Doctoral student in biomedical science with a focus on pharmaceutical analysis and biopharmaceutics in inhalation therapy

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We are looking for   

A doctoral student in biomedical science at the Faculty of Health and Society.

Subject area: Pharmaceutical science with specialisation in drug delivery and biophysical characterisation of biopharmaceutical products for inhalation therapy.

Work duties   

A doctoral student shall primarily devote themselves to their own doctoral education. However, a doctoral student may, to a limited extent, work with education, other research or artistic research and administration, though not more than 20 per cent of full-time working hours (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Section 2).

BioInhale is a research project at Malmö University that has been awarded funding from the Knowledge Foundation. The project aims to promote the development of inhalation-based drug therapy by clarifying how drug molecules, from small molecules to macromolecules, interact with the lung epithelium during aerosolisation and deposition, dissolution and permeation, as well as clearance/elimination, thereby showing how regional differences in the lung govern drug distribution and disposition. Pulmonary drug administration (inhalation therapy) is being explored increasingly for the treatment of various diseases, as it shows potential to improve safety, target specificity and pharmacokinetic profile compared with conventional routes of administration. At the same time, the human airways constitute an intricate and heterogeneous structure with pronounced regional physiological variations. The airways function as a barrier between the body’s internal and external environments, enable gas exchange and perform central functions such as conditioning inhaled air, mucociliary clearance and immune signalling.

The project will be carried out in close collaboration with six Swedish and international industrial partners: Emmace Consulting, Bioneer, MatTek, Inhalation Sciences, Truly Labs and Magle ChemoSwed, as well as with advice from leading pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca. The collaboration with industry, universities and research infrastructures ensures access to cutting-edge expertise and advanced research resources.

The project comprises two doctoral students working in parallel within the project. This position focuses on pharmaceutical analysis and biopharmaceutics in inhalation therapy. As a doctoral student, you will work at the interface between pharmaceutical science, biophysics, aerosol science and drug development. The duties include developing and characterising inhalation formulations for both small molecules and biological drugs, studying aerosol generation and deposition in the airways, and investigating drug dissolution, permeation, retention and clearance in the lung. The project also includes biophysical characterisation and experimental studies of how macromolecules interact with and are transported across the biological barriers of the lung. In addition, the work includes analysis and modelling of data to increase understanding of how regional differences in the lung affect drug distribution and pharmacokinetics.

Qualifications   

To be admitted to doctoral studies, the applicant must meet the general and the specific eligibility requirements for the subject, and must also be subject and having the ability otherwise required to benefit from the programme.

General eligibility for doctoral studies (in accordance with Chapter 7, Section 39 of the Higher Education Ordinance) is met by a person who:

Specific eligibility for doctoral studies is met by a person who has:

At least 90 higher education credits, of which 30 higher education credits are at second-cycle level, in biomedical science or in a subject relevant to the current research area, or who has otherwise acquired substantially equivalent knowledge. Adequate knowledge of English is also required.

Selection criteria 

Selection among applicants who meet the general and specific eligibility requirements shall be based on their ability to benefit from the programme (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7, Section 41).

General selection criteria

When selecting among applicants for an advertised doctoral position, the ability to benefit from doctoral education is used as the criterion. To assess this ability, previous study results, the applicant’s written work, reports, research plans and any research merits, as well as documented professional experience, are taken into consideration. Special importance is attached to independent work at first (undergraduate) and advanced levels.

Specific selection criteria

Experience in the development and application of bioanalytical method development, chromatographic, mass spectrometric or other analytical methods relevant to inhalation therapy and the duties described above are considered a merit.

Experience with drug release, permeation and diffusion experiments, for example using Franz cells or flow-through cells, is considered a merit.

Experience with biophysical and structural characterisation techniques, such as X-ray scattering, FTIR spectroscopy, confocal microscopy or electrochemical methods, including impedance spectroscopy, is also considered a merit.

Experience with statistical processing, mathematical modelling, data analysis and/or interpretation of complex biological data is also considered a merit.

Documented very good ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing.

Good ability to work independently, take initiative and contribute flexibly to interdisciplinary research environments is considered a merit.

Faculty, Department and Research environment   

The position is located at the Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health and Society, Malmö University. The department has an interdisciplinary profile in which research and education combine biology, chemistry, medicine and physics. The research focuses on biomedical technology as well as cell and molecular biology with an immunological profile. We offer education at first- and second-cycle levels and work in close collaboration with healthcare services and industry.

The doctoral project will be carried out in an interdisciplinary research environment with strong links to both clinical diagnostics and education in biomedical laboratory science. The project is connected to Biofilms Research Center for Biointerfaces (BRCB), a research centre at the interface between life sciences and materials science where researchers from the faculties of Health and Society, Odontology, and Technology and Society collaborate. Our vision is to create new solutions for improved health through excellent science in close collaboration with industry.

Link to the department: BMV

Link to the research environment: BRCB

Link to the project: https://mau.se/en/research/projects/bioinhale/

Further information   

Senior Lecturer Sabrina Valetti, +46 (0)40-665 72 65, sabrina.valetti@mau.se

Head of Department Magnus Gram, +46 (0)72-203 49 76, magnus.gram@mau.se

You can read more about the benefits of working in Sweden here: Work in Sweden – Careers, work permits and moving to Sweden

Application   

You apply for the position via Malmö University’s recruitment system by clicking the “Apply” button. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions below and that it reaches the university no later than 2026-09-14. Your application should be written in Swedish, English or one of the Scandinavian languages. As an applicant, you are responsible for having your application and its appendices translated if necessary.

The application must include:

Miscellaneous   

The preparation of admission to doctoral studies and employment as a doctoral student takes place in parallel. Only a person who has been admitted, or has 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 position is full-time and is fixed-term for four years in accordance with Chapter 5, Section 7 of the Higher Education Ordinance. Employment as a doctoral student shall be indefinite, but no longer than until a specified date and never for longer than one year after the award of a doctoral degree or artistic doctoral degree. The first period of employment may be for no more than one year. The appointment may be renewed for no more than two years at a time.

Malmö University is a workplace and higher education institution that strives to have an open and inclusive approach, where gender equality and equal opportunities add value to our activities.

As part of this:

Employees who do not speak Swedish should learn Swedish over time so that they can participate in the day-to-day and ongoing work of the department.

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

If the admitted applicant requires a residence permit to stay in Sweden and pursue their studies, the university reserves the right to revoke the admission decision if the admitted applicant cannot present a valid residence permit required for the studies by the start date.

Start date   

1 November 2026, or by agreement, but no later than 1 December 2026.

Union representatives   

PhD Student Union representative 

Hanna Bjure, hanna.ivarsson@mau.se

We are looking forward to receiving your application!