项目介绍

2026年7月3日

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Doctoral position in Medical Science  

Project title: Personalizing ARPI–DOAC Therapy in Prostate Cancer: From Molecular Mechanisms to Individualized Clinical Dosing that Prevents ARPI Undertreatment

The Department of pharmacology is located at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology 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:  
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and primarily affects older patients who often have multiple comorbidities and require several medications. Modern androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) have substantially improved survival in advanced prostate cancer. At the same time, many patients receive direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) to prevent stroke and thromboembolic events.

ARPIs can alter the activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transport proteins, leading to clinically important drug–drug interactions. These interactions may reduce DOAC exposure, increasing the risk of thromboembolic complications, while uncertainty about their clinical impact may also limit the optimal use of effective cancer therapies. Despite increasing mechanistic knowledge, major questions remain regarding which patients are most at risk and how treatment can be individualized to maximize both efficacy and safety.
The overall aim of this PhD project is to develop precision dosing strategies for the safe and effective co-administration of ARPIs and DOACs.

The project combines laboratory research, clinical studies, and advanced pharmacometric modelling through four integrated work packages:
1. Development and validation of LC–MS/MS methods for quantifying enzalutamide and selected DOACs in human plasma.
2. In vitro studies using human liver microsomes to investigate drug metabolism, interaction mechanisms, and the impact of genetic variation.
3. A prospective clinical pharmacokinetic study including biomarker analyses and clinical follow-up.
4. Population pharmacokinetic modelling to identify risk factors and develop individualized dosing strategies.

The successful candidate will receive multidisciplinary training in clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenetics, bioanalysis, pharmacometrics, and precision medicine. The project is supervised by an interdisciplinary team with complementary expertise from academia, clinical practice, and the pharmaceutical industry, providing a unique translational research environment spanning mechanistic laboratory studies, clinical research, and precision medicine.

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 Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Pharmacology. 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 Neuroscience and Physiology 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,
Sofia Birgersson , Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology,
e-mail: sofia.birgersson@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.