PhD Student in Surgery

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked as one of the world's leading academic institutions. There are approximately 46,000 students and 8,500 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our endeavor to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of human life.

Lund University welcomes applicants with different backgrounds and experiences. Equality, equal opportunities, and diversity are fundamental principles for all parts of our operations.

Description of the workplace

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked as one of the world's leading academic institutions. There are approximately 47,000 students and more than 8,800 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our endeavor to understand, explain, and improve our world and the conditions of human life.

The Faculty of Medicine is an operational area within Lund University, responsible for education and research in medicine, care, and health. Education takes place in close collaboration with healthcare and is well-anchored in the faculty's strong research tradition. The faculty's research spans a wide field within experimental basic research, patient-centered clinical research, and health science research. The Faculty of Medicine, with over 1,800 employees and 3,000 students in Lund, Malmö, and Helsingborg, is a knowledge-intensive meeting place for students, teachers, and researchers from all over the world.

The Department of Clinical Sciences in Lund (IKVL) is one of six departments at the Faculty of Medicine. The department has extensive collaboration, both within the faculty and with other units at the university. IKVL also has a well-developed collaboration with Skånes universitetssjukhus (SUS) and Region Skåne, as well as the surrounding community and industry. This is to promote clinical and experimental translational research, development, and education.

The research group is now seeking a PhD student on a full-time basis (100 %) starting November 1, 2026 (or by agreement).

Description of the PhD project and the research group

The PhD position is located within the research group for Pankreatologi at the Department of Surgery, Lund University. The focus is on pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive human tumor forms. Pancreatic cancer is often detected too late, and effective treatment is lacking. Our strategy combines clinical patient material and advanced protein research to develop new biomarkers for earlier diagnosis and response to treatment.

The research group includes two research engineers as well as several full-time and part-time PhD students and clinicians affiliated with the group. Within the research group, we cherish a good working environment with respect and care in our relationships with one another. We constantly work to create conditions for job satisfaction, development, and participation for all employees.

Tasks and responsibilities

The PhD student will work within a translational research project on pancreatic cancer, focusing on the biology and prognosis of the disease. The project combines data from cancer registries and clinical material with histopathological analyses and spatial proteomics. The goal is to identify new prognostic and predictive factors as well as to increase understanding of the disease's development and treatment response.

The tasks will include:

• Managing data from cancer registries and clinical databases and linking these to histopathological and molecular data.
• Interpreting histopathological findings and spatial proteomics in relation to tumor characteristics, metastasis patterns, and clinical outcome.
• Conducting statistical analyses of prognostic and predictive factors and investigating connections between tumor biology, biomarkers, metastasis, and survival.
• Compiling and presenting research results in scientific manuscripts and at national and international conferences.

The ability and willingness to collaborate well with other colleagues within the research group is expected. Other tasks within the role may be added.

We offer

Lund University is a government agency, which means you receive special benefits, generous leave, and a favorable occupational pension. We also have a flexible working hours agreement that creates good conditions for work-life balance. Read more on the university's website about being employed at Lund University.

Qualifications

Basic eligibility for education at the doctoral level is held by those who have: completed a degree at an advanced level, fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at an advanced level, or have in any other way acquired, within or outside the country, knowledge primarily corresponding to this.

For the position, the following are required:

• Documented experience of research work with pancreatic cancer
• Documented skill in expressing oneself in English, both orally and in writing
• Skill in documenting research in a structured manner

We expect you, as a person, to be curious and highly committed. In this role, you will work in close dialogue with other colleagues, so we assume that you find it easy to collaborate with others.

Meritorious is scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals within the field of pancreatic cancer.

Basis for assessment

Provisions for employment as a PhD student can be found in regulation SFS 1998:80. Only those admitted to education at the doctoral level may be appointed as holders. When making an appointment, primary attention shall be paid to the degree of ability to undertake the doctoral education. In addition to the obligation to engage in one's own doctoral education, the holder may be required to perform duties involving education, research, and administrative work according to special provisions in the regulation.

Terms

Fixed-term employment for four years according to HF 5 kap 7§.

How to apply

Applications are made via LU's recruitment system and must include a personal letter; how you meet the qualification requirements and why you are interested in the position. The application must include a CV and degree certificates, as well as anything else you wish to invoke. Provide at least two references with full contact details.

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