PhD Position in Medical Science

Project Title: Prediction and Prevention of Neurovascular Disease in Extremely Preterm Infants

General information about what it means to be a PhD student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's PhD pages here (https://www.gu.se/utbildning-till-att-bli-forskare).

Job Description

The education in medical science involves conducting a scientific project and participating in doctoral-level courses of at least 30 higher education credits. The education concludes with the PhD student writing a scientific compilation thesis or a monograph corresponding to at least 120 higher education credits. For more information about doctoral education at the Sahlgrenska Academy, see here (https://www.gu.se/sahlgrenska-akademin/var-forskarutbildning).

Project: Approximately 350 infants are born extremely preterm (i.e., before gestational week 28) in Sweden each year. Although survival in this group has improved significantly over the past decades, the incidence of prematurity-related morbidity affecting the nervous system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal system remains high. One such condition is retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a neurovascular eye disease strongly associated with poorer neurological long-term outcomes. Early identification of infants at risk for ROP, and thus abnormal neurovascular development, would enable tailored interventions to support normal development and improve quality of life.

This project aims to enhance our ability to identify infants at risk for neurovascular disease early and deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved. Additionally, the project will evaluate the molecular effects of a new therapy designed to promote normal neurovascular development in preterm infants.

To this end, the PhD student will utilize neonatal “omics” data (including transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiome) collected from extremely preterm infants and relate these to neurovascular disease, including ROP. The molecular data will come from both retrospective and prospective studies. The PhD student will employ a bioinformatics approach to decipher the molecular patterns and mechanisms driving abnormal neurovascular development in extremely preterm infants, ultimately identifying potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

We are looking for candidates with prior research experience concerning preterm infants, particularly regarding the analysis of “omics” data from clinical samples. Documented experience in statistical analysis, data visualization, and programming in R (or a comparable language) is advantageous.

Doctoral education consists of four years of full-time studies leading to a doctoral degree. As part of your PhD employment, you may have institutional duties of a maximum of 20% of full-time distributed throughout the entire education period, which will correspondingly extend the duration of your studies. Institutional duties typically include teaching at undergraduate and advanced levels, but research and administration may also be included.

Eligibility

To be admitted to doctoral studies, the basic and, if applicable, the specific eligibility established in the general study plan for the doctoral subject is required.

Basic eligibility for doctoral studies is granted to those who:

1. have obtained a degree at the advanced level, or
2. have completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the advanced level, or
3. have acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way, within or outside the country.

Specific eligibility for doctoral studies in medical science is granted to those who have completed the course English B/6 with a passing grade or are assessed to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies.

Contact Information for the PhD Position

If you have questions about the project, please feel free to contact:

Principal Supervisor Anders Nilsson, Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology,
phone: 0768119337, email: anders.k.nilsson@gu.se (mailto:anders.k.nilsson@gu.se)

Co-supervisor Ann Hellström, Professor, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology
email: ann.hellstrom@medfak.gu.se (mailto:ann.hellstrom@medfak.gu.se)

Application

For further information and to apply for the position, see the full advertisement here (https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-anstallningar).

The application must be submitted by: 2025-05-05

The university actively works for a work environment with equal conditions and values the qualities that diversity brings to the organization.

The university applies individual salary setting.

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