The University of Gothenburg meets societal challenges with diverse knowledge. With 58,000 students and 6,800 employees, the university is a large and inspiring workplace. Strong research and attractive educational programs attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and perspectives, the University of Gothenburg contributes to a better future. The Department of Odontology offers education for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental technicians at both undergraduate and advanced levels. All educational programs lead to a professional degree as well as a general degree. The department also conducts research and doctoral education in dental science, as well as continuing education activities. The department collaborates with Public Dental Health in Västra Götaland in the clinical part of the undergraduate education and in clinical research.
The research activities within the Division of Oral Microbiology and Immunology include studies of the microorganisms found in the oral cavity and their interactions with the immune system. Additionally, the function of the immune system in health and various oral disease conditions is studied.
Subject
Oral Microbiology and Immunology
Subject Description
We aim to understand how neutrophils and their serine proteases can dampen destructive inflammation and whether an individual's relative serine protease activity could help explain why only certain individuals appear to be susceptible to destructive periodontitis.
Gingivitis, or gum inflammation, is a non-destructive condition, while periodontitis, or tooth loss, is characterized by permanent inflammatory destruction of the supporting tissues of the teeth. The factors that influence whether gingivitis in a person progresses to periodontitis are unknown. Both conditions are initiated by oral bacteria that reside at the gum line and attract large amounts of inflammatory white blood cells, neutrophils. Neutrophils are central to our immune defense by engulfing and killing bacteria, but they also have the ability to regulate more complex immune functions in various ways. Some rare congenital defects in neutrophil function manifest as aggressive forms of periodontitis, indicating that normal neutrophil function provides important protection against the disease. Studies of such conditions may provide clues to which neutrophil factors protect against destructive inflammation. Surprisingly, one such factor is neutrophil serine proteases. Serine proteases are proteolytic enzymes that have traditionally been thought to exacerbate tissue damage by breaking down the body's own proteins. This is strongly contradicted by the rare individuals who completely lack serine proteases – they suffer from an extremely aggressive form of periodontal disease and often become edentulous as teenagers! Thus, serine proteases appear to be a tool that neutrophils use to dampen destructive inflammation.
Responsibilities
The postdoctoral researcher will work independently but as part of a larger research group and will perform in vitro analyses with primary human immune cells isolated from blood and tissues from healthy volunteers and/or patients with varying degrees of periodontal disease. Common laboratory methods include flow cytometry, fluorescence and/or luminescence-based plate reader assays, immunoblotting, fluorescence microscopy, and ELISA. Depending on prior experience and interest, the postdoctoral researcher may also participate in bioinformatics analyses of proteomic and transcriptomic data from primary human granulocytes.
The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for planning, conducting, and troubleshooting experiments, as well as analyzing and interpreting results. The postdoctoral researcher is expected to present research data both orally and in writing, contribute to manuscript writing, and participate in national and international collaborations and meetings as appropriate.
Additionally, the postdoctoral researcher is expected to contribute to the supervision and mentoring of project, master's, and/or doctoral students at the department.
Eligibility
To be eligible for employment as a postdoctoral researcher, one must hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field. Since postdoctoral employment is a merit-based position for junior researchers, we are targeting individuals who have a doctoral degree that is no older than three years from the application deadline.
Assessment Criteria
Experience with in vitro studies using primary human immune cells is advantageous, and specific knowledge in oral immunology and/or neutrophil biology is considered a benefit.
Experience with bioinformatics analyses is desirable but not required. Clinical experience in dentistry is not necessary but may be valuable.
Employment
The position is temporary for 2 years with the possibility of extension for a maximum of 1 year, based at the Department of Odontology, Section 3. Appointment will be made in accordance with agreement.
Contact Information for the Position
For further information about the position, please contact Professor Johan Bylund at +46 766185018 or
[email protected].
Trade Unions
Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/work-with-us/help-for-applicants
Application
You apply for the position via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by clicking the "Apply" button. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is submitted to the university