PhD project: Characterizing the therapeutic potential of high-density lipoprotein nanoparticles in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Malmo

Reference number P 2025/89

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We are looking for
Doctoral student in Biomedical Science focused on the effects of synthetic high-density lipoproteins on cancer models.

Project
The proposed PhD project explores the therapeutic potential of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) nanoparticles, particularly reconstituted/synthetic HDL (rHDL), for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), an aggressive cancer with limited treatment options. Emerging evidence links low HDL levels to OSCC progression, suggesting a possible role for rHDL in combating the disease.

The selected PhD student will:

• Develop novel 3D models of OSCC
• investigate rHDL effects on OSCC cell viability, apoptosis, cholesterol metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation using 3D cancer models and patient biopsies;
• optimize rHDL formulations for improved efficacy.

The findings of this project could provide a foundation for developing targeted, less toxic therapies, bridging lab research to clinical applications. The project is financed by Knowledge Foundation and requires close collaboration and knowledge co-production with business partners and contribute to the wider KK-foundation’s network through regular contacts, project meetings, and joint conferences.

Work duties
Those appointed to doctoral studentships shall primarily devote themselves to their studies. Those appointed to doctoral studentships may, however, work to a limited extent with educational tasks, research, artistic research and administration. However, duties of this kind may not comprise more than 20 percent of a full-time post (Chapter 5, Section 2 of the Higher Education Ordinance (HEO)).

In the research project part of the PhD training, the work duties include experiments with relevant experimental methods and techniques such as cell culture, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and recombinant protein production and purification. Apart from carrying out research within these areas, the selected doctoral student is expected to take responsibility for the maintenance of the key instruments used.

The doctoral student is expected to summarize and interpret experimental results and present them in a PhD thesis and scientific articles.

Qualifications
To be admitted to third-cycle studies, the applicant must meet the general and specific entry requirements of the subject in question. Moreover, the applicant must be deemed capable of assimilating the education.

General entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes (HEO Chapter 7 Section 39) have those who:

• have been awarded a second-cycle qualification
• have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Selection criteria
Selection among applicants who meet the general and specific entry requirements shall be made with regard to their capacity to assimilate the education (HEO Chapter 7 Section 41).

Candidates must have a master’s degree in subjects related to cell biology, biomedicine, biochemistry, biotechnology or pharmacy. Candidates should have a true and firm interest in experimental laboratory work and interpretation of experimental results.

The ideal candidate has previous hand-on experience from working with cell culture, as well as with microscopy techniques.

Previous hands-on experience in more than one of the following methods is considered an advantage: recombinant protein expression in E. coli, protein purification using fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC), protein gel electrophoresis, dynamic light scattering, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry.

Documented excellent level of English (understanding, speaking and writing) is essential.

The successful candidate should have the ability to work in a team and collaborate with people in complementary disciplines.

Faculty, Department and Research environment
The Department of Biomedical Science at Faculty of Health and Society (www.mau.se/bmv) offers programmes leading to a professional qualification as Prescriptionist and Biomedical laboratory scientist (both first cycle, 180 credits), and a Masters' programme, Biomedical Surface Science (second cycle, 120 credits), as well as first and second cycle freestanding courses. The Department negotiates the multifaceted intersection between biology, chemistry, medicine, physics, and technology and the interdisciplinary approach to research and education aims to further develop the theoretical and practical understanding of the complex subject matter. Drawing on the balance between basic and applied research, the Department has been successful in attracting funding from regional, national, and international research funding bodies. In addition, in the pursuit of possible applications, several industry funded contract research projects are currently running at the Department. The research at the Department is also linked to our research center “Biofilms - Research Center for Biointerfaces” (www.mau.se/brcb), which combines biomedical science with clinical and translational research in medical, dental, food and environmental application areas in close collaboration with regional industry.

Further information
Project related questions:

Associate Professor Rita Del Giudice, +46 (0)40 665 81 98, [email protected]

Dr Zdenka Prgomet, +46 721 88 05 45, [email protected]

Questions regarding employment at Malmö university:

HR-specialist Heidi Francke, [email protected]

In our recruitment work, Malmö University has taken a stand regarding recruitment channels and marketing. We therefore decline all offers of advertising and recruitment assistance in connection with this advertisement.

You can read more about the benefits of working in Sweden here: https://sweden.se/collection/working-in-sweden/

Application
You apply for this position via Malmö University's recruitment system by clicking on the "Apply" button. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is completed in accordance with the job advertisement, and that it is submitted to the University no later than February 28th, 2025. The application must be written in Swedish, English or any of the Nordic languages. As an applicant, you are responsible for the application and its appendices being translated.

The application must include:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV), including names and e-mail addresses of two reference persons
• Diplomas, transcript of records and other certificates relevant for the position
• A copy of master thesis or equivalent
• A brief description of your view of the focus of the future PhD thesis (max 1 page)
• One page cover letter stating your motivations to apply to this PhD position.

Miscellaneous
Preparation of admission to postgraduate education and employment as a doctoral student take place in parallel. Only those who are or have been admitted to third-cycle courses and study programmes at a higher education may be appointed to doctoral studentships (HEO Chapter 5, Section 3).

The doctoral studentship is a fixed-term position comprising four years of full-time studies, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5 Section 7. A doctoral student shall be employed for an indefinite period but for no longer than until a specified date, and never for longer than a year after the doctoral degree or artistic doctoral degree has been completed. The first appointment must be limited to one year at the most. The appointment can be extended by a maximum of two years at a time.

Malmö University is a workplace and higher education institution that is characterised by an open and inclusive approach, where gender equality and equal terms add value to our activities.

Malmö University applies salary setting for doctoral students in accordance with a local agreement on salary setting for doctoral students.

Start date
May 1st, 2025 or upon agreement, but no later than September 1st, 2025.

Union representatives
SACO-S: Désirée Annvir, [email protected]

Sveriges Lärare: Peter Persson, [email protected]

OFR/S (ST): Lutfi Zuta, [email protected]

PhD Student Union representative
Barnabas Nyesiga, [email protected]

We are looking forward to receiving your application!
#LI-MAU

You apply no later than 28/02/2025 by clicking the apply button.