Vacant job

Department of Water and Environmental Studies

Doctoral Programme Subject: Biology

Description of the PhD Project

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time. A key driver behind the spread of AMR is the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes via conjugative plasmids, which are mobile genetic elements that move between bacteria. Plasmid-dependent phages (PDPs) are viruses that specifically infect bacteria carrying these plasmids, making them a potentially powerful but hitherto overlooked tool for controlling the spread of resistance genes.

This PhD project is part of ECOPHARM, a research project funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (Wallenberg Academy Fellows 2025). The overarching goal of ECOPHARM is to map the mechanisms governing PDP interactions with conjugative plasmids and bacterial hosts, as well as to understand their impact on the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in aquatic environments.

As a PhD student, you will investigate the diversity, ecology, and functional interactions of PDPs in aquatic ecosystems. The work will combine environmental sampling, culture-based methods, metagenomics, genome analysis, and infection assays. You will work in a dynamic and internationally connected research environment at the intersection of microbial ecology, virus-host coevolution, and AMR research. To learn more about our research, you are welcome to visit our website https://www.bionomics-mmlab.com/

Responsibilities

As a PhD student, you are expected to:

• Design and conduct field sampling in aquatic environments to map PDP communities
• Perform laboratory experiments to study PDP–plasmid–host interactions under controlled conditions
• Apply metagenomic and bioinformatic tools to analyze data from microbial and viral communities
• Contribute to experimental work involving phage isolation, culturing, and infection assays
• Present results at lab meetings, national and international conferences, and contribute to scientific publications
• Follow the laboratory's guidelines for data management
• Communicate progress and obstacles in a timely and clear manner
• Collaborate with national and international project partners within the ECOPHARM network

Qualifications

Basic eligibility is granted to those who have completed an advanced level degree, fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits (HEC), of which at least 60 HEC at advanced level, or who have otherwise acquired substantially equivalent knowledge within or outside the country (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7, Section 39).

Special eligibility to be admitted to the doctoral programme in biology is granted to those who have knowledge equivalent to at least 90 higher education credits (HEC) in biological subjects. These must include an independent project and at least 30 HEC at advanced level.

Additionally, you are required to have knowledge in English equivalent to a passing grade in English B/6 from Swedish upper secondary school.

Your Background

Requirements:

• A Master's degree in microbiology, biology, molecular biology, environmental science, or a closely related field
• Background in microbiology or molecular biology
• Experience with laboratory techniques relevant to microbial or environmental research
• Good proficiency in English, both written and spoken

Merits:

• Experience in bioinformatics or computational analysis of sequence data
• Knowledge of phage biology, plasmid biology, or antibiotic resistance research
• Experience with sampling in aquatic or other natural environments

Personal Qualities We Are Looking For

• High degree of independence – you take initiative, define problems independently, and drive the work forward in dialogue with your supervisor
• Team-oriented – you actively contribute to a good team environment and support your colleagues
• Clear communicator – you can convey complex ideas both in writing and orally, to both specialists and non-specialists
• Curiosity, attention to detail, and the ability to handle scientific uncertainty

About Us

The Department of Water and Environmental Studies is a competence centre for applied environmental research with a national responsibility for monitoring the environmental status of Swedish lakes and waterways with regard to water chemistry, environmental pollution, and aquatic biota. Research at the department focuses on geochemical and hydrological processes, aquatic ecology and biodiversity, microbial ecology, as well as environmental chemistry and aquatic ecotoxicology. The department has over 150 employees, of which approximately half are researchers/PhD students and the other half are technical and administrative staff.

More information about the department: http://www.slu.se/vatten-miljo

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/om-slu/jobba-pa-slu/

Read more about SLU's doctoral education at http://www.slu.se/utbildning/program-kurser/forskarutbildning/.

Employment Type and Salary

Employment as a PhD student (4 years of education).

The salary for the PhD position follows the local collective agreement with fixed salary steps.

Extent

100%

Location

Uppsala

Start Date

2026-10-01

Application and Selection

We welcome your application via the button below by 2026-08-30.

Your application should include:

• A page where you reflect on (1) why you want to pursue a PhD, (2) why you specifically see our research group as a good match for you, and (3) why this project interests you
• Two publications related to the topic of "plasmid dependent phages" that you find most interesting
• All application documents must be written in English

Read more about the attachments your application must include at https://www.slu.se/utbildning/studera/forskarutbildning/hur-kan-jag-bli-doktorand/ansokan-och-bilagor/

Selection among eligible applicants is based on the attachments submitted with the application and should take into account the ability to complete the education within the specified time.

Union Representatives

https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/