PhD position in Physics (organ-on-chip / bioinformatics, Biological Physics Lab)

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

PhD position in Physics

The research will be conducted by a group at the University of Gothenburg led by Caroline Beck Adiels. This interdisciplinary group focuses on microfluidics, advanced microscopy and spectroscopy, as well as machine learning. These methods are used to explore and describe complex biological systems, such as cell communication at both the single-cell level and the population level, and to create in vitro models for cell cultures or other biological systems.

One of the doctoral positions will be carried out in collaboration with the "Translational Vascular Research Group" at Karolinska Institutet/KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. Their research spans various disciplines, from the analysis of patient samples to laboratory-based investigations of vascular cell behavior using in vitro models of vascular vessels.

Job assignments:

We are looking for a doctoral candidate at the Department of Physics at the University of Gothenburg. The candidate will work on:

Project I: Organ-on-chip fabrication and usage, as well as imaging and image analysis using AI.

Project II: Bioinformatics analysis of existing affinity proteomics datasets and data generation from in vitro models.

Being a PhD is a 4 year full-time studies and leads to a Doctoral Degree. Those who are employed as doctoral students must primarily devote themselves to their doctoral education. However, a doctoral student may to a limited extent work with education, research and administration. Such work may, before the doctoral degree is completed, not cover more than 20% of full-time work.

Eligibility

To be eligible for third-cycle studies, the applicant must meet both the general and specific entry requirements:

A person meets the general entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programs if he or she:
1. has been awarded a second-cycle qualification,
2. has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
3. has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

To meet the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies, applicants must: (i) have a second-cycle (advanced-level) degree in a relevant* subject area in the natural sciences, or (ii) have completed studies for at least 60 higher education credits at a second-cycle level in relevant subject areas in the natural sciences, or (iii) have completed a corresponding programme of relevance to the planned third-cycle programme, in Sweden or in another country, or have equivalent qualifications.

*Relevant for the planned third-cycle education

The specific entry requirements also include an acceptable command of spoken and written English. Guidelines for assessing English proficiency may include a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL test (or 213 on the TOEFL-CBT, or 79 on the TOEFL-iBT).

Candidates can be of any nationality. However, the candidate is required to undertake transnational mobility, i.e. move from one country to another, when appointed. This is a requirement of the MSCA ITN program, which is funding this position. In the case of Swedish nationals, or persons who have previously resided in Sweden, these can be eligible for this position provided they have resided or carried out their main activity outside of Sweden for more than 24 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment.

Applicants shall, at the time of recruitment at University of Gothenburg, be within the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Full-time equivalent research experience is measured from the date when the applicant obtained the degree entitling her/him to embark on a doctorate, (either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the researcher is recruited) even if a doctorate was never started or envisaged.

We are looking for individuals with experience (possibly) in microfluidics fabrication, cell culture, cell analysis, microscopy, data analysis, and programming.

You need to be motivated and able to work independently, while also having strong skills in collaborating with other researchers in an interdisciplinary setting.

You should have a good ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English.

Assessment

Regulations for the evaluation of qualifications for education on a doctoral level are given in SFS 1993:100.

Selection among applicants who meet the requirements for basic and special eligibility is based on the ability to assimilate the education at postgraduate level.

You need to be motivated and able to work independently, while also having strong collaboration skills for working with other researchers in an interdisciplinary environment.

You should have good communication skills in both written and spoken English.

When evaluating candidates, special emphasis will be placed on documented qualifications in the following areas:

• Fabrication and use of microfluidic systems, COMSOL simulation, cell culture and cell evaluation methods, microscopy
• Knowledge of programming, machine learning, big data analysis

Your potential, motivation, and personal suitability for the position will also be important factors in the evaluation.

Employment

A new employment as a PhD student applies for a maximum of one year. The employment may be prolonged for up to two years at a time. The total employment period may not be longer than the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral studies.

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, 4 years full time
Extent: 100%
Location: Department of Physics, Gothenburg
First day of employment: Immediately or by agreement

University applies a local salary agreement of graduate students.

For further information regarding the position

Caroline Beck Adiels, Associate Professor, caroline.adiels@physics.gu.se

Giovanni Volpe, Professor, giovanni.volpe@physics.gu.se

Lynn Butler, Associate Professor lynn.m.butler@ki.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg: http://www.gu.se/english/about_the_university/job-opportunities/union-representatives

How to apply

In order to apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to register an account in our online recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline. The selection of candidates is made based of the qualifications registered in the application.

Please apply online

The application shall include:

Cover letter with an explanation of why you apply for the position
CV including scientific publications
Copy of exam certificate
Two referees (name, telephone number, relation)

The University of Gothenburg promotes equal opportunities, equality and diversity.

Salaries for doctoral students are regulated in a local agreement at the University.

Applications will be destroyed or returned (upon request) two years after the decision of employment has become final. Applications from the employed and from those who appeal the decision will not be returned.

Deadline for applications is: 2024-07-08.

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.