PhD Candidate in Odontological Science - Microbial metabolites and oral inflammation

Reference number PAR 2026/187

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Doctoral position in Odontological Science

Project title: The bacterial metabolite indole as a driver of inflammation and dysbiosis in periodontal and peri-implant diseases

The Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology is located at the Institute of Odontology 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.

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Duties   

The PhD education in Odontological 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=www.gu.se%2Fen%2Fsahlgrenska-akademin%2Fdoctoral-studies.%26h&module=jobs&id=3210140" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=www.gu.se%2Fen%2Fsahlgrenska-akademin%2Fdoctoral-studies.%26h&module=jobs&id=3210140" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.gu.se/en/sahlgrenska-akademin/­doctoral-studies.&h p o i n t;.

Education at third-cycle level 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. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.  

Project description: The research at the department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Gothenburg, include oral microbes and the cells belonging to the innate immunity, especially neutrophils, and how this parts interacts both at healthy conditions and in oral diseases. The purpose of the PhD-project is to investigate how the microbial metabolite indole affect neutrophil viability and functions.

Some oral microbes associated with oral diseases, like periodontitis and peri-implantitis, produce indole as a part of their metabolism. Indole and indole derivatives seem to affect some of the defense mechanisms used by neutrophils to kill of microbes and it is therefore important to study this further and investigate how the immune defense is affected by indole and also to examine the extent of indole production in oral diseases.

Within this project, the microbial metabolite indole and how it affects neutrophils from healthy individuals will be studied in vitro and clinical samples from patients with periodontitis and peri-implantitis will be investigated with regards to indole content. In addition, a chair-side test will be developed to ease sampling and analysis of indole at the clinic.

Experience from laboratory work is a merit and previous experience working with innate immune cells and microorganisms is advantageous. The applicant should be meticulous and responsible with a capacity for unsupervised problem-solving. Personal suitability is highly valued.

Eligibility  

Education at third-cycle level requires general eligibility and specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.  

The general eligibility requirements for education at third-cycle level 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 completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies.    

Assessment criteria   

The selection of applicants who are considered to have the ability required to benefit from the study programme and who meet the general and specific eligibility requirements are assessed based on the following documented qualifications:
- 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 thesis, degree project, scientific journals or the like. 

Employment   

Once you have been admitted for education at third-cycle level, 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 third-cycle level for four years.   

Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Odontology, Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.  

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.    

Contact information 

For more information about the project please contact the principal supervisor, 
Karin Christenson, Institute of Odontology, Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology
e-mail: karin.christensongu.se

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:   
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Application   

You can apply to be admitted for education at third-cycle level via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy 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=3210140" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">?url=www.universityadmissions.se%2Fen%2Fentry-requirements%2F.%26h&module=jobs&id=3210140" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.universityadmissions.se/en/­entry-requirements/.&h p o i n t;.   

Applications must be received by: 2026-03-26 

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.