Doctoral research: from variability to validation: standardizing multi-omics of oral fluids for reproducible disease signatures

About this position

Malmö University is an innovative, urban, and internationally-oriented academic institution that, thanks to its committed and experienced staff, contributes to societal development. Here, teachers, researchers, and other employees with various competencies work together to conduct high-quality education and research. All professional categories and roles are important.

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We are looking for

Doctoral student in Biomedical science at the Faculty of Health and Society.

Work duties

Those appointed to an employment as doctoral student shall primarily devote themselves to their studies. Those appointed to an employment as a doctoral student may, however, work to a limited extent with educational tasks, research, artistic research and administration, however, duties of this kind may not comprise more than 20 per cent of a full-time post (Chapter 5, Section 2 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

The doctoral project in question is part of the national research school BioLabX – Biomedical Laboratory Scientist Research School for eXcellence – and focuses on the development of the non-invasive laboratory diagnostics of the future. The project aims to develop and validate standardized methods for using oral fluids, primarily saliva, as diagnostic sample material. Through BioLabX, the doctoral student will also become part of a national network of doctoral students, supervisors, and teachers in biomedical laboratory science.

The aim of the doctoral project is to establish robust workflows for multi-omics analyses, with a particular focus on metabolomics and proteomics. Through standardized sampling, sample handling, analysis, and data interpretation, the project will help ensure that biomarkers in oral fluids can be identified and validated in a reproducible manner. The project includes method development, analytical validation, clinical application, and targeted biomarker validation, using periodontitis as a model for inflammatory disease.

As a doctoral student, you will work at the intersection of biomedical laboratory science, clinical diagnostics, analytical chemistry, and data-driven medicine. The tasks include handling and preparing oral fluids, developing and optimizing bioanalytical methods, conducting and coordinating omics-based analyses, analytical validation, and the statistical processing, integration, and interpretation of complex biological data. The doctoral student will also contribute to translating the results into standardized laboratory workflows relevant to future clinical diagnostics.

Qualifications

To be admitted to doctoral studies, the applicant must meet the general and specific entry requirements of the subject in question. Moreover, the applicant must be deemed capable of assimilating the education.

General entry requirements for doctoral studies and study programmes (HEO Chapter 7 Section 39) have those who:

• been awarded a second-cycle qualification
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Specific entry requirements for doctoral studies and study programmes have those who:

Successful completion of at least 90 ECTS, of which 30 ECTS are at an advanced level, in a subject relevant for the current research field or equivalent knowledge acquired in some other way. Adequate knowledge in English is also required.

A license as a biomedical laboratory scientist (BMA-legitimation) or a Bachelor’s degree in biomedical laboratory science. For applicants holding a foreign degree, equivalence to a Swedish Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Laboratory Science must be documented through a formal assessment by the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR), the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), or another competent authority. Applicants are responsible for providing the documentation required to establish their eligibility.

Selection criteria

Selection among applicants who meet the general and specific entry requirements shall be made with regard to their capacity to assimilate the education (HEO Chapter 7 Section 41).

General selection criteria

In the assessment of applicants for admission to third-cycle studies, the ability to benefit from the third-cycle studies is used as suitable criteria. To assess this ability, previous study results, essays, term papers, reports, research plans, any research qualifications and documented work experience are taken into consideration. Special importance is attached to independent work at first (undergraduate) and advanced levels.

Specific selection criteria

Experience in bioanalytical method development, work with biological sample materials, sample preparation, analytical validation, or analytical methods relevant to clinical laboratory diagnostics and the tasks described above is considered a merit.

Experience in omics-based analyses, chromatographic, mass spectrometric, immunological, or other bioanalytical methods is particularly relevant.

Experience in statistical processing, data analysis, and/or interpretation of complex biological data is also considered a merit.

Documented very good ability to communicate in English, both spoken and written.

A good ability to work independently, take initiative, and contribute flexibly in interdisciplinary research environments is considered a merit.

Faculty, Department and Research environment

The position is based at the Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University. The department has an interdisciplinary profile, where research and education combine biology, chemistry, medicine, and physics. The research focuses on biomedical technology as well as cell and molecular biology with an immunological profile