Doctoral (PhD) student position in clinical virology and immunology

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

To be a doctoral student means to devote oneself to a research project under supervision of experienced researchers and following an individual study plan. For a doctoral degree, the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral education is required.

The research group

The Department of Laboratory Medicine consists of seven divisions in which both research and teaching are conducted. The department is involved in advanced research in both basic and applied research. All divisions operate in close contact with clinics at Karolinska University Hospital. The division of Clinical Microbiology pursues innovative multidisciplinary research in infectious diseases and contributes translational knowledge to the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.

Annika Karlsson's research group at the Division of Clinical Microbiology is currently looking for a motivated doctoral student to study antiviral T cell immunity in relation to human age and health. The projects will be conducted in collaboration with the Christian Giske, Marcus Buggert  and Sophia Björkander  research groups.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

Common viruses can contribute to or worsen conditions such as asthma, COPD, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. They also frequently complicate immune deficiencies and immunosuppressive treatments. These issues significantly impact public health. T cell responses are crucial for immunity against most viral infections, and while these responses develop in childhood, they decline with age. The primary objective of this PhD project is to understand how qualitative differences in memory T cells may significantly affect their ability to clear virus-infected cells and prevent future viral spread in vivo in relation to asthma, obesity, HIV-status, and pregnancy.

 The PhD student will master immunologic and microbiologic technologies, including flow cytometry, single cell sequencing, TCR sequencing, antibody screening, proteomics, and microbiome diversity analysis.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment full of expertise and curiosity. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. As a doctoral student you are offered an individual research project, a well-educated supervisor, a vast range of elective courses and the opportunity to work in a leading research group. Karolinska Institutet collaborates with prominent universities from all around the world, which ensures opportunities for international exchanges. You will be employed on a doctoral studentship which means that you receive a contractual salary. Employees also have access to our modern gym for free and receive reimbursements for medical care.

Eligibility requirements for doctoral education

In order to participate in the selection for a doctoral position, you must meet the following general (A) and specific (B) eligibility requirements at latest by the application deadline.

It is your responsibility to certify eligibility by following the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

A) General eligibility requirement

You meet the general eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

1. have been awarded a second-cycle/advanced/master qualification (i.e. master degree), or
2. have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the advanced/second-cycle/master level, or
3. have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.*

Follow the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

*If you claim equivalent knowledge, follow the instructions on the web page Assessing equivalent knowledge for general eligibility for doctoral education.

B) Specific eligibility requirement

You meet the specific eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

- Show proficiency in English equivalent to the course English B/English 6 at Swedish upper secondary school.

Follow the instructions on the web page English language requirements for doctoral education.

Verification of your documents Karolinska Institutet checks the authenticity of your documents. Karolinska Institutet reserves the right to revoke admission if supporting documents are discovered to be fraudulent. Submission of false documents is a violation of Swedish law and is considered grounds for legal action.

(A) and (B) can only be certified by the documentation requirement for doctoral education.

Skills and personal qualities

Required:

• Master’s degree in biomedicine, biotechnology, or related field.
• Basic knowledge in human immunology, and clinical virology.
• Hands‑on experience from working with human cell samples in biosafety level 2.
• Experience from studies of T cell immunity using multiparameter flow cytometry and spectral flow analysis.
• Advanced flow cytometry data analysis, using FlowJo, UMAP for dimensional reduction, and PCA for multivariate analysis.
• Knowledge of R.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Merits (highly desirable):

• Experience from studies of virus-specific T cell immunity (human).  
• Familiarity with T cell function, phenotype, transcriptional activity.
• Organized, curiosity‑driven, and a strong team player in a collaborative, multicultural setting.

In this recruitment, we place great emphasis on personal qualities, ability to collaborate, and scientific enthusiasm.

Terms and conditions

The doctoral student will be employed on a doctoral studentship maximum 4 years full-time.

Application process

Submit your application and supporting documents through the Varbi recruitment system. Use the button in the top right corner and follow the instructions. We prefer that your application is written in English, but you can also apply in Swedish.

Your application must contain the following documents:

- A personal letter and a curriculum vitae
- Degree projects and previous publications, if any
- Any other documentation showing the desirable skills and personal qualities described above
- Documents certifying your general eligibility (see A above)
- Documents certifying your specific eligibility (see B above)

Selection

A selection will be made among eligible applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from doctoral education. The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis.

Karolinska Institutet uses the following bases of assessment:

- Documented subject knowledge of relevance to the area of research
- Analytical skill
- Other documented knowledge or experience that may be relevant to doctoral studies in the subject.

All applicants will be informed when the recruitment is completed.

Clinical Virology and Immunology – Annika Karlsson's research group

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