PhD Position in Medical Sciences

Uppsala University

Institution: Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden
Research Area: Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery, Additive Manufacturing for Bone Tissue Engineering
Start Date: 1 April 2026 (or by agreement)
Employment: Temporary, full-time (100%)
Deadline for Applications: 31 December 2025
Reference Number: UFV-PA 2025/3159

About the Department

The Department of Surgical Sciences (IKV) is part of the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy at Uppsala University. It employs ~160 staff and supervises ~230 doctoral students, many of whom are clinically active. The department conducts both research and teaching across medical and health sciences, in close collaboration with other departments and universities.

The Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery research group focuses on improving diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic injuries and diseases, spanning trauma, degenerative diseases, pediatric orthopaedics, and hand surgery. Translational research is conducted at OrthoLab, with collaborations across materials science and engineering.

Project Description

This project is part of the “Print4Life” MSCA doctoral network, aiming to advance additive manufacturing of biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.

Objectives:

• Develop and characterize artificial bone scaffolds using 3D printing technologies
• Fabricate scaffolds from ECM-based hydrogels or porous titanium, incorporating antimicrobial agents
• Systematically study scaffold–cell interactions to inform the development of clinically relevant bone substitutes

Project Goals:

1. Develop and optimize biomaterial inks mimicking natural bone, evaluate rheological properties for printability
2. Fabricate anatomically relevant scaffold structures via extrusion-based 3D printing; enhance mechanical properties
3. Incorporate antimicrobial agents (e.g., antibiotics, peptides) and assess biological performance

Supervision:

• Main Supervisor: Prof. Nils Hailer (Uppsala University)
• Co-Supervisors: Assoc. Prof. Paul O’Callaghan, Dr. Anna Diez Escudero, Dr. Estefanía Echeverri

Collaboration: Includes short research stays at partner universities and companies in Finland and Spain.

Duties

• Conduct independent research projects in line with project goals
• Develop biomaterial inks, fabricate scaffolds, and characterize mechanical, biological, and antimicrobial properties
• Participate in PhD courses, seminars, and collaborative activities
• Contribute to teaching and departmental duties (≤20%)

Requirements

• MSc in biomedical engineering, materials science, biotechnology, biological or medical sciences, or equivalent
• Strong interest or experience in biomaterials, tissue engineering, or additive manufacturing
• Good command of written and spoken English

MSCA Eligibility:

• Must not have a doctoral degree at recruitment
• Must comply with mobility rule: not have resided or carried out main activity in Sweden for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to recruitment

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with extrusion-based or other additive manufacturing techniques
• Synthesis of bioprinting materials (hydrogels)
• Rheological, mechanical, or physicochemical material characterization
• Microscopy, image analysis, microbiology, cell/molecular biology techniques
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and academic writing skills

Application Documents

1. Short cover letter (motivation, suitability, MSc thesis topic)
2. CV (max 2 pages)
3. Certified copy of MSc degree and transcripts
4. Copies of MSc thesis and other relevant publications
5. Names and contact details of at least two referees

Applications must be submitted in English through the Uppsala University recruitment system.

Contact: Prof. Nils Hailer – nils.hailer@uu.se

Employment & Salary

• Temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 5 §7)
• Full-time (100%), starting 1 April 2026 or by agreement
• MSCA PhD fellows receive a gross salary of approx. 37,000 SEK/month (before taxes), including standard benefits for doctoral candidates in Sweden

About Uppsala University

Uppsala University is Sweden’s largest and oldest university, recognized internationally for research and education excellence. It is an HR Excellence in Research awardee, providing a stimulating and supportive environment for doctoral candidates.