Vacant job

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For more information about the position

https://liu.se/jobba-pa-liu/lediga-jobb/29199 (https://liu.se/jobba-pa-liu/lediga-jobb/29199)

Your responsibilities

As a PhD student, you will focus on your doctoral studies and the research project you are part of. Your work may also include teaching or participating in other departmental duties, up to 20% of full-time employment. Your main project will focus on an in-depth analysis of various immune cell subpopulations (particularly lymphoid cells, such as NK cells and T cells) throughout the entire course of pancreatic cancer development, progression, and metastasis. In this context, you will perform immunophenotypic characterization of immune cells in circulation and in tissues from patients with pancreatic cancer, using methods such as spectral flow cytometry and transcriptomics. Immune cells will be isolated and analyzed in vitro for cytotoxicity against cancer cells, and their effector functions will be measured, among other things, through cytokine production. The prognostic significance of specific immune subgroups and functional states will be analyzed by comparing cancer patients with non-cancer controls, as well as between cancer patients with better versus worse oncological outcomes. Furthermore, the specific impact of cytostatics and various metabolites on the effector function of immune cells will be investigated in this context. The overarching goal is on the one hand to identify new biomarkers for the anti-tumor activity of immune cells in patients with pancreatic cancer, and on the other hand to identify new opportunities for therapeutic intervention to enhance synergies between chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

You will be supervised by Dr. Constantinos Zambirinis, with co-supervision by Dr. Judit Svensson Arvelund and Dr. Mohamed Elhusseiny.

Your qualifications

You have completed an advanced degree in immunology, biochemistry, biotechnology, cancer biology, or related areas within biomedical science, or have completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at an advanced level in immunology, cancer biology, and biochemistry.

Given the nature of the project, a solid foundation in cancer biology, immunology, and biochemistry is necessary. In-depth knowledge in at least one of these areas, including relevant laboratory experience, is a strong asset. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated and ambitious PhD student with a strong interest in immunology and cancer research, as well as a good foundation in biochemistry, thereby meeting the requirements for doctoral education in cancer immunometabolism.

The successful candidate is expected to have at least basic experience with the following methods:

• cell culture
• isolation of immune cells from human blood and tissue
  • specific knowledge of isolating immune cells from human pancreas, lymph node, and liver tissue is a strong asset
• cryopreservation and recovery of immune cells
• ELISA, cytometric bead assay, and/or other similar assays for cytokine quantification in biological samples
• DNA and RNA extraction and quality control
• qRT-PCR
• Western blot
• multiparametric flow cytometry (preferably spectral flow cytometry), with knowledge of setting up panels with at least 8 markers, compensation, and basic data analysis in FlowJo
• principles of cytotoxicity assays
• data analysis in GraphPad Prism

Experience with the following is not a requirement but is considered a strong plus:

• ability to independently perform cytotoxicity assays
• fluorescence microscopy
• analysis of neutrophil and/or monocyte extracellular traps
• invasion and metastasis assays
• metabolomics analysis
• programming and data analysis in R or Python

In addition to knowledge and practical skills, it is equally important to be a reliable person with high integrity, and to have the ability to work responsibly both independently and as part of an interactive research team. We are looking for the right person who can function well and thrive in our transdisciplinary group, and therefore personal qualities are of great importance. You are expected to be resilient, adaptable, well-organized, have good attention to detail, and a strong commitment to high-quality research. Previous experience in scientific writing and/or grant applications is a strong asset.

Finally, the applicant must meet the specific eligibility requirements for doctoral education regarding English language skills (equivalent to the course English B/English 6 in Swedish upper secondary school).

The applicant is expected to submit a personal statement describing relevant knowledge and experience related to the above requirements, and provide the names and contact details of three references who can attest to the applicant's qualities, skills, and experience if needed.

Your workplace

Your main workplace will be at Linköping University's Medical Campus, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV).

About the employment

Upon admission to the doctoral program, your employment as a PhD student will be processed. Read more about each faculty's doctoral education https://liu.se/forskning/forskarutbildning (https://liu.se/forskning/forskarutbildning)

The employment is fixed-term for four years full-time. You will initially be employed for one year, after which the employment will be renewed for up to two years at a time, based on the achieved study plan. Extension of employment up to five years occurs based on the extent of teaching and departmental duties. Under special circumstances, further extension may occur.

Start date by agreement

Salary and benefits

Linköping University applies individual salary setting.

Read more about benefits for employees https://liu.se/jobba-pa-liu/formaner (https://liu.se/jobba-pa-liu/formaner).

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see https://liu.se/jobba-pa-liu/hjalp-for-sokande (https://liu.se/jobba-pa-liu/hjalp-for-sokande).

Application

Welcome to apply for this position no later than June 10, 2026.

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