PhD student in Clinical Immunology and Antibody Glycoanalytics

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

To be a doctoral student means to devote oneself to a research project under supervision of experienced researchers and following an individual study plan. For a doctoral degree, the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral education is required.

The research group

The research group of Dr Charlotte Thålin opens a doctoral (PhD) student position within T-MAP: Translating the Functional Role of Mucosal IgA Clonal and Glycoprofiles to Effective Humoral Mucosal Protection. T-MAP addresses a critical need in the face of viral endemics and pandemics through the translation of in-depth mucosal IgA structure and function to the generation of protective recombinant IgA. The Thålin group has pioneered the field of mucosal immunology, and is situated at Karolinska Institutet, the Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital (KI DS). T-MAP is conducted in close collaboration with Professor Manfred Wuhrer at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), at the forefront of proteomics and antibody glycosylation. Early career scientists within the project will transfer between our groups as the project advances, and this position will be shared between the Thålin group at KIDS and the Wuhrer group at LUMC. The successful candidate will thereby be part of a multidisciplinary and collaborative research team.

The Department of Clinical Sciences at Danderyd Hospital (KI DS) conducts extensive clinical research in several areas. The department is growing and consists of research nurses, biomedical analysts, senior researchers, post docs, and PhD students as well as administrative personnel. Every year, about 400 first level students conduct their medical education at the department. LUMC is a center of medical innovation, aiming to improve patient care through internationally leading research. In the glycomics group within the Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, headed by Prof. Manfred Wuhrer, advanced analytical techniques are applied to study glycosylation in health and disease, with special interest in antibody glycosylation. Both universities collaborate within Eurolife, a life science network comprising nine higher education institutions in Europe.

Frequent courses are provided on both campuses and through PhD courses, summer schools and workshops.

PhD student in Clinical Immunology and Antibody Glycoanalytics

Do you have a keen interest in the world of protein glycosylation? Do you find translational research that could lead to new immunization strategies intriguing? We are seeking a highly motivated and self-driven doctoral student with the ambition to learn from an interdisciplinary team based both at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and LUMC in Leiden. As a PhD student in Clinical Immunology and Antibody Glycoanalytics, you will develop and apply purification, separation and mass spectrometry-based detection methods for the analysis of pathogen-specific antibody glycosylation patterns (LUMC, Netherlands) and link these to protection against infection in our large human nasal secretion biobank (KI). Based on this information, we will identify protective molecular-level IgA blueprints and produce these recombinantly in glycoengineered forms to be tested for in vitro functionality and in vivo protection against infection (KI). Our overarching aim is to translate these findings to the generation of a prophylactic nasal spray. This is a highly interdisciplinary project, including close collaborative work within an international network, integrating clinical immunology, glycoanalytics, and bioinformatics. You can be part of our story.

This is a project funded by Karolinska Institutet, in collaboration with Leiden University Medical Center, within the frames of a European Research Council Starting grant.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment full of expertise and curiosity. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. As a doctoral student you are offered an individual research project, a well-educated supervisor, a vast range of elective courses and the opportunity to work in a leading research group. Karolinska Institutet collaborates with prominent universities from all around the world, which ensures opportunities for international exchanges, for example through Erasmus+ and Eurolife. You will be employed on a doctoral studentship which means that you receive a contractual salary. Employees also have access to our modern gym for free and receive reimbursements for medical care.

Eligibility requirements for doctoral education

In order to participate in the selection for a doctoral position, you must meet the following general (A) and specific (B) eligibility requirements at latest by the application deadline.

It is your responsibility to certify eligibility by following the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

A) General eligibility requirement

You meet the general eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

1. have been awarded a second-cycle/advanced/master qualification (i.e. master degree), or
2. have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the advanced/second-cycle/master level, or
3. have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.*

Follow the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

*If you claim equivalent knowledge, follow the instructions on the web page Assessing equivalent knowledge for general eligibility for doctoral education.

B) Specific eligibility requirement

You meet the specific eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

- Show proficiency in English equivalent to the course English B/English 6 at Swedish upper secondary school.

Follow the instructions on the web page English language requirements for doctoral education.

Verification of your documents Karolinska Institutet checks the authenticity of your documents. Karolinska Institutet reserves the right to revoke admission if supporting documents are discovered to be fraudulent. Submission of false documents is a violation of Swedish law and is considered grounds for legal action.

(A) and (B) can only be certified by the documentation requirement for doctoral education.

Skills and personal qualities

In addition to the above requirements for the position, the eligible candidate must

• hold a master’s degree in analytical chemistry, biomedicine, cell biology, immunology, virology or equivalent.
• be willing to divide doctoral studies between KI and LUMC (approximately 2 years in the Netherlands and 2 years in Sweden)
• be curiosity-driven, creative and ambitious.
• enthusiastic about collaborating in a multidisciplinary team.
• be a team player with excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and written.

Experience with glycoanalytics, glycobiology and immunology is a strong merit.

Terms and conditions

The doctoral student will be employed on a doctoral studentship at karolinska Institutet for a maximum of 4 years full-time.

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Application process

Submit your application and supporting documents through the Varbi recruitment system. Use the button in the top right corner and follow the instructions. We prefer that your application is written in English, but you can also apply in Swedish.

Your application must contain the following documents:

- A personal letter and a curriculum vitae
- Degree projects and previous publications, if any
- Any other documentation showing the desirable skills and personal qualities described above
- Documents certifying your general eligibility (see A above)
- Documents certifying your specific eligibility (see B above)

Selection

A selection will be made among eligible applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from doctoral education. The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis.

Karolinska Institutet uses the following bases of assessment:

- Documented subject knowledge of relevance to the area of research
- Analytical skill
- Other documented knowledge or experience that may be relevant to doctoral studies in the subject.

All applicants will be informed when the recruitment is completed.

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