Doctoral (PhD) Student Position - Neuron-glia Interactions

Doctoral (PhD) student position to study neuron-glia interactions (KID-funding)Login and apply
Karolinska Institutet, the Department of Neuroscience
Research groups at the Department of Neuroscience study different aspects of the function of the normal nervous system, as well as disturbances, injuries and diseases affecting the nervous system. Projects include a broad range of studies at the molecular and cellular levels, the network level and at the level of the overall organization of the nervous system.
The department also conducts undergraduate education in neuroscience, anatomy and histology in a number of programs at Karolinska Institutet. To read more about our department, please visit our webpage; www.ki.se/en/neuro/startpage
A doctoral position is an available doctoral education project to which a PhD student is to be recruited. After the selection process the process for admission to doctoral education will commence. An admission decision will not be taken until an individual study plan has been approved by the departmental admission board.
For more information regarding doctoral (PhD) education, see: http://www.ki.se/doctoral.
Research group
A doctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Roman Chrast at the Department of Neuroscience. We are interested in myelinating glial cells that are vital for normal function of the neural system. Both oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system produce myelin necessary for the insulation of axons allowing for fast propagation of action potentials.
In addition to their capacity to myelinate, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells also play a critical role in axonal support. Disruption of these functions by diseases, such as metabolic disorders, infections, immune-mediated inflammatory disorders or inherited forms of neuropathy, is invariably and severely debilitating. Our goal is to understand the molecular networks implicated in myelination and in the glial support of axons and to investigate how they are affected under disease conditions.
For more information please visit our web page
The doctoral education project and the duties of the student
Interactions between axon and adjacent glial cells are crucial for axonal maintenance and function. In particular, recent data indicate that glia play a vital role in the metabolic support of the axon. The peripheral nervous system, where these functions are performed by Schwann cells, provides an excellent system to study axon-glia interactions due to its relative simplicity as compared to the situation in the central nervous system.
The goal of the proposed PhD project is to contribute to the identification and characterization of molecular pathways implicated in neuron-glia interactions by concentrating on the role of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) in the peripheral nervous system. We anticipate that in addition to providing new insight into basic glial cell biology, the results generated through this project may also promote the development of new glia-oriented therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Entry requirements for doctoral education at KI
To be eligible for doctoral education following requirements has to be met:
General entry requirements
A person meets the general entry requirements for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education (according to Higher Education Ordinance Chapt 7, section 39) if he/she:

• has been awarded advanced/second-cycle/master qualification (i.e. master degree) or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle/master level, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Specific entry requirements

• Proficiency in English equivalent to the course English B/English 6 at Swedish upper secondary school:
• Proficiency in the English language can be documented by an internationally recognized test such as TOEFL or IELTS, see web-link below for more information.
• Applicants who meet the general entry requirements (1 or 2 above) from a university in one of the Nordic countries fulfill the requirements in English.

For more information regarding general and specific entry requirements: http://ki.se/en/education/entry-requirements-eligibility-for-doctoral-education

Desired skills and experience

Skills and personal qualities
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual with an interest in the role of glia in normal and disease-affected neural systems. Documented subject knowledge of importance for the research and experience in laboratory work within similar areas are valuable assets.
Here, prior experience in the following experimental paradigms are of added value:
(i) acquaintance with various types of cell cultures including purified glial cells, DRG explants and dissociated neuron-glia cultures;
(ii) expertise in handling and characterization of knockout mice models;
(iii) familiarity with histological (e.g. electron microscopy) and immunohistological techniques (e.g. confocal microscopy, live-cell imaging) and
(iv) molecular biology approaches (e.g. Western-blot, qPCR, transcriptomic and proteomic analysis). Participation in a research project that has resulted in a scientific publication, especially within the research topic of glial cell biology, is also a plus.
Assessment criteria
A selection will be made among qualified applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from doctoral education. Karolinska Institutet uses the following bases of assessment:
- Documented subject knowledge of relevance to the area of research
- Analytical skill
- Other documented knowledge or experience that may be relevant to doctoral studies in the subject
The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis.
Terms and conditions
The most common way of financial support for doctoral students at KI is doctoral grant the first year and a doctoral studentship (doctoral employment) for year 2, 3 and 4. During the time between recruitment and admission a short-term employment can be offered for up to 6 months.
Application process
An application must contain the following documents in Swedish or English:

• A personal letter and curriculum vitae
• A copy of degree certificates and associated certificates
• A copy of degree projects and any previous publications

The application is to be submitted through the "Apply Through Website" button.

About the employer

Karolinska Institutet is one of the world´s leading medical universities. Its mission is to contribute to the improvement of human health through research and education. Karolinska Institutet accounts for over 40 per cent of the medical academic research conducted in Sweden and offers the country´s broadest range of education in medicine and health sciences. Since 1901 the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has selected the Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine.
Pursuant to the regulations of the Swedish National Archives, applications are kept on file for two years after the appointment has gained legal force. The regulations do not apply to attachments that have been printed or otherwise published.
Karolinska Institutet strives to provide a workplace that has approximately the same number of women and men, is free of discrimination and offers equal opportunity to everyone.
For temp agencies and recruiters, and to salespersons: We politely, yet firmly, decline direct contact with temp agencies and recruiters, as well as those selling additional job announcements.

Type of employment PhD placement
Working hours Full time
First day of employment as soon as possible according to agreement
Reference number 2-2943/2015
Contact
prof. Roman Chrast;, roman.chrast@ki.se
Union representative
Anne Edgren, OFR, 08-616 16 29
Peter Århem, SACO, 46-8 524 869 03
Gunnar Stenberg, SEKO, 08-524 880 75

Last application date 25.Sep.2015 11:59 PM CET

Reference number: 2-2943/2015