项目介绍

2026年5月30日

Are you interested in working with cutting-edge research on non-coding RNA in skin cancer and inflammatory skin diseases, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a PhD student position at the Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University.

The Department of Medical Sciences is a large clinical institution with more than 250 employees and over 900 additional coworkers connected via the Uppsala University Hospital. The Department of Medical Sciences has a broad research profile with strong research groups in a number of different areas. The research carried out at the department is performed in close connection with the clinical activities at the Uppsala University Hospital, which includes both basic studies on the causes of a variety of illnesses and the development and evaluation of improved diagnostics and new treatment methods. More information about the Department of Medical Sciences can be found at https://www.uu.se/en/department/medical-sciences

The Dermatology and Venereology research group is located at the Biomedical Centre (BMC) and conducts experimental and translational research focusing on regulatory RNAs in skin cancer and inflammatory skin diseases. The group collaborates closely with clinical researchers at Akademiska sjukhuset and has well-established national and international networks in dermatology and RNA biology.

We offer a dynamic and international research environment at a leading European university, with access to modern laboratories and infrastructure, and close collaboration with clinical partners. Read more about the group at:

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and keratinocyte cancer

Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis

Duties

The skin is the body’s largest organ and serves as a critical barrier against the environment. Disruptions in normal skin biology underlie a range of common diseases, including skin cancer and chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common and fastest-increasing malignancies with metastatic potential in Sweden.

The project aims to identify cellular and molecular programs associated with invasion competence in cSCC, and to functionally characterise long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as regulators of clinically relevant cancer phenotypes. The project also encompasses studies of the role of ncRNAs in chronic inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conduct cell biological and molecular biological experiments in cell models of cancer and inflammation (lncRNA knockdown/overexpression, phenotypic assays, Western blot, qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence)
• Processing and bioinformatic analysis of RNA sequencing data (bulk RNA-seq and scRNA-seq)
• Tissue analysis including RNAscope-based RNA in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry on skin biopsies
• Collaborate with clinical researchers at Akademiska sjukhuset and with national and international partners
• Write scientific articles and present results at seminars and conferences

Requirements

To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in biomedicine, molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, or a related field, or
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education, with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

In addition, the following is required:

• Practical experience of molecular biological and cell biological methods
• Excellent communication and collaborative skills
• Ability to work independently and drive projects forward
• Excellent command of English, both spoken and written

Additional qualifications

• Experience of RNA biology, including non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs or microRNAs)
• Experience of CRISPR-based methods, siRNA/siPool knockdown, or antisense oligonucleotides
• Basic knowledge of bioinformatic analysis of sequencing data (RNA-seq, e.g. in R or Python)
• Experience of cancer or skin biology
• Experience of immunohistochemistry, RNAscope, or immunofluorescence

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University’s rules and guidelines.

About the employment

The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100%. Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information

For further information about the position, please contact: Andor Pivarcsi, +46 738330057, andor.pivarcsi@imbim.uu.se

Please submit your application by 19 June 2026, UFV-PA 2026/1846 

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all of our 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University
https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/