Doctoral student in Cell and Molecular Biology Research Full-time NEW

Doctoral Student in Cell and Molecular Biology Research

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Engineering Sciences

Project Description

Third-cycle subject: Biological Physics

The AICell Lab in the department of Applied Physics at KTH and Science for Life Laboratory pursues interdisciplinary research in cell and molecular biology. The group is led by Wei Ouyang and combines wet-lab work with automated experimental platforms and AI-driven analysis tools.

We are opening two biology-focused doctoral positions in biological physics to study cell biology, working alongside colleagues in automation, computation, and AI-driven analysis. Projects will be shaped with each student at the start of their studies, around their scientific interests.

As a doctoral student, you will:

• Design and run experimental cell-biology work — including cell culture, perturbation studies, microscopy, and related molecular biology methods.
• Interpret results biologically and drive scientific questions forward.
• Collaborate with colleagues working on automation, computation, and AI-driven analysis.
• Contribute to publications and to the scientific dialogue in cell and molecular biology.

Supervision: Professor Hjalmar Brismar and Assistant Professor Wei Ouyang are proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decisions are made on admission

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• Passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• Completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• Acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

Special eligibility:

• A degree (or equivalent) in cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, biomedicine, biophysics, or a closely related life-science field.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• Independently pursue his or her work
• Collaborate with others,
• Have a professional approach and
• Analyze and work with complex issues.
• A strong biological foundation and genuine curiosity about cell and molecular biology.
• Practical experience with experimental biological work (cell culture, microscopy, molecular biology methods, or similar).
• Ability and willingness to collaborate in an interdisciplinary team that combines biology, automation, and AI-driven analysis.
• Good communication skills in English — both to explain biology and to collaborate across disciplines.
• Basic programming or data-analysis skills (Python/R) are meriting but not required.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Target Degree: Doctoral Degree

Information Regarding Admission and Employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

As a doctoral student, you are entitled to a workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH's Doctoral student salary agreement. Read more about Doctoral studies (PhD) | KTH | Sweden.