Doctoral Student In Medical Science - Structure-Function Of Zinc Transport In Humans

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Doctoral position in Medical Science

Project title: Structural and functional basis of zinc transport in the human brain

The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell biology, is located at the Institute of Biomedicine at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages https: // medarbetarportalen.gu.se/doktorand/?languageId=100001&skipSSOCheck=true

The PhD 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: Zinc is the second most abundant transition metal in the body, second only to iron. An estimated 10% of the human proteome are zinc binding proteins of which methallotheins and zinc transporters are the most crucial for maintaining the homeostasis of chelatable zinc in the cell. Being integral membrane proteins, the study of their structure has historically posed challenges as their purification from recombinant expression is dependent on detergents and other lipid reconstitutions for their stability and function. Structurally determining transporters implicated in neural disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease is a crucial step in understanding the function and protein dynamics involved in pathogenesis. Intriguingly, a growing body of evidence is pointing towards transition metals increasing amyloid plaque accumulation, with concentrations of zinc significantly increased in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Zinc in synaptic vesicles has several implications in Alzheimer's disease. The distribution of plaques closely follows the concentration of synaptic zinc secreted to the extracellular space. Several zinc transporters, which belong to the SLC family of, have been identified however structural and functional information about these transporters are currently lacking. The objective of this doctoral project is to produce cryo-EM structures of zinc transporters and functionally characterize their transport in terms of substrate specificity and rates. Together, results from these studies will help accelerate our understanding of structure and function of these transporters, which is critical for the development of new and more efficacious therapies.

Education at third-cycle level 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. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.

Education at third-cycle level requires general eligibility and specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.

The general eligibility requirements for education at third-cycle level 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 completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies.

The selection of applicants who are considered to have the ability required to benefit from the study programme and who meet the general and specific eligibility requirements are assessed based on the following documented qualifications: - 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 thesis, degree project, scientific journals or the like.

Once you have been admitted for education at third-cycle level, 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 third-cycle level for four years.

Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell biology. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

For more information about the project please contact the principal supervisor, Linda Johansson, Institute of Biomedicine, phone: +46 766183244, e-mail: [email protected]

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https: // www. gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

You can apply to be admitted for education at third-cycle level via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy 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: 2023-06-13

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:

https: // www. gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services https: // www. movetogothenburg.com/

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