项目介绍

2026年5月22日

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Doctoral position in Medical science

Project title: Exposure to radioactive polonium and lead from consumption of wild food

The Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, is located at the Institute of Clinical Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university’s doctoral student pages. 
https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies

Duties   

The PhD education in Medical science comprises carrying out a scientific project and completing at least 30 credits of courses at third-cycle level. The doctoral student must also write a scientific compilation thesis or monograph corresponding to at least 120 credits. For more information about third-cycle studies at Sahlgrenska Academy, see https://www.gu.se/en/sahlgrenska-akademin/doctoral-studies

Doctoral studies comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree.    

As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period, and result in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.  

Project description: 

Po-210 and Pb-210 occur naturally and belong to the decay series U-238. Po-210 is an alpha emitter and is the natural radionuclide with the highest specific activity (166 MBq/μg). Po-210 has been classified as carcinogenic, and can pass through cell membranes, which together with its high affinity for proteins results in high accumulation in tissues.

Po-210 gives very high radiation doses to humans; ingestion of 20 ng results in a potentially lethal dose for adults (about 4 Sv), which has been used for poisoning (e.g. Litvinenko in London 2006). We have previously shown that we are exposed to Po-210 via food, and that Po-210 makes the greatest contribution to the radiation dose from food. The largest contributions in Sweden consist of the consumption of fish and shellfish, wild mushrooms and berries and game meat.

Knowledge about biodistribution and general dosimetry for Po-210 and its progenitor, Pb-210, is limited, and is mainly based on uncertain data collected more than 50 years ago. This data needs to be updated.

The overall aim of this project is to investigate the radiological risk of consumption of food with high levels of 210Po and 210Pb for Swedish population. The project will provide valuable data to better understand the bioaccessibility, biodistribution and dosimetry of 210Po in an experimental model. The data will then be translated to humans followed by estimation of the absorbed dose to major tissues and organs in man of different ages.

Eligibility   

Doctoral education requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.  

The general eligibility requirements for doctoral studies are:    

1. having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
2. the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or  
3. the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad. 

Specific entry requirements for this subject, according to the general syllabus, are: 
having completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies

Assessment criteria   

The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the doctoral studies. The assessment shall attach particular importance to documented qualifications for:

– specific knowledge and skills within the subject area and related research fields
– experience of scientific theory and relevant research methodology
– scientific analysis and presentation verified through an academic paper, degree project, scientific
journals or the like.

Admission and employment   

Once you have been admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg.

The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100.

Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time.

A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at doctoral level for four years.

Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Clinical sciences, Department of Medical Radiation Sciences. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Please note, doctoral studies at the institute of Clinical sciences require physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, the institute has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.

Contact information 

For more information about the project please contact the project supervisor,
Eva Forssell-Aronsson, Professor, Institute of Clinical Sciences,
 e-mail: eva.forssell_aronsson@radfys.gu.se

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:   
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande   

Application   

You can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal.   

It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.   

You must include the following, in pdf format

• Personal letter
• CV
• Diploma and transcripts showing that you meet with the general entry requirement
• Proof of completion of English 6 course or the acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies

If your degree is from a university outside of Sweden, make sure that you attach a diploma and full transcripts that makes assessing your degree easier.  

For information on what you need to submit in order to fulfill the English language requirement see https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/

Applications must be received by: 2026-06-10