Postdoctor in Neurochemistry

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 scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, invites applications for a postdoctoral position at the Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry. We are looking to recruit up to three enthusiastic post docs with extensive experience in science and laboratory work in relation to biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. The post docs can be involved in several development projects to identify and validate new biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.  

Subject area description
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia, are progressively more common as the population of elderly individuals increases. Therefore, there is a large need for new drugs that prevent or delays dementia onset, or that can cure, alternatively improve, not only symptoms but the disease related neuropathological changes of the brain that cause the disease. Potential new drugs have been approved but they are yet to prove definite clinical benefit, and one of the reasons for this can be that identification and inclusion of appropriate/suitable subjects for clinical trials. Many neurodegenerative diseases are hard to distinguish between at early stages, and there is often a large overlap in the underlying pathological changes of the brain.

The project(s) aim is to identify how different biological factors, together with biomarkers measured in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, can affect disease related changes in the brain, behaviour and cognitive capacity, and with the help of this data identify biological variants of dementias, i.e. pure vs mixed. The biological definitions will be validated by applying them on a cohort with autopsy-confirmed samples to test if they comport with the actual disease related changes of the brain. Specifically, the employments are funded by three international grants: one project focus on pure and mixed neurogenerative disorders and the second on early biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The third project focuses on synapse loss and synaptic dysfunction. Both by investigating the cause-consequence relationship between presynaptic failure and somatic degeneration and exploring synaptic proteins as markers for early diagnosis and diseases progression.

Job assignments
The job assignments include being involved in and leading different research projects, and together with other researchers and laboratory technicians in our team establish and validate new methods, apply these methods on clinical studies and finally summarize and interpret data for scientific publications. Analytical methods include immune-based assays e.g. ELISA, and Simoa, but also other techniques such as mass spectrometry and various combinations of these. The successful candidate will be expected to supply reports and presentation in-line of international consortium guidelines.

Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts at the University of Gothenburg.  

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree, a doctoral degree in art or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made. 

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.  

To qualify as a postdoctoral researcher for this announcement the applicant should hold a PhD in a relevant subject. The candidate should have documented knowledge on and experience of research on biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases.

Assessment
Candidates will be assessed based on methodological and scientific experience of research on biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. This should be documented though publications in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. 

Ability to independently process data and write scientific publications is essential, as is the ability to be flexible and able to work independently. During assessment, account will be taken with respect to personal ability and qualifications. 

Employment
The employment is limited (temporary) for 2 years, 100% of full-time, and is placed at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology. Starting date: as soon as possible or as agreed. 

Application
In order to apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to register an account in our online recruitment system: https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/vacancies 

Please enclose PhD certificate with the application.

Applications must be received by: 2022-06-03  


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.