PhD position in Dermatology Full-time

PhD Position in Dermatology

The Department of Clinical Sciences Lund is now announcing a PhD position within the doctoral programme subject area Medical Science – Dermatology within the doctoral project “Peptidomics of Wound Fluid Guides the Discovery of Endogenous Peptides.” The position is based at the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, and is conducted in an international and interdisciplinary research environment.

The PhD project will be conducted within the field of peptidomics. The research group is based at the Biomedical Centre (BMC), Division of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, and conducts translational research on how innate defense mechanisms regulate infection, inflammation, and tissue repair. A particular focus is placed on proteolytically released endogenous peptides and their role in wound healing, as well as on the development of novel peptide-based therapeutic concepts. The research group is led by Professor Artur Schmidtchen.

The group consists of approximately seven members, including senior researchers, PhD students, and research staff, with complementary expertise in clinical and translational dermatology, microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, and biochemistry. Research is carried out in close collaboration with clinical departments, BioMS, and experts in proteomics, peptidomics, and bioinformatics at Lund University.

The PhD student will carry out a defined research project focused on identifying and characterizing bioactive endogenous peptides involved in infection, inflammation, and wound healing. The project forms a central part of the group's ongoing research and will be conducted in collaboration with BioMS and experts in proteomics and peptidomics at Lund University.

The duties include:

• Planning and conducting experiments.
• Developing and optimizing methods for sample preparation, peptide enrichment, and fractionation.
• Performing LC-MS/MS analyses using both DDA and DIA methodologies.
• Conducting bioinformatic and statistical analyses of peptidomic datasets to identify peptide patterns, proteolytic signatures, and candidate peptides with potential roles in infection, inflammation, and wound healing.
• Characterizing selected peptides in microbiological and cell-based assays, both individually and in combination, with regard to antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects.
• Documenting, quality assuring, and compiling research results.
• Presenting and publishing research findings in scientific forums.
• Participating in research group seminars, collaborations, and other scientific activities.
• Completing courses and other components required within the doctoral education programme.

The successful applicant must have:

• A Master of Science in Engineering degree in Biotechnology, with specialization in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology or Molecular Biotechnology.
• Documented experience in basic biochemistry, including SDS-PAGE, LC-MS/MS mass spectrometry (DDA and DIA), and handling of human samples.
• Knowledge and experience in peptide biology and peptidomics, including analysis of complex datasets using specialized peptidomics tools.
• Experience in MS data analysis using software such as FragPipe and DIA-NN, as well as basic programming skills in Python.
• Practical experience in antibacterial assays based on dilution or diffusion methodologies.
• Excellent proficiency in both Swedish and English, spoken and written.
• Good collaborative skills combined with a high degree of accuracy and responsibility.

The following qualifications are considered advantageous:

• Previous experience working with mass spectrometry-based analyses.
• Experience from project work in international or multicultural environments.
• Experience in method development and experimental troubleshooting.
• Experience in combinatorial analyses of antimicrobial peptides.

Applicants must meet the general entry requirements for third-cycle studies, meaning they must have:

• Completed a second-cycle degree, or
• Completed at least 240 credits (ECTS), including at least 60 credits at the second-cycle level, or
• Acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in another way.

When selecting among qualified applicants, particular emphasis will be placed on:

• Scientific maturity and analytical ability.
• Motivation, independence, and ability to collaborate.
• Capacity to successfully complete doctoral education.
• How the applicant's background and experience are assessed to contribute to the execution of the project.

The employment is a fixed-term full-time position as a PhD student for four years (48 months), in accordance with Chapter 5, Section 7 of the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance. The planned starting date is 1 December 2026, or as otherwise agreed.