PhD student in Medical Science with a focus on extracellular vesicles and haemostasis in assisted reproduction Full-time

PhD Student in Medical Science

Are you interested in working with clinical research, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a position as a PhD student in medical science at Uppsala University.

The position is placed in the clinical chemistry research group, which consists of several independent researchers with projects within laboratory diagnostics and related areas. Within the group, extracellular vesicles as biomarkers form a research line of its own, with studies within haemostasis, vascular disease and inflammation. The present project is run together with clinical and preclinical researchers at Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital and Livio Fertility Centre.

Duties: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is associated with an increased risk of blood clots in early pregnancy, but the mechanisms behind this are still unclear and there are no laboratory methods for assessing the risk in the individual patient. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized particles released from the cells of the body, which carry procoagulant properties and at the same time take part in reproductive signaling. They may therefore be the link between reproduction and haemostasis that is missing in our current understanding.

The project investigates how EVs change during IVF treatment, how they relate to haemostatic activation and clinical outcome, and whether they can be used as biomarkers. The analyses are carried out in an existing longitudinal biobank material and in a prospective cohort.

The doctoral student will be part of the national research school BioLabX (biomedical laboratory scientists for excellence), which trains future teachers and researchers within health care.

The work is mainly laboratory based and builds on immunological methods and high-sensitivity flow cytometry for characterisation of extracellular vesicles at the single-vesicle level. The work includes handling of clinical samples from the biobank and from prospective collection, setting up and validating antibody panels, analytical quality assurance, and integration of EV data with haemostasis measurements and clinical outcome data.

The position includes courses in teaching and learning in higher education, as well as teaching and supervision of students within the biomedical laboratory science programmes at Uppsala University, corresponding to no more than 20 % of full-time.

Requirements: To be eligible for admission to third-cycle studies, the applicant must have been awarded a second-cycle qualification, satisfied course requirements of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits at second-cycle level, or have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

Applicants are expected to hold a three-year first-cycle degree in biomedical laboratory science and a Master's degree corresponding to 60 credits at second-cycle level in a relevant field (biomedical laboratory science, medicine, biomedicine, pharmacy, medical science or equivalent).

We are looking for a motivated candidate with an interest in biomedical laboratory science, extracellular vesicles and haemostasis. Great importance will be attached to personal skills such as communication and collaboration skills. Applicants must have good knowledge of Swedish and English, both spoken and written. You are expected to be able to work independently but also to collaborate with the other members of the group. The applicant is further expected to take active part in teaching and supervision of students corresponding to a maximum of 20 % of full-time. Applicants should have experience of basic methods within biomedical laboratory science and immunology, and of sample handling and pre-analytical handling of clinical samples.

About the employment: The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.