Pursuant to § 7 sections 1 and 3 of Resolution No. 91/IX/2021 of the Senate of the Jagiellonian University of 29 September 2021 on the rules of recruitment for the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences at the Jagiellonian University in the academic year 2022/2023, the Director of the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences announces a competition for 2 doctoral students with a scholarship financed from the research project funds as part of the PhD study programme Biomedical Sciences.
Within the MAESTRO 13 funded project entitled: "Metabolic reprogramming in age-dependent endothelial dysfunction and vascular stiffness; novel mechanism of “inflamm-ageing” a commission set up at the School will conduct recruitment for the PhD study programme Biomedical Sciences in the academic year 2022/23.
The project manager Prof. dr hab. Stefan Chłopicki offers an opportunity to complete the doctorates in the following area: biological sciences.
After the interviews and the evaluation of the candidates, the Chairman of the committee presents a report to the Director containing a list of candidates recommended for admission to the school as part of the research project.
Schedule of the competition:
- Opening of the competition: 17.06.2022
- Application submission deadline: 11.07.2022, noon
- Entrance exams: 19.07-20.07.2022
- Committee meeting - no later than: 20.07.2022
- Exam results: 22.07.2022
- Entries to the Doctoral School: 25.07.2022 - 05.09.2022
- Entries to the Doctoral School - reserve list: 06.09.2022
Detailed terms and procedures of admission.
Required documents:
- CV
- motivation letter
- MSc Diploma and transcript of records
- references
Please send your application documents to the e-mail address of the Project Manager Prof. dr hab. Stefan Chłopicki e-mail: stefan.chlopicki@jcet.eu and to the Online Application System.
Project description:
Chronic, sterile, low-grade inflammation observed in older organism that have been recently named “inflamm-ageing”, results in accelerated development of endothelial dysfunction and large arteries stiffness and can be associated with alterations in vascular mitochondrial function [1, 2]. Systemic endothelial dysfunction and increased stiffness of large arteries, can be measured in clinical conditions, and predict morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases. Accordingly, the improvement in endothelial function and artery stiffness can have therapeutic effects. However, mechanisms involved in inflamm-ageing are not clear.
We hypothesize that accelerated age-dependent dysfunctional vasculature in E3L.CETP mice with humanized dyslipidaemia and in some other unique animal models might be explained by vascular metabolic reprogramming that could contribute to vascular inflamm-ageing and subsequently to persistent vascular inflammation, to endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness. We aim to characterize metabolic signature of inflamm-ageing in murine models, and in particular to define the mechanisms and importance of metabolic reprogramming in the development of age-dependent endothelial dysfunction in large arteries and in coronary microcirculation, as well as in arterial stiffness. This project will be based on interdisciplinary, state-of-the art methodologies including e.g.; Magnetic Resonance Imaging – MRI to assess endothelial function in vivo in mice, vascular preparations ex vivo, as well as microfluidic device to characterize in vitro primary endothelial cells isolated from mice. Targeted and non-targeted metabolomics will be used to define metabolic pathways of dysfunctional endothelium and vascular wall. The research is carried out in the frame of MAESTRO grant and international collaboration.
[1] Liberale L, Montecucco F, Tardif JC, Libby P, & Camici GG (2020). Inflamm-ageing: the role of inflammation in age-dependent cardiovascular disease. Eur Heart J 41, 2974-2982.
[2] Tyrrell DJ, Blin MG, Song J, Wood SC, & Goldstein DR (2020). Aging Impairs Mitochondrial Function and Mitophagy and Elevates Interleukin 6 Within the Cerebral Vasculature. J Am Heart Assoc 9, e017820.
Documents required for enrollment:
- the original application and a photograph;
- a photocopy and the original for inspection:
- a. a diploma certifying the holding of a degree of Master, Master Engineer or equivalent in a field of study from among those indicated in the detailed conditions of recruitment, or
- b. a diploma of completion of studies abroad, giving the right to enrol in a course of doctoral studies in the issuing country or recognised as equivalent to the appropriate Polish diploma confirming the qualifications of the second degree;
- if the candidate has not yet been issued such a diploma by the deadline for admission,
- he/she shall submit a certificate of completion of such studies and a written undertaking to provide the diploma of higher education entitling to enrol in a course of doctoral studies within the prescribed deadline;
- for inspection: identity document (passport in case of foreigners);
- originals of all other documents provided at the registration stage in the form of a scan.
In the event of exposure to harmful, noxious or hazardous factors, the applicant will, at the time of registration, be referred for a medical examination by an occupational medicine physician. The candidate shall be obliged to deliver, within the time limit set by the programme manager, a medical certificate confirming the absence of contraindications to take up education.
Higher education diplomas awarded abroad should:
- bear an apostille clause if the issuing country is covered by the Convention abolishing the requirement legalisation for foreign public documents, done at The Hague on 5 October 1961 (Journal of Laws of 2005, No. 112, item 938) or
- be subjected to legalisation, in other cases.
Any document submitted in a language other than Polish or English must be accompanied by a certified translation into Polish or English.
Insurance:
Each doctoral student, including a foreigner, admitted to the doctoral school is obligatorily subject to health insurance if he/she is not covered by such insurance on other grounds (e.g. employment relationship, contract of mandate, business activity, insured as a family member under 26 years of age, as the spouse of an insured person). The health insurance contribution is paid by the Jagiellonian University and is financed from the State budget. In addition, a doctoral student receiving a doctoral scholarship is subject to compulsory retirement and disability insurance and accident insurance
IMPORTANT:
A person admitted to the doctoral school begin education and acquire doctoral student rights upon taking the oath. The Department of Personal Affairs reports each doctoral student admitted to the School to compulsory health and social insurance at the commencement of education, i.e. from 1 October at the earliest. Until that time foreign candidates are obliged to cover the costs of insurance for the time of travel, treatment, etc. individually.
