PhD-position in neurodegenerative diseases genetics

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 45 000 students and more than 8 000 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

Description of the workplace
Within the research group for clinical memory research, research is conducted that is aimed at defining and understanding the biological processes behind Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. We work with cohorts consisting of both patients and cognitively healthy volunteers, who undergo extensive testing with brain imaging, measurements of biomarkers, and neuropsychological testing, as well as animal and cell biology experiments. You can read more about the research here. The research group is led by Professor Oskar Hansson. The position is located at BMC in Lund.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. Genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease have been identified both in large GWAS studies and in studies of families with a strong hereditary predisposition for the disease. The aim of this project is to contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms through which various genetic variants influence the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The doctoral student will conduct research under the supervision of Associate Professor Niklas Mattsson-Carlgren, Professor Oskar Hansson, and Assistant Associate Professor Jacob Vogel.

We are committed to creating a positive, respectful and stimulating environment. We value communication and collaboration, and we strive for a workplace that promotes learning and development of all employees. We are also committed to building a safe and positive environment for all employees through mutual respect and toleration.

We offer
As an employee at Lund University, you are entitled to the favourable benefits regulated in Swedish law and agreements, as well as the benefits offered by Lund University. Read more here.

Project description and work duties
The main task of the doctoral student is to conduct their research studies, which includes participation in research projects and mandatory courses. The doctoral student will perform statistical analyses of genetic data collected from healthy control individuals, and patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. The analyses will aim, among other things, to elucidate the function of genetic variants and molecular signaling pathways.

The project will also involve integrative omics analyses, where genetic data from large relevant cohorts are analyzed together with other high-dimensional data types, such as proteomics, metabolomics, and quantitative neuropathology.

The research will primarily consist of genetic/statistical analyses, writing scientific articles, and presenting results at national and international conferences. The majority of the research is conducted in collaboration with other members of the group. Other tasks within the research group may become relevant.

Qualifications
Requirements for the position are:

• An advanced level degree (master’s or equivalent) or equivalent 240 ECTS credits in engineering, molecular biology, neuroscience, mathematics, biology, medicine, biomedicine, psychology, or another similar field
• Basic knowledge in programming with Python, R, MATLAB, or another programming language
• Good skills in oral and written communication in English
• Excellent communication, presentation, and writing skills
• Good ability to cooperate and the ability to work independently
• Good analytical and initiative skills

Meriting for the position are:

• Experience in data analysis and mathematical modeling applied to medical data
• Experience in performing genetic analyses, for example, using PLINK
• A specific interest in dementia and aging

Eligibility
Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who: have completed a second-cycle degree, have completed courses of at least 240 credits (equivalent to ECTS credits), of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or have acquired largely equivalent knowledge.

Basis of assessment
The employment of doctoral students is regulated in the Swedish Code of Statues 1998: 80. Only those who are or have been admitted to PhD-studies may be appointed to doctoral studentships. When an appointment to a doctoral studentship is made, the ability of the student to benefit from PhD-studies shall primarily be taken into account. In addition to devoting themselves to their studies, those appointed to doctoral studentships may be required to work with educational tasks, research and administration, in accordance with specific regulations in the ordinance.

Type of employment
Employment is a full-time, fixed-term position of 4 years, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5 Section 7. Start date is 2024-01-01 or according to agreement.

How to apply
Application should be sent through the Lund University online recruitment system. It must include a personal motivation letter, a CV, contact information of two references, a degree certificate (including a grade transcript) and other documents you wish to be considered (e.g. letters of recommendation). Those applicants who will be called for interview, may be asked to perform a small test to demonstrate basic competence.

The Faculty of Medicine is a part of Lund University, and is responsible for education and research within medicine and healthcare. Our academic programs are closely linked with the healthcare system and are firmly anchored in the faculty’s strong research tradition. Our research spans a broad field within experimental preclinical research, near-patient clinical research and health sciences research. The Faculty of Medicine, with its 1,800 employees and 2,700 students in Lund and Malmö, is a knowledge-intensive meeting place for students, teachers and researchers from all over the world.

The Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö is one of the six departments at the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University. We have a strong focus on clinical and epidemiological research and also conduct an extensive preclinical laboratory research.

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