EU-MSCA PhD position: Materials for uncovering of hidden protein posttranslational modifications

Malmo

Reference number P 2025/2542

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. You are welcome to apply for a job with us!

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We are looking for a Doctoral student in chemistry
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated PhD student to work on the next generation nanostructured materials at the interface between supramolecular and bioanalytical chemistry and molecular cell biology. The position is within the Biofilms Research Center for Biointerphases at Malmö University.

Work duties
Among several hundred protein PTMs the major part remains to be investigated at the proteome level. Although modification-specific enrichment techniques combined with MS/MS methods and data analysis have revealed a large extent of PTMs in proteins a lack of efficient affinity-based enrichment techniques causes several of the modifications to escape detection. This is the case of labile N-phosphorylations and methylations. As a part of the MIPrecise Doctoral Network (https://miprecise.eu/) this project will leverage state of the art molecular imprinting techniques to develop refined polymer binders (porous polymers or nanoparticles) for such motifs compatible with peptide or protein affinity-based assays. These will be integrated in MIP-MS modification specific proteomics for mechanistic studies or as biomarker discovery tools, jointly with other partners.

Those appointed to doctoral studentships shall primarily devote themselves to their studies. Those appointed to doctoral studentships 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 project will include 1-2 months secondments to University of Southern Denmark, Odense (Denmark), ReSyn Biosciences, Gauteng (South Africa); Linneaus University (Sweden), Pavia University (Italy) and Proteome Sciences (Germany). The secondments will allow you to work with and oversee the implementation of the materials and to gain insight into academic and industrial work environments.

Apart from carrying out research within these areas the applicant is expected to take responsibility for the maintenance of instruments and other routine tasks of the group as well as to supervise students at the BSc or MSc level and will have the opportunity to take part in teaching.

Benefits
Marie Sklodowska-Curie PhDs are paid a highly competitive salary according to the Marie-Curie programme regulations composed of Living allowance: (multiplied by a country coefficient) – corresponds to the Monthly Gross salary, a mobility allowance (private mobility related costs) and Family allowance (if applicable). The net salary calculation depends on the employment rules and conditions in each country. The total allowances received for DC’s salary are subject to tax and social contributions (employer’s and employee’s).

Qualifications
To be admitted to third-cycle 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 third-cycle courses and study programmes (HEO Chapter 7 Section 39) have those who:

• has 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.

Selection criteria
Gequired qualifications:

• A masters’ degree (or equivalent) in polymer/organic chemistry, bioanalytical protein/peptide science or another related field.
• Experimental laboratory experience

• Good knowledge and interest in chemistry laboratory research
• Experience in organic chemistry such as synthesis, purification and analysis
• Interest in and ability to learn new techniques
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• Written and spoken English at a professional level

Preferred qualifications:

• Candidates with interdisciplinary experience directly related to the research topic of the position outlined above, notably synthetic receptors and molecular imprinting technology will be given preference.

Residency restriction

• The applicant can be of any nationality but at the date of recruitment should not have resided in the country where the research training takes place for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to recruitment and not have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in that country.
• Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.

In addition to formal competence, University employees must possess the personal capacities necessary to perform the duties of the position well and to represent the University in the best possible way.

Faculty, Department and Research environment
The Department of Biomedical Science at Faculty of Health and Society (www.mau.se/bmv) offers programmes leading to a professional qualification as Prescriptionist and Biomedical laboratory scientist (both first cycle, 180 credits), and a Masters' programme, Biomedical Surface Science (second cycle, 120 credits), as well as first and second cycle freestanding courses. The Department negotiates the multifaceted intersection between biology, chemistry, medicine, physics, and technology and the interdisciplinary approach to research and education aims to further develop the theoretical and practical understanding of the complex subject matter. Drawing on the balance between basic and applied research, the Department has been successful in attracting funding from regional, national, and international research funding bodies. In addition, in the pursuit of possible applications, several industry funded contract research projects are currently running at the Department. The research at the Department is also linked to our research center “Biofilms - Research Center for Biointerfaces” (www.mau.se/brcb), which combines biomedical science with clinical and translational research in medical, dental, food and environmental application areas in close collaboration with regional industry.

Further information
Project related questions:

Börje Sellergren, Professor in Biomedical Technology. Phone: +46 40 665 7810, Mail: [email protected].

Questions regarding employment at Malmö university:

HR-specialist Heidi Francke, [email protected]

In our recruitment work, Malmö University has taken a stand regarding recruitment channels and marketing. We therefore decline all offers of advertising and recruitment assistance in connection with this advertisement.

You can read more about the benefits of working in Sweden here: https://sweden.se/collection/working-in-sweden/

Application
You apply for this position via Malmö University's recruitment system by clicking on the "Apply" button. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is completed in accordance with the job advertisement, and that it is submitted to the University no later than December 14th, 2025. The application must be written in Swedish, English or any of the Nordic languages. As an applicant, you are responsible for the application and its appendices being translated.

The application must include:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas, transcript of records and other certificates relevant for the position
• A copy of master thesis or equivalent
• A brief description of your view of the focus of the future PhD thesis (max 1 page).

Miscellaneous
Preparation of admission to postgraduate education and employment as a doctoral student take place in parallel. Only those who are or have been admitted to third-cycle courses and study programmes at a higher education may be appointed to doctoral studentships (Chapter 5, Section 3 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

The doctoral studentship is a fixed-term position comprising four years of full-time studies, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5 Section 7. A doctoral student shall be employed for an indefinite period but for no longer than until a specified date, and never for longer than a year after the doctoral degree or artistic doctoral degree has been completed. The first appointment must be limited to one year at the most. The appointment can be extended by a maximum of two years at a time.

Malmö University actively promotes gender equality and equal opportunities in order to offer a workplace and a university characterised by an open and inclusive approach.

As part of this:

• Applicants of an underrepresented gender are given priority for admission, if they are equally able to benefit from the programme.
• Doctoral students with permanent disabilities are given the opportunity to receive support and adaptations during their studies, so that everyone can study on equal terms in a good study environment.

• Employees who do not speak Swedish should learn Swedish in the long term so that they can participate in the daily and ongoing work of the institution or department.
• Malmö University applies salary setting for doctoral students in accordance with a local agreement on salary setting for doctoral students.
• If the admitted person requires a residence permit to live in Sweden and pursue their studies, the University reserves the right to revoke the admission decision if the admitted person cannot present a valid residence permit as required on the date they are due to commence their education.

Start date
February 1st, 2026 or upon agreement.

Union representatives
SACO: Sara Johnsdotter, [email protected]
Sveriges Lärare: Charlotte Paggetti, [email protected]
OFR/S (ST): Lutfi Zuta, [email protected]

PhD Student Union representative
Barnabas Nyesiga, [email protected]

We are looking forward to receiving your application!

You apply no later than 14/12/2025 by clicking the apply button.