Umeå University’s Department of Clinical Microbiology is looking for a PhD student within the field of medical science with a focus on bioinformatics. We offer an international, stimulating, and collaborative research environment where your scientific career development is promoted.

The project belongs to Dr. Laura Carroll, assistant professor at the Department of Clinical Biology and Investigator at MIMS. The project involves developing computational methods, which can facilitate the discovery of novel secondary metabolites from microbial (meta)genomes. You will be part of a research group that collaborates with other leading researchers. Our goal is to obtain new, ground-breaking knowledge that enables development in the field of bioinformatics.

Apply before 31 January, 2023.

Project description
Microbial (meta)genome mining approaches for drug discovery.

Secondary metabolites (SMs) produced by microbes have critically important roles in human health, including as essential therapeutics (e.g., antimicrobials, anticancer agents). (Meta)genomic data derived from microbes thus offers tremendous potential as a reservoir for novel SMs; however, accurate, scalable in silico methods are necessary to leverage such data for SM discovery. Here, the PhD student will develop and apply bioinformatic tools, which can facilitate the discovery of novel SMs from millions of microbial (meta)genomes available in public databases.

You who are admitted to doctoral studies at the Faculty of Medicine will be part of the faculty-wide doctoral education programme. The doctoral programme comprises 25 credits and is offered in two study variants: 25 credits spread over 8 terms (a total of 4 years) or over 12 terms (a total of 6 years), starting each autumn and spring semester. More information about the programme can be found on the faculty’s web page for doctoral studies (Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Medicine - Handbook (umu.se)).

Eligibility requirements

You must have at least 240 higher education credits (hc), of which at least 60 hc are at an advanced level, in natural sciences, life sciences, or engineering.
Applicants must be skilled in both oral and written communication in English, able to work independently as well as in collaboration with others, and be highly motivated.

See full job description and apply here: https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:563786/