PhD Candidate in Medical Science - RNA Regulation and Argonaute Biology

Reference number PAR 2026/153

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Doctoral position in Medical Science 

Project title: Decoding Compartment Specific AGO Function in Health and Disease.

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. 

?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gu.se%2Fen%2Fdoctoral-studies&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gu.se%2Fen%2Fdoctoral-studies&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">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  ?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gu.se%2Fen%2Fsahlgrenska-akademin%2Fdoctoral-studies&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gu.se%2Fen%2Fsahlgrenska-akademin%2Fdoctoral-studies&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">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.  

RNA interference (RNAi) is a critical biological process that regulates gene expression and maintains cellular homeostasis. Disruptions in RNAi pathways are linked to various diseases. The RNAi machinery primarily involves Argonaute (AGO) proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs), which bind to messenger RNAs (mRNAs), leading to mRNA degradation and gene silencing.

While the cytoplasmic RNAi mechanisms are well-characterized, recent findings highlight that RNAi also operates within the cell nucleus. In the nucleus, AGO2 plays essential roles during early development but is typically excluded from the nucleus in mature, healthy cells. However, mislocalization of AGO2 to the nucleus has been observed during viral infections, cancer, and aging, often correlated with poor disease progression.

This suggests that targeting nuclear AGO2 could offer a novel therapeutic strategy for certain diseases.

On the topic we have published:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40219968/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38994560/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11169490/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30146314/
?url=www.biorxiv.org%2Fcontent%2F10.64898%2F2025.12.12.693770.%26h&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=www.biorxiv.org%2Fcontent%2F10.64898%2F2025.12.12.693770.%26h&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.biorxiv.org/­content/10.64898/­2025.12.12.693770.&h p o i n t;.

This PhD project explores how spatial regulation of AGO proteins influences gene regulation in cancer and viral infection. The aim is to understand how compartment-specific RNA silencing contributes to disease and to develop new strategies to restore proper RNAi function in pathological contexts. The project combines molecular and cellular biology with systems-level approaches, including RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), miRNA profiling, PAR-CLIP, and proteomic analyses to investigate gene regulation and RNA-protein interaction networks. Together, these methods will provide mechanistic insight into how RNA silencing pathways are altered in disease and how they can be reprogrammed.

We are seeking a highly motivated and curious candidate with a strong background in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, or a related field. The candidate should demonstrate strong experimental skills, independence, critical thinking, and the ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment. 

Experience in one or more of the following areas is advantageous:
o RNA biology and gene regulation
o Cell culture and molecular cloning
o RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) or small RNA analysis
o Protein-RNA interaction methods (e.g., CLIP-based approaches)
o Microscopy and subcellular localization studies
o Basic bioinformatics or analysis of high-throughput sequencing data
o Proteomics or biochemical assays

Prior experience in cancer biology, virology, or RNA interference is beneficial but not required.

Read more at our homepage: ?url=www.sarshadlab.com&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=www.sarshadlab.com&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.sarshadlab.com
  

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.

  

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 Biomedicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell biology. 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 Biomedicine 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 principal supervisor,
Aishe Sarshad, Associate Professor, Institute of Biomedicine,
e-mail:  aishe.sarshadgu.se  

  

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:   
?url=www.gu.se%2Fom-universitetet%2Fjobba-hos-oss%2Fhjalp-for.%26h&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=www.gu.se%2Fom-universitetet%2Fjobba-hos-oss%2Fhjalp-for.%26h&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.gu.se/om-universitetet/­jobba-hos-oss/­hjalp-for.&h p o i n t;.    

  

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.  

 

For information on what you need to submit in order to fulfill the English language requirement see ?url=www.universityadmissions.se%2Fen%2Fentry-requirements%2F.%26h&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=www.universityadmissions.se%2Fen%2Fentry-requirements%2F.%26h&module=jobs&id=3209255" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.universityadmissions.se/en/­entry-requirements/.&h p o i n t;.

Applications must be received by: 2026-03-24

  

Information for International Applicants 

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit: 

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services 
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The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.