Doctoral student in Medical Science

Doctoral student in Medical Science - Autism, oxytocin and sociability in zebrafish

Reference number PAR 2025/18

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Doctoral position in Medical Science

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.

Doctoral 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 this link.

Project: Autistic individuals tend to display reduced attention to others' eyes and faces. Despite the importance of social communication deficits for individuals with autism, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how social preference develops and how neuroactive drugs impact social behaviour. Given the complex nature of autism, it is difficult to investigate the underlying neurobiology with human studies alone. The prenatal development of the neural circuits involved in social interactions, which are most likely affected in individuals who later will be diagnosed with autism, is an example of complex biology that needs to be investigated with experimental animal models. The doctoral project will use some of the unique possibilities provided by the zebrafish model system to reveal crucial cornerstones in the development of ‘the social brain’, and of the emergence of social preference. To do so the PhD student will investigate the role of the neuropeptide oxytocin in interaction with the neurotransmitters, monoamines, GABA and glutamate for the first emergence of social preference, and the further development into fully developed social behaviours preference in zebrafish. Furthermore, the knowledge from the initial projects and from a single cell RNA sequencing experiment will be used to identify drugs that activate oxytocin neurons at the most relevant time point of development.

The PhD student will join a very active research environment at the Department of Pharmacology, in a research group that is well established in the field of social neuroscience. The student will obtain a wide knowledge in the fields of pharmacology and neuroscience, and an in-depth knowledge of social behaviour and autism pathophysiology. The research project and the training surrounding the project (journal clubs, seminars, courses, visits to other labs and conferences) will provide the student with a solid base for future research within the fields of neuroscience and pharmacology.

It is considered advantageous if applicants have completed a certified course in animal experimental activities, granting eligibility for animal experimental research. Furthermore, it is desirable, but not mandatory, that applicants have experience in conducting behavioral studies in experimental animals, molecular genetic techniques, immunohistochemistry, microscopy and/or having expertise in statistical analyses of large complex data sets. Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability and prior experience with similar work.

Doctoral studies comprise four years of full-time study, and lead 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.

Doctoral 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.

The 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 criteria

The 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.

Admission and employment

Once 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 SFS1993:100. 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 require 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 information

For more information about the project please contact principal supervisor, Lars Westberg, Professor, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, e-mail: lars.westberg@pharm.gu.se

You 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:

- Personal letter
- CV
- Diploma and transcripts showing that you meet with the general entry requirement
- Proof of completion of English 6 course or the acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies

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.

Applications must be received by: 2025-02-27

Information for International Applicants

Choosing 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:

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.

#J-18808-Ljbffr