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Doctoral position in Medical Science
Project title: The role of the striatum in regulating feeding behavior and obesity in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
The Department of Pharmacology is located at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. Several research groups are active at the Department and research is conducted within pharmacology, in particular regarding the central and autonomic nervous system, pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism, oncology, addiction and rational use of medicines. We teach at an undergraduate and graduate level at most programmes within the Sahlgrenska Academy, not the least at the Pharmacy and Medical programmes.
General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages https: // www. gu.se/en/doctoral-studies
DutiesDoctoral education in Medical Science comprises carrying out a scientific project and completing at least 30 credits of courses at third-cycle level. The doctoral student must also write a scientific compilation thesis or monograph corresponding to at least 120 credits. For more information about third-cycle studies at Sahlgrenska Academy, see https: // www. gu.se/en/sahlgrenska-akademin/doctoral-studies
Project: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neuropsychiatric condition that affects how an individual perceives and interacts with others, leading to challenges in social interaction and communication. In the current obesogenic environment, individuals with autism face the same risk factors for obesity as the general population, but with additional autism-specific factors, such as restricted food preferences and specialized diets. Overweight and obesity are commonly reported in individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS), a monogenic cause of ASD.
The purpose of this project is to investigate the mechanisms underlying disrupted eating behavior in FXS, focusing on how dysregulated protein synthesis and molecular signaling pathways affect neural circuits within the basal ganglia. As a PhD student, you will be offered an exciting opportunity to contribute to a collaborative research environment that bridges basic neuroscience with translational approaches in neurodevelopmental disorders. This project offers an innovative translational strategy for addressing obesity in ASD by combining clinical data analysis with cutting-edge techniques in neuropharmacology, electrophysiology, and behavioral analysis. The research plan includes cell-type-specific translatome analysis in the striatum of FXS mice with genome-wide resolution, utilizing cell-type-specific translation ribosome affinity purification. This approach will determine whether targeting cell-specific expression of obesity-related genes in FXS provides new insights and potential therapeutic avenues for the clinical population.
Doctoral studies comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree. As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period, and result in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.
EligibilityDoctoral education requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.
The general eligibility requirements for doctoral studies are:
1. having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or 2. the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or 3. the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.
Specific entry requirements for this subject, according to the general syllabus, are:
having successfully completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies.
Assessment criteriaThe selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the doctoral studies. The assessment shall attach particular importance to documented qualifications for:
- specific knowledge and skills within the subject area and related research fields - experience of scientific theory and relevant research methodology - scientific analysis and presentation verified through an academic paper, degree project, scientific journals or the like.
Documented experience with animal models and knowledge of behavioral testing in rodents is advantageous. Furthermore, experience with molecular biology techniques, such as iPSC-based human brain cell models, PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry is an asset. Experience with confocal imaging is also an asset.
Admission and employmentOnce you have been admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg. The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100. Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time. A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at doctoral level for four years.
Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Pharmacology. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.
The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.
Please note, doctoral studies at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology requires physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.
Contact informationFor more information about the project please contact principal supervisor Francesco Longo, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, e-mail: [email protected]
UnionsUnion representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https: // www. gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande
ApplicationYou can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.
You must include the following, in pdf format
If your degree is from a university outside of Sweden, make sure that you attach a diploma and full transcripts that makes assessing your degree easier .
If your degree has not been verified by a Swedish authority you need to provide contact details to the issuing university, registrar or similar, that can verify the degree at our request.
For information on what you need to submit in order to fulfill the English language requirement see https: // www. universityadmissions.se/en/entry- requirements/english-language-requirements/
Applications must be received by: 2025-02-27
Information for International ApplicantsChoosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:
https: // www. gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services https: // www. movetogothenburg.com/
The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.
Salaries are set individually at the University.
In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden's regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.
In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.