Doctoral student (PhD) in medical science with a focus on mosquito vectors and vector borne diseases - ,

Do you want to contribute to medical research of the highest quality?
Being a doctoral student means engaging in a research project under the supervision of experienced researchers and according to an individual study plan. For a doctoral degree, the equivalent of four years of full-time postgraduate education is required.

We are looking for a doctoral student at the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine.

You will be part of a multidisciplinary collaboration, which consists of specialists in virology, microbiology, entomology, medicine. We offer an international, stimulating and translational research environment that promotes your scientific career development. The employment is limited to four years, starting by agreement. If teaching occurs during the doctoral student period, the position can be extended by the corresponding period.

The doctoral student project
The overarching aim of this project is to gain a better understanding of the global distribution of important vector mosquitoes and their respective habitats, as well as how mosquito communities are affected by environmental change. The project involves, among other things, searching for existing data on the geographic distribution and habitats of mosquitoes, as well as conducting field studies in Kenya among other potential locations, with a focus on the relationships between mosquito communities and the degree of ecosystem disturbance. It may also be relevant for virological analyses of biological data from mosquitoes and infection prevalence in related human communities. While the emphasis is on field studies and data analyses, modeling may also be applied as a method to understand public health effects on larger spatial and temporal scales. The study employs advanced virological and molecular biological techniques, including "single-cell sequencing". Results from this study may be applicable in control strategies for vector-borne diseases.

You who are admitted to doctoral studies at the Faculty of Medicine will be enrolled in the faculty-wide doctoral education program. The program comprises 25 credits and is offered in two study variants: 25 credits spread over 8 terms (a total of 4 years) or over 12 terms (a total of 6 years), starting each autumn and spring semester. More information about the program can be found on the faculty’s web page for doctoral studies (https://www.aurora.umu.se/en/organisation-and-management/organisation/faculties/faculty-of-medicine/doctoral-studies/).

Tasks
The doctoral position gives you the opportunity to develop into an independent researcher who independently plans and performs experiments, interprets results and puts them in a scientific context.

• You will be able to present and discuss your research with other researchers within and outside the group.
• You are actively involved in compiling and publishing research results.
• You will gain experience in conducting research in an international context both within and outside Sweden.
• You may be able to supervise Swedish and foreign students at bachelor’s / master's level, and have the opportunity to participate in the department's other teaching.
• You will supplement your doctoral education with compulsory and optional courses, active participation in seminar series and literature discussion meetings.
• You also act in accordance with the university's policy for equal opportunities and data protection.

 Eligibility and qualifications
Basic eligibility has those who have completed a degree at the advanced level, completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits (ECTS), of which at least 60 credits at the advanced level, or in some other way within or outside the country have acquired essentially equivalent knowledge.

A background in bioinformatics or molecular biology is considered advantageous. The applicant must possess excellent skills in both oral and written communication in English, be able to work independently as well as in collaboration with others, and be highly motivated. The applicant should be willing to take on scientific and methodological challenges, and have the appropriate capacity to work independently abroad in Kenya for periods of time. Previous practical experience in studies on vector-borne or zoonotic diseases, scientific literature data collection, database management, virology, mosquito cultivation, sequencing, molecular barcoding, as well as familiarity with or previous stays or work in Kenya or equivalent, are considered advantageous. 

Application
The application must contain:

1. Personal letter describing qualification and your motivation
2. CV
3. Certified copies of diplomas, certificates and grades
4. A list of publications and a copy of the master thesis
5. Contact information of two reference persons

Send application electronically via Varbi.

The documents should be compiled in one file in word or pdf-format.

Last day of application 2022-05-31.

The position will start by agreement.

Salary placement takes place according to an established salary ladder for doctoral employment according to the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 12, Section 2), the decision on employment cannot be appealed.

For questions, please contact Henrik Sjödin. Email: henrik.sjodin@umu.se

Welcome with your application!