Employment as a PhD student in Odontology

Malmo

Reference number P 2025/2721

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We are looking for
A PhD student in Odontology, with a focus on interactions between microorganisms and implant material in relation to infections in the oral cavity, at the Faculty of Odontology.

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

The intended degree is a doctoral degree, which corresponds to 4-years of full-time doctoral education.

The PhD position is linked to Section 1 at the Faculty of Odontology (Oral Biology and Pathology) with collaboration within Section 2 (Maxillofacial Surgery and Materials Science and Technology) with the project "Targeting Peri-Implantitis: New Materials and Antibiotic-Coated Implants for Microbiome Modulation and Tissue Integration". The duties include experiments in a multidisciplinary environment with handling of biological material in cell biology and microbiological laboratories. The use of sensitive techniques such as flow-cytometry, confocal microscopy, proteomics and bioinformatics is also included in the project. The doctoral student is expected to summarize and interpret experimental results and present them in a doctoral thesis (compilation thesis) and scientific articles.

Qualifications
In order to be admitted to doctoral studies, the applicant must have general and specific entry requirements required for the subject and be deemed to have the other capabilities and attributes needed to undertake the programme.

To meet the general entry requirements for doctoral studies (according to Chapter 7 § 39 of the Higher Education Ordinance), the candidate must:

• Have completed a second-cycle degree
• Have completed course requirements of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are at second-cycle level, or
• Has acquired essentially equivalent knowledge in some other way within or outside the country

Specific entry requirements Odontology
Specific entry requirements are requirements that are absolutely necessary for the doctoral student to be able to benefit from the education. Admission to doctoral studies at the Faculty of Odontology requires:

• Necessary knowledge from higher education or equivalent education and/or professional experience assessed in relation to the field of doctoral education
• Necessary language skills in English

Selection criteria
Selection among applicants who meet the general and specific entry requirements will be made with regard to their ability to benefit from the education (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7, Section 41).

General selection criteria
In the case of selection between applicants, the basis for selection is the applicant's merits at the time of application.

More about selection criteria and the process can be found in the general syllabus for the subject, see https://mau.se/en/research/doctoral-studies/https://mau.se/forskning/forskarutbildning/

The candidate must have a background in natural sciences (microbiology, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry) or a dental degree, and should have a genuine and strong interest in experimental, laboratory work and theoretical interpretation of experimental results. Practical experience with one or more of the following methods: culture of bacterial and human cells, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry is beneficial. The applicant's documented independence and planning of previous work as well as the ability to formulate research questions are also taken into account. Documented excellent level of English (comprehension, speaking, and writing) is essential.

Faculty and Research environment
The Faculty of Odontology is one of five faculties within Malmö University. Both research and teaching aim to improve oral health in the entire population. The faculty offers education for dentists, dental hygienists and dental technicians as well as specialist and postgraduate education. All teaching takes place through challenge-based learning. Research is theme-based and researchers meet to study different aspects of oral health and disease. The faculty's researchers are involved in both national and international collaborations with companies, universities and organisations such as the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services (SBU).

The Faculty of Odontology is organised into four sections and a dental clinic. Section 1 consists of the subject areas Oral Biology and Oral Pathology. In Oral Biology, we conduct research on oral diseases caused by microbial biofilms. We aim to increase understanding of how oral bacteria adapt to changes in the local environment, to find new ways to diagnose and assess risk of common diseases such as tooth decay and periodontal disease, and to identify new targets for intervention. Our teaching in the Dental Programme is focused on the tissues and microbiome of the oral cavity. Research at Oral Biology is also linked to the Faculty's research profile Advancing Oral Health.
https://mau.se/en/research/research-centres/biofilms-research-centre-for-biointerfaces/

Information
Section manager Claes Wickström, [email protected]

The contact person for doctoral education at the Faculty of Odontology is Director of Studies Helena Fransson, [email protected]

Contact person for questions related to the research topic is Professor Julia Davies, +46(0)722-497502, [email protected]

For questions regarding employment, please contact Human resources specialist Annie Huynh, [email protected]

Prior to the recruitment process, Malmö University has taken a position on recruitment channels and marketing. We therefore decline all offers of advertising and recruitment assistance in connection with this ad.

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 2025-12-31. The application must be written in Swedish or English. As an applicant, you are responsible for the application and its appendices being translated.

The application must include:

• A certified curriculum vitae
• Degree certificates, study certificates and other relevant certificates
• Brief description of your view on the doctoral project (max. 1 page)
• Independent projects at advanced level (including degree project or equivalent)
• Names of references

Other
Admission to doctoral studies and employment as a doctoral student take place in parallel. Only those who are admitted or have already been admitted to doctoral studies at a higher education institution may be employed as a doctoral student (Higher Education Ordinance, 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.

As part of this:

• Applicants of the underrepresented gender are given priority in admission, if they have an equivalent ability to benefit from the education
• Doctoral students with long-term disabilities are given the opportunity to receive support and adaptations during their studies, with the aim of everyone being able to study on equal terms in a good study environment

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

If the admitted person needs a residence permit to reside in Sweden and pursue his/her studies, the University reserves the right to revoke the admission decision if the admitted person cannot present a valid residence permit required for the studies at the date of study start.

Access
2026-03-01 or as agreed.

Trade union representatives
SACO: Viveca Andersson-Plyming, [email protected]

SEC: Anne Sundel, [email protected]

ST/OFR: Lutfi Zuta [email protected]

PhD Student Union representative
Rikard Roxner, [email protected]

We are looking forward to receiving your application!

You apply no later than 31/12/2025 by clicking the apply button.