PhD position in Chemistry, with a specialization in biochemistry

Project description and tasks

The species that compose the human gut microbiome are poorly characterized at their molecular level, despite their important roles to keep a healthy state. The presence of pathogenic species or imbalances in the composition of commensal species are associated with disease. The doctoral studies are aimed at a doctoral degree where the main task is research within our effort to understand mechanisms of drug resistance in these species, so that we will be able to utilize drugs to rationally manipulate the composition of the human microbiome community.

In your PhD studies, you will use molecular biology/biochemistry approaches to characterize drug resistance mechanisms in representative species groups of the human microbiome. This will involve using genetic manipulation, high throughput growth measurements and biochemistry approaches for protein structure and function determination (e.g., X-ray crystallography, NMR, cryo-electron microscopy). You will learn how to use advanced bacterial culture conditions to grow the species of the human gut microbiome in the absence of oxygen. You will also learn how to analyze large datasets.

At Umeå University, you will be immersed in a strong research environment at the Department of Chemistry and the Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), and have the chance to use the multiple facilities (e.g., NMR, metabolomics, protein expression, cryoEM) for a successful PhD. In addition to the research assignment, participation in postgraduate courses is also included.

You will also be involved in a European Doctoral Network that contains nine other research groups (https://endamr.eu/). This will entail annual meetings and training in the topic of the network. Your doctoral studies will also include a secondment period in a laboratory of one of the partners of this network.

Qualifications

To be admitted to studies at third-cycle level, you are required to meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have completed a second-cycle level degree (master’s degree),
• Have completed at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits are at second-cycle level,
• Have an equivalent foreign education or have acquired equivalent qualifications in another way.

To fulfil the specific entry requirements to be admitted for studies at third-cycle level in chemistry, you are required to have completed first-cycle courses of at least 90 ECTS credits within the field of chemistry or another subject considered to be directly relevant to the specialization in question. Of those 90 ECTS credits, at least 15 ECTS credits shall have been acquired at second-cycle level within the specialization or an equivalent subject.

In order to be approved for MSCA financing the applicant, at the time for the application,

should not have resided in Sweden more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Moreover, the applicant must be in the first four years (full-time

equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

Additional required qualifications are:

• You need to have basic experience in the lab
• You need to have background knowledge of biochemistry, or related areas
• You need to have good oral and written proficiency in English

Merits are:

• Hands-on experience with biochemistry/molecular biology techniques (e.g., bacterial culture, cloning)
• Hands-on experience with techniques used for determining protein structure and function (e.g., NMR, X-ray crystallography, cryoEM) and/or analytical chemistry (e.g., mass spectrometry)
• Programming skills (e.g., in R or python)
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and collaborate within the research group.
• Strong oral and written communication skills for presenting research results.
• Commitment and motivation to complete a four-year doctoral education.

About the employment

The position is intended to result in a doctoral degree. The main task of the PhD student is to pursue their doctoral studies, including participation in research and doctoral courses. The duties can include teaching and other departmental work (up to 20%).

The employment is limited to the equivalent of four years of full-time (48 months) or up to five years for teaching part-time (20%). The employment starts 1/October/2025 or according to agreement but no later than 31/December/2025. The candidate’s physical workplace will be in Umeå, Sweden.

As employees at Umeå University PhD students are granted social benefits such as parental leave, holiday leave, and occupational health services. Read more about the benefits of being an employee at Umeå University here: https://www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/benefits/.

Salary is determined in accordance with the established salary scale for doctoral employment at Umeå University, but not lower than the granted funds from MSCA.

Application

You apply via our e-recruitment system Varbi. Log in and apply via the button at the bottom of the page. The deadline for applications is 31/May/2025.

The application, written in English or Swedish, should include:

• a personal letter structured in a way that starts with a brief description of why you are applying for the position, followed by what is your educational background and what experience you have (e.g., techniques that you have experience with), and how your qualifications and research interests are relevant to the doctoral project described above (no more than 1 page, and composed without using AI).
• a curriculum vitae,
• copies of degree certificates, diplomas or equivalent, including documentation of completed academic courses, grades obtained, and other certificates of relevance to the described project,
• copies of student theses on advance level or other publications (no more than 5)
• contact information for at least two reference persons.

Further information

Further information is provided by André Mateus (andre.mateus@umu.se) or by visiting the group’s webpage (https://mateuslab.com/) and the Doctoral Network webpage (http://www.endamr.eu/).

Welcome with your application!

About us

The Department of Chemistry is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Science and Technology with approximately 200 employees and strong and expanding research. The Department has four major research areas: Biological Chemistry, IBEAM, Organic chemistry and Technical Chemistry. We are also a strong partner in the KBC, Chemical-Biological Center. Information about the postgraduate education can be found on the Faculty of Science and Technology website: www.umu.se/en/faculty-of-science-and-technology/education/doctoral-studies/chemistry/. For more information about working at Umeå University, https://www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/.