Doctoral student in Pharmaceutical Science

Doctoral student in Pharmaceutical Science - New treatment for addiction: gut-brain axis

Reference number PAR 2025/15

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Doctoral position in Pharmaceutical 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. Research is conducted within pharmacology, particularly 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, particularly at the Pharmacy and Medical programmes.

Doctoral education in Pharmaceutical Science comprises carrying out a scientific project and completing at least 30 credits of courses at the 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 here.

Project: The lack of effective treatments for addiction is a challenge worldwide, and new therapies are required; the long-term goal of the present PhD-project. While gut-brain peptides such as GLP-1 have been found as promising candidates, the synergistic effect of gut-brain peptide combinations has been omitted. The present proposal will evaluate the impact of a combination of gut-brain peptides (retatrutide, a single peptide with agonist activity at the GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptors) on alcohol intake, relapse drinking, the motivation to consume alcohol, and alcohol-induced reward in rodents. Additionally, the ability of retatrutide to suppress nicotine-induced reward and nicotine-taking will be evaluated in rodents. The effect of retatrutide on sexual behaviors in naïve and experienced mice will be tested. Thereafter, the PhD student will identify neuronal circuits through which retatrutide acts. We expect that retatrutide reduces alcohol- and nicotine-related responses in rodents via GABAergic neurocircuits.

It is considered advantageous if applicants have completion of a certified course in animal experimental activities, granting eligibility for animal experimental research. Furthermore, it is desirable that applicants have experience in conducting behavioral studies, including locomotor activity, conditioned place preference, and drinking tests in rats/mice. 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, resulting 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.

General eligibility requirements for doctoral studies:

1. having completed a degree at the second-cycle level, or
2. the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at the 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:

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 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 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 the principal supervisor, Elisabet Jerlhag Holm, Professor, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, e-mail: elisabet.jerlhag@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 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 make 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.

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