Description
The Department of Chemistry is opening a PhD position in Chemistry with a specialization in biochemistry. The thesis project will focus on characterizing protein glycosylation in a major group of species of the human microbiome. The position is for four years of doctoral studies, including participation in research and postgraduate courses. The last day to apply is May 31, 2024. Expected starting date is beginning of September/2024 or by agreement.
Project description and tasks
The species that compose the human gut microbiome are poorly characterized at their molecular level, despite their important roles to keep a healthy state. The presence of pathogenic species or imbalances in the composition of commensal species are associated with disease. The doctoral studies are aimed at a doctoral degree where the main task is research within our effort to understand how microbial communities assemble and can be modulated towards healthy states.
In your PhD studies, you will use molecular biology/biochemistry and analytical chemistry approaches to characterize the glycosylation patterns that are prevalent in surface proteins of one of the major species groups of the human microbiome (species of the Bacteroidota phylum). This will involve using mass spectrometry and NMR based approaches, as well as synthetic biology techniques, to gain molecular insight into this protein modification. You will also identify and characterize the enzymatic pathways responsible for this modification. You will learn how to use advanced bacterial culture conditions to grow the species of the human gut microbiome in the absence of oxygen. You will also learn how to analyze large datasets.
At Umeå University, you will be immersed in a strong research environment at the Department of Chemistry and the Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), and have the chance to use the multiple facilities (e.g., NMR, metabolomics, protein expression, cryoEM) for a successful PhD. In addition to the research assignment, participation in postgraduate courses is also included.
Qualification
To be admitted for studies at third-cycle level you are required to have completed a second-cycle level degree, or completed course requirements of at least 240 ECTS credits, of which at least 60 ECTS credits are at second-cycle level or have an equivalent education from abroad, or equivalent qualifications.
To fulfil the specific entry requirements to be admitted for studies at third-cycle level in chemistry, you are required to have completed first-cycle courses of at least 90 ECTS credits within the field of chemistry or another subject considered to be directly relevant to the specialization in question. Of those 90 ECTS credits, at least 15 ECTS credits shall have been acquired at second-cycle level within the specialization or an equivalent subject. The eligibility requirements must be met at the time of admission, but do not need to be met when you submit your application.
Additional required qualifications are:
Basic experience in the lab
Background knowledge of chemistry, biochemistry, or related areas
Background knowledge of NMR and mass spectrometry
Good oral and written proficiency in English
Merits are:
Hands-on experience with NMR and/or mass spectrometry
Hands-on experience with biochemistry/molecular biology techniques (e.g., bacterial culture, cloning)
Programming skills (e.g., in R or python)
Consideration will also be given to candidates that strive to work independently, take initiative, and cooperate with the research group. You should also have good oral and verbal skills to communicate your science. Finally, you are engaged to enjoy pursuing a 4-year degree.
Further information
Further information is provided by assistant professor André Mateus, andre.mateus@umu.se. https://mateuslab.com/
