardiomyocyte biology. Results of the project are expected to form the basis of a doctoral thesis. 

Qualifications

Necessary qualifications for the job:

• University degree (or equivalent foreign degree) in medicine, biomedicine or molecular biology
• Practical experience working with laboratory techniques within cell and molecular biology
• Practical experience working with animal models
• Commitment, curiosity, and ability to cooperate

Meritorious are:

• Experience with cardiac cell isolation through Langendorff perfusion
• Experience with echocardiography on mice
• Contractility analysis of cardiomyocytes
• Good communication skills

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§.

How to apply
Applications are to be submitted via the University’s recruitment system. The application should include a CV and a personal letter justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your qualifications. The application should also include a degree certificate or equivalent and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (copies of grade transcripts, details of referees, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Welcome 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.