PhD student in Medical Science

SciLifeLab Group; Linköpings kommun; On-site; SEK 342,000 - 410,000; Full time

Job summary

SciLifeLab Group at Linköping University invites applications for a PhD student in Medical Science to investigate treatment resistance in leukemia using single-cell genomics and computational biology. You will join the CNB and participate in the national DDLS program with access to HPC resources and training.

The position is funded for four years of full-time study with a starting date by agreement, and a salary of SEK 33,700 per month (2026 level) with annual progression according to local

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Medical Biotechnology or 240 credits with at least 60 credits at advanced level in bioinformatics or mathematical modeling.
• Proficiency in English (oral and written) and strong teamwork skills.
• Experience with Unix CLI and Bash; Python or R for analysis and visualization of single-cell RNA sequencing.
• Knowledge of AML and treatment resistance and familiarity with single-cell deep learning frameworks such as scVI is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Study treatment resistance in leukemia using single-cell genomics and computational biology to inform development of therapies and biomarkers.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and participate in the DDLS program and training opportunities at SciLifeLab.

Skills

Unix CLI

Bash

Python

R

English proficiency

Teamwork

Statistics/AI/ML

Education

Advanced degree in Medical Biotechnology or 240 credits with 60 at advanced level in bioinformatics/mathematical modeling

Tools

Python

R

scVI

Job description

Ref BKV-2026-00842

We have the power of over 50,000 students and co-workers. Students who provide hope for the future. Co-workers who contribute to Linköping University meeting challenges of today. Our fundamental values rest on credibility, trust and security. By having the courage to think freely and innovate, our actions together, large and small, contribute to a better world.

We are looking for a PhD student in Medical Science.

Your work assignments

Treatment resistance is the main cause of relapse in many forms of leukemia and constitutes a significant obstacle to long-term cure. Resistance can be primary, where cells are insensitive to treatment from the time of diagnosis, or acquired, where resistant cell clones are selected during treatment. The biological mechanisms behind treatment resistance are complex and largely still unknown in many forms of leukemia. A deeper understanding of the molecular and cellular processes that drive resistance is therefore crucial for the development of more effective treatment strategies, biomarkers for risk stratification, and individualized therapies that can improve patients’ survival and quality of life. To understand how treatment resistance arises and changes over time in different patients and between cell populations, we study this using advanced single-cell genomics and computational biology.

Your Qualifications

You have completed an advanced degree in Medical Biotechnology or completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits at advanced level in bioinformatics or mathematical modeling or have otherwise acquired essentially equivalent knowledge.

You must be proficient in both oral and written communication in English and have good teamwork skills.

Documented experience with Unix command-line interface (CLI) and Bash coding as well as skills in another programming language such as Python or R for analysis and visualization of single-cell RNA sequencing is a requirement. Knowledge of statistics, AI/ML, mathematical modeling is highly desirable. Knowledge of AML and treatment resistance as well as single-cell deep learning frameworks such as scVI are desirable.

Personal qualities, such as creativity, curiosity, accuracy and a structured approach to problem solving are essential.

Your workplace

The Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences is one of the university’s largest departments, with operations mainly in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Our aim is to engage in medical and biomedical education and research of high international standing. At undergraduate level the department is responsible for most of the medical program, the speech and language pathology program and the biomedical program. For more information about the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, please follow: https://liu.se/en/organisation/liu/bkv

The Department of Cell and Neurobiology (CNB) comprises 100% of the workplace where we conduct research as well as undergraduate and graduate education in bioinformatics. You will also be part of the SciLifeLab & Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS), a 12-year initiative aimed at recruiting and educating the next generation of data-driven life scientists and creating globally leading capabilities in computational and data science within life sciences in Sweden. Through this program, you will participate in the national DDLS research school and join a dynamic community of doctoral students and postdocs from both academia and industry. You will also have access to extensive training and resources in computational science, including high-performance computing (HPC) clusters. For more information about the DDLS program, see here.

The employment

In connection with your admission to the doctoral program, your employment as a PhD student is handled. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University.

The employment has a duration of normally four years’ full-time equivalent. You will initially be employed for one year, after which your employment will be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time, depending on your progress through the study plan. Extension of employment up to five years is based on the degree of teaching and institutional assignment. Further extensions may be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Starting date by agreement.

Salary and employment benefits

The salary of PhD students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression. The starting salary is SEK 33,700 per month (2026 salary level). The salary is reviewed annually as part of the regular salary review process and is also adjusted upon completion of 30% and 60% of the PhD studies.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives – diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody’s equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities.

Contact persons

• Johanna Källming
  HR-manager
  [phone]
  [e-mail]
• Antonio Lentini
  Assistant Professor
  [e-mail]
• Annelie Lindström
  Director of Third Cycle studies at BKV
  [phone]
  [e-mail]