PhD student in Neurobiology with a Focus on Disease Modeling and Therapeutic Development Full-time

PhD Student In Neurobiology With A Focus On Disease Modeling And Therapeutic Development

The Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences is part of the Faculty of Medicine and conducts extensive research across several subject areas. The department has approximately 370 employees, including researchers and doctoral students, and offers education within several professional and Master's programs.

The position will be based within Molecular Geriatrics at the Rudbeck Laboratory, in an interdisciplinary research environment with strong expertise in stem cell biology, genetic engineering, and multi-omics.

The doctoral project aims to develop advanced, brain cell subtype–centered disease models by combining developmental biology and gene modification. By establishing new model systems that reflect complex aspects of human biology, the project seeks to recapitulate relevant features of the onset and progression of neurodevelopmental, neuro-oncological, and neurodegenerative diseases.

A central focus is to understand how lineage-specific properties of different brain cell types contribute to vulnerability, disease development, and treatment response. By leveraging genetic engineering, single-cell–based analyses, and advanced molecular profiling techniques, the project will map cell type–specific mechanisms that drive fundamental processes underlying pathological metabolic alterations. These insights will not only be used for testing but also for developing novel therapeutic strategies, including gene-based and antibody-based interventions to enable precision-targeted treatments.

The work will be conducted in close collaboration with other departments and with access to SciLifeLab's advanced infrastructure for both experimental and computational analyses. The international and interdisciplinary environment provides excellent opportunities for collaboration and prepares the doctoral student for a continued international research career.

The research group operates at the interface of chemistry, biology, and medicine, with particular focus on genetic modeling, stem cell biology, biochemistry, and analytical methods. We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a background in, for example, molecular biology, biotechnology, chemistry, or related fields, and with a strong interest in developing and applying advanced model systems to understand and treat neurological diseases, and subsequently using them for therapeutic development.

Duties: The doctoral position refers to own full-time studies for a maximum of 4 years. Holders of doctoral employment must primarily devote themselves to their own research training. This includes part-taking in project planning, data generation and analysis, and publication of scientific results. Other service at the institution, which relates to education and administrative work, may be included within the framework of the employment (max. 20%), but only upon agreement with the supervisors.

Requirements: To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must hold a Master's (second-cycle) degree in stem cell biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, or a related field. You must have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master's level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way. Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities such as good collaborative skills, motivation, and independence, as well as on how the applicant's experience and competence are assessed to provide the abilities required to develop within and benefit from doctoral education.

Additional qualifications: It is considered meritorious if the applicant has practical experience in laboratory work with stem cells and gene modification. Experience in genetic or biologically based therapeutic development is also considered an advantage. Experience in experimental design, data analysis, and R, Python, or similar programming languages is desirable.

About the employment: The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100%. Start date 1 July 2026 or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

As part of the selection process, critical evaluation of scientific material will be included in a potential interview.

For further information about the position, please contact: Wojciech Michno, wojciech.michno@scilifelab.uu.se, +46 18 471 4107.

Please submit your application by 7 April 2026, UFV-PA 2026/760.