PhD student in Porcine Medicine

Institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper
The Department of Clinical Sciences is responsible for undergraduate education, research and in the scientific fields of veterinary medicine, animal care and animal science. The department's activities mainly concern our common Swedish domesticated animal species with a focus on anaesthesiology, diagnostic imaging, animal care, epidemiology, laboratory animal medicine, surgery, clinical chemistry, medicine and animal reproduction.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Position as a PhD student at the section for porcine medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden

Description:
Lawsonia intracellularis causes the disease proliferative enteropathy and poor growth rates in more than 40% of the Swedish piglet-producing herds. The bacterium is spread by faeces, causing disease in pigs post weaning. Most pigs in affected herds will retract the infection and the economic consequences for the farm is substantial. In the individual, the bacterium can be detected by PCR. For surveillance purposes at the herd level, serology to demonstrate humoral antibodies is used but to enable the development of effective, prophylactic measures it would be of value to also understand the importance of the sow milk in the protection of the piglet.

The aim of this project is to identify a protein, specific for L. intracellularis, and develop a reliable diagnostic system (e.g. an ELISA) to demonstrate antibodies in blood- and milk samples. Such a method can be used for surveillance purposes at the herd level to demonstrate presence or freedom from the infection. Knowledge on the importance of the sow milk could be useful in the development of targeted vaccination programs for sows.

The section for pig- and poultry medicine at the Department of Clinical Sciences has since long been performing research on bacterial infections in pig. We have a well-established collaboration with different disciplines within veterinary- and animal husbandry sciences and a broad international contact net.

We are now looking for a person who is interested to work within this project as a PhD student. The position includes full-time studies for four years and will lead to a PhD. The project focus on the disciplines clinical sciences and molecular biology, but also include elements of pathology and immunology.

Qualifications:
The applicant should be a veterinarian, a biotechnologist or a bioengineer with excellent study results. Clinical or other practical experience of working within this area is meritorious but not mandatory.  Excellent knowledge of English is important. Good knowledge of Swedish is advantageous. Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities. It would also be important to place a date on the start. High motivation and enthusiasm is important, as well as the ability to take own initiatives, work independently, as well as good collaborative skills.  Selection among the applicants will be based on a written application including verified curriculum vitae, written exam work or other written work referred to, personal references, and an interview where great emphasis will be put on personal qualities.

Place of work:      
Uppsala, Sweden. 

Forms for funding or employment:
Employment 4 years. Main supervisor within the project will be professor Magdalena Jacobson.

Starting date:
According to agreement.

Application:
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2023-05-20.

To qualify for third-cycle (Doctoral) courses and study programmes, you must have a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification. Alternatively, you must have conducted a minimum of four years of full-time study, of which a minimum of one year at second-cycle level.

Applicants will be selected based on their written application and CV, degree project, copies of their degree certificate and transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution, two personal references, and knowledge of English. More information about the English language requirements can be found here: www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/new-doctoral-students/english-language-requirements/

Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, or equivalent, a transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution. Applicants who are not Swedish citizens need to submit an attested copy of their passport’s information page containing their photograph and personal details.

Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/

Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

 



Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU) är ett universitet i internationell toppklass med forskning, utbildning och miljöanalys inom vetenskaper för hållbart liv. Huvudorter är Alnarp, Umeå och Uppsala, men verksamhet bedrivs också på forskningsstationer, försöksparker och utbildningsorter i hela landet. Hos oss samlas människor med olika perspektiv men med det gemensamma målet att skapa de bästa förutsättningarna för en hållbar, levande och bättre värld.

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