Karolinska Institutet,

At the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology we teach and conduct internationally acclaimed, high-quality research in Physiology, Pharmacology, Anesthesiology and Intensive care. We have around 400 employees, 30 research groups, and 90 doctoral students. Our research fields include cellular signaling, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, neuropsychopharmacology, neuroinflammation, pharmacogenetics, regenerative medicine, Renal System, anesthesiology and intensive care, muscle physiology and pain. Our collaboration with the clinics at Karolinska University Hospital provides unique opportunities for translational research within our subjects. More information about research at http://ki.se/fyfa_english

We are recruiting a student for doctoral education.
For more information regarding doctoral (PhD) education, see: http://www.ki.se/doctoral.

Research group
Group: Liver function and Drug Development.
Research Profile: http://ki.se/en/fyfa/section-of-pharmacogenetics-lauschke-lab
Project Title: Novel microfluidic in vitro systems for drug discovery and mechanistic studies of type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) constitutes a global health problem affecting 1 in 20 adults worldwide. Insulin resistance in muscles, liver and adipose tissue, loss of pancreatic islet cell function and decrease of beta cell mass are key hallmarks of T2DM. However, they are largely unaddressed by todays therapeutics that focus on disease management rather than regression or cure. T2DM manifests due to a dysfunctional interplay of multiple tissues and organs. Due to the complexity and species-specificity of these interactions, there is a lack of experimental tools that faithfully reflect human T2DM biology, which impedes the development of new anti-diabetic medications.
In the research group we focus on the development of microphysiological spheroid model systems for primary human tissues with importance for T2DM. Previous work focused on our primary human hepatocytes; the current project will expand this experimental repertoire with spheroid models for pancreas, muscle and adipose tissue. Furthermore, we study genetic factors underlying disease risk and drug response.

The doctoral education project and the duties of the student
In the proposed project the student will develop, characterize and validate a platform capable of modelling human type 2 diabetes mellitus. To achieve this goal, the successful applicant will establish physiologically relevant long-term stable 3D models of pancreatic islets, muscle and adipose tissue and benchmark their molecular phenotypes and functionality against their in vivo counterparts. These engineered tissue models will be integrated into a microfluidic chip we develop in-house using physiological scaling parameters and optimized common culture conditions. Importantly, the multi-organ chip will be validated by replicating an array of clinically relevant scenarios, such as the response to mechanistically diverse anti-diabetic medications that cannot be mimicked in currently available systems.

Entry requirements for doctoral education at KI
To be eligible for doctoral education, the following requirements have to be met:

General entry requirements
A person meets the general entry requirements for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education (according to Higher Education Ordinance Chapt 7, section 39) if he/she:

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

For more information regarding the general entry requirements, please see:
https://ki.se/en/phd/entry-requirements-eligibility-for-doctoral-education

Specific entry requirements
Proficiency in English equivalent to the course English B/English 6 at Swedish upper secondary school. Applicants who meet the general entry requirements (1 or 2 above) from a university in one of the Nordic countries fulfill the English language requirement.

For information how to certify English proficiency (such as through IELTS or TOEFL, previous upper secondary or university level studies), please see:
https://ki.se/en/phd/entry-requirements-eligibility-for-doctoral-education

Skills and personal qualities
Previous experience in molecular and cell biology, cellular signaling, and advanced 3D cell culture techniques is required. Furthermore, interest in and knowledge of complex human disease, such as type 2 diabetes, will be an asset. Additionally, previous experience in microfluidic platforms is of relevance.

Assessment criteria
A selection will be made among qualified applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from doctoral education. 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.

The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis.

Terms and conditions
All doctoral students at KI receive financial support during their doctoral education and employment on a doctoral studentship is the most common sort of support.

Application process
The application must contain the following documents in Swedish or English:

  • A personal letter and a curriculum vitae
  • Academic degree diplomas, transcripts of records in original language and, if applicable, authorised translations
  • Copies of degree projects and any previous publications
  • Proof of English proficiency as stated in the specific requirement above

All documents certifying the entry requirements must be scans of originals (scans of copies or certified copies will not be accepted). The scanned documents must be in color and both the front and the back of the documents must be scanned. Please note that there are specific documentation requirements for a number countries, please read the instructions at:

https://ki.se/en/phd/entry-requirements-eligibility-for-doctoral-education

The application and supporting documents are to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.

Type of employment PhD placement
Contract type Full time
First day of employment In agreement
Salary Monthly salary
Reference number 2-5322/2018
Contact
  • Volker Lauschke, Group leader, Volker.Lauschke@ki.se
Union representative
  • Henry Wölling, SEKO, henry.wolling@ki.se
  • Niklas Andersson, OFR, niklas.andersson@ki.se
  • Göran Engberg, SACO, 08-524 867 17
Published 12.Oct.2018
Last application date 01.Nov.2018 11:59 PM CET

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