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Doctoral position in Medical Science
Project title: Understanding the functional significance of antisense long noncoding RNA derived protein MSEP in cellular processes in cancer cells
The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell biology is located at the Institute of Biomedicine at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university’s doctoral student pages https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies
Duties
Doctoral 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: High-throughput sequencing technologies have shown that protein coding genome constitutes nearly 3% whereas the rest 97% of the mammalian genome represents noncoding DNA, which is pervasively transcribed into thousands of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Recent discoveries indicate that some of these lncRNAs carry open reading frames (ORFs), giving rise to short peptides and these peptides are shown to take part in cancer associated biological functions. However, there are significant knowledge gaps in our understanding of the functions of lncRNA derived peptides/proteins in cellular processes.
Our cell cycle-based screen identified the antisense RNA gene which functions at the RNA level and also encodes a novel 54 kDa protein, which we named Mitotic Spindle Essential Protein (MSEP). This PhD project aims to investigate how MSEP regulates interphase-specific (nuclear functions considering its nuclear enrichment) and mitosis-specific (mitotic spindle integrity) processes by interacting with proteins critical for cell cycle regulation. Considering MSEP show higher expression in cancer cells compared to normal cells, the PhD project will study the structure of MSEP, alone and in combination with key cell cycle-specific proteins, which will form strong basis for the development of new therapeutic drugs for cancer.
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a desirable background in cell biology, biotechnology, or biochemistry. Knowledge in cell and molecular biology techniques and good knowledge of bioinformatics is an asset, as is experience in cell biology and protein biochemistry. The candidate should have excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Doctoral studies 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, and result in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.
Eligibility
Doctoral education requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.
The general eligibility requirements for doctoral studies 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 successfully completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies.
Assessment criteria
The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the doctoral studies. The assessment shall attach particular importance to documented qualifications for:
– 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 an academic paper, degree project, scientific
journals or the like.
Admission and employment
Once you have been admitted to doctoral studies, 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 doctoral level for four years.
Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell biology. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.
The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.
Please note, doctoral studies at the Institute of Biomedicine requires physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, the Institute of Biomedicine has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.
Contact information
For more information about the project please contact principal supervisor,
Chandrasekhar Kanduri, Professor, Institute of Biomedicine,
phone: +46 739600450, e-mail: kanduri.chandrasekhar@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 to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this 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: 2025-02-27
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.
