Project title: Oral healthcare programme in multiple myeloma to improve oral health and quality of life and prevent medicine-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ)

The Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology is located at the Institute of Odontology at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university’s doctoral student pages: https://medarbetarportalen.gu.se/doktorand/?languageId=100001&skipSSOCheck=true    

Duties   

The PhD education in Odontological Science comprises carrying out a scientific project and completing at least 30 credits of courses at third-cycle level. The doctoral student must also write a scientific compilation thesis or monograph corresponding to at least 120 credits. For more information about third-cycle studies at Sahlgrenska Academy, see https://www.gu.se/en/sahlgrenska-akademin/doctoral-studies

Project: Multiple myeloma is a malignant hematological disease that, depending on age, comorbidity, and stage, can be treated with chemotherapy, antiresorptive drugs, and stem cell transplantation. These treatments can cause numerous oral side effects such as reduced saliva production, mucositis, mucosal infections, and drug-induced necrosis of the jawbone.

To evaluate an oral care program for patients undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma to improve oral health and quality of life and prevent oral complications especially Medicine Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw. The long-term goal is to develop a suitable treatment strategy containing an evidence-based protocol to provide suitable care for these patients.

In a randomized multicentre control study, the following will be conducted in patients with multiple myeloma.
1. The occurrence of jawbone necrosis and its effect on quality of life
2. Risk factors for jawbone necrosis and the importance of patient-related factors
3. The effects of an oral care program regarding the occurrence and severity of jawbone necrosis and the impact on quality of life
4. Presence of markers in saliva and its relationship to jawbone necrosis and disease progression.

The applicant needs to communicate in the Swedish language in speech and writing, as the data collection involves contacts with patients and the questionnaires are in Swedish. It is desirable that the applicant has experience of practice as a dentist, as well as clinical experience in the dental specialty of orofacial medicine with a focus on hematological diseases, considering the aim of the doctoral project and the tasks. Documented experience in clinical examination of patients with hematological diseases, biopsy taking of hard and soft tissues in the oral cavity, and saliva collection is desirable. Furthermore, experience in research data collection, use of statistical programs, and experience in laboratory-based methods for detecting and measuring proteins in saliva and plasma is a merit. We would like to see that the applicant can work independently and in groups with different professional categories and areas of expertise. 

Education at third-cycle level comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree. As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.    

Eligibility  

Education at third-cycle level requires general eligibility and specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.  

The general eligibility requirements for education at third-cycle level are:    
1. having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
2. the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or  
3. the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.  
 
Specific entry requirements for this subject, according to the general syllabus, are: 
having completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies.    

Assessment criteria   

The selection of applicants who are considered to have the ability required to benefit from the study programme and who meet the general and specific eligibility requirements are assessed based on the following documented qualifications:
– specific knowledge and skills within the subject area and related research fields
– experience of scientific theory and relevant research methodology
– scientific analysis and presentation verified through thesis, degree project, scientific journals or the like. 

Employment   

Once you have been admitted for education at third-cycle level, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg. The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100. Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time. A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at third-cycle level for four years.   

Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Odontology, Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.  

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.    

Contact information 

For more information about the project please contact the principal supervisor, 
Hülya Cevik-Aras, Associate Professor, Institute of Odontology, Oral Medicine and Pathology
phone: +46 762036217, e-mail: hulya.cevik@odontologi.gu.se

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:   
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande     

Application   

You can apply to be admitted for education at third-cycle level via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.   

You must include the following, in pdf format

• Personal letter
• CV
• Diploma and transcripts showing that you meet with the general entry requirement
• Proof of completion of  English 6 course or the acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies

If your degree is from a university outside of Sweden, make sure that you attach a diploma and full transcripts that makes assessing your degree easier.  

If your degree has not been verified by a Swedish authority you need to provide contact details to the issuing university, registrar or similar, that can verify the degree at our request.

For information on what you need to submit in order to fulfill the English language requirement see https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/  

  

Applications must be received by: 2024-03-11

 

 

Information for International Applicants 

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit: 

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services 
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/ 

  

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.