PhD student position in Medical Science with an orientation towards Cognitive Neuroscience - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan
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Umeå University, Medicinska fakulteten
Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.
The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.
Are you interested in learning more? Read about Umeå university as a workplace
The Faculty of Medicine, which consists of 13 departments, is responsible for biomedical research and courses in the field of nursing and health care and has an extensive research and graduate education in more than 80 subjects.
Description of the PhD-project
The dopamine D3 receptor is involved in side-effects of L-DOPA treatment in Parkinson’s disease, addictive disorders, and is likely to play an important role in mediating the therapeutic effects of antipsychotic drugs. This doctoral project aims to further our understanding of the differential roles of the various signalling pathways downstream of the D3 receptor.
The project will start off with the development and characterization of a new assay of dopamine D3 receptor activity, in which the recruitment of downstream signalling proteins, such as G proteins, arrestins, and GRK2 to the activated receptor can be studied in transfected cell lines. We will utilize this new assay to study the effects of common human variants of the D3 receptor on the recruitment of these signalling proteins. Furthermore, we will generate and characterize receptor mutants which favour signalling through some downstream proteins, while discouraging the recruitment of others (signalling bias). At a later stage of the doctoral project, depending on the results generated in the initial cell-based experiments, we will study the effects of human receptor variants and/or signalling biased mutants in animal models. Thus, the applicant should be willing to work with animals.
Qualifications
Applicants must
1) hold a University degree of at least 240 ECTS or equivalent or
2) have 120 Swedish (old) credits (Swe. poäng; corresponding to 180 ECTS credits) of higher education studies in the same fields or equivalent taken before July 1, 2007.
Other merits
In addition, the applicant should, through university studies or other equivalent education, have gained basic theoretical knowledge in biomedicine or related fields and have good experience of laboratory work and method development. Applicants with experience in pharmacology research, particularly involving transfection of cell lines, will be prioritized. Experience with bioluminescence- and/or fluorescence-based assays is highly meriting.
Most important, however, is a strong interest in neuropharmacology! The applicant must be able to work both independently and as part of a team, and high focus will be given to the candidate’s potential to work with others and also their ability to write scientific text.
Specific admission requirements
In order to be admitted to postgraduate studies, it is required that the applicant has:
- Necessary knowledge from university higher education or corresponding education and/or special professional experience that is assessed in relation to the research area.
- Necessary English language skills, both in writing and in speaking. Evaluation of these skills is made by having the intended PhD student present his/her research plan in English for the Department’s designated postgraduate education group.
Further information: Deputy Senior Lecturer Kristoffer Sahlholm, kristoffer.sahlholm@umu.se
Start date: 2020-09-15, or upon agreement.
Salary/type of position: Other information: https://www.umu.se/en/research/doctoral-studies/
The procedure for recruitment for the position is in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance (chapt. 12, 2 §) and the decision regarding the position cannot be appealed.
| Type of employment | Temporary position |
|---|---|
| Contract type | Full time |
| Salary | Monthly salary |
| Number of positions | 1 |
| Full-time equivalent | 100 |
| City | Umeå |
| County | Västerbottens län |
| Country | Sweden |
| Reference number | AN 2.2.1-939-20 |
| Contact |
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| Union representative |
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| Published | 15.Jun.2020 |
| Last application date | 31.Aug.2020 11:59 PM CEST |