Project title: Defining the degradation mechanisms of human O-glycans by the gut microbiota

The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell biology is located at the Institute of Biomedicine 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   

Doctoral 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

Project: Recent studies have begun to link alterations of the gut microbiota community composition and mucus barrier function to multiple diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and colonic cancer. However, a significant knowledge gap exists regarding how the “healthy microbiota” colonizes the human gut. It is therefore essential to understand how the human microbiota interacts and modifies with highly glycosylated mucins (the major components of the mucus layer) if we are to develop novel treatments to promote microbiota and mucosal health.

This project aims to generate new fundamental knowledge about the basic interaction mechanisms between microbiota and human colonic mucins. Specifically, we will characterize the activity of microbiota enzymes on colonic mucins and determine the mechanism of degradation of human mucins by different microbiota members. For that, we will use a multidisciplinary approach and combine techniques of biochemistry, glycobiology, microbiology and mucin biology.

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.    

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 successfully 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.