Doctoral candidate in psychiatric epidemiology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

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 Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (MEB) at Karolinska Institutet has about 280 researchers, doctoral students, statisticians, programmers, data collectors, database administrators and administrative staff. The department is also host to KI Biobank and is responsible for the Swedish Twin Registry. The organization has the critical resources and the infrastructure needed (servers/IT systems, database managers, and statisticians) to perform significant and innovative large-scale register studies.

This doctoral project brings together an interdisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in relevant areas, including psychiatry, medical sciences and epidemiology. The doctoral student will also get support from a biostatistician at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatics. The research group in psychiatric epidemiology will bring additional support and opportunities for the PhD student. For example, the research group organizes weekly meetings, where 20-30 researchers meet and discuss their current ongoing research as well as updates in the wider scientific field. We also have collaborations with several other research groups at KI, clinical units in Sweden, and international leading researchers within the research area. 

Supervisors of the the doctoral student will be Ebba Du Rietz, Zheng Chang, Henrik Larsson and Laura Ghirardi. 

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The proposed project is based on two large-scale Swedish data sources and aims to explore whether attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and treatment with ADHD medications influence the management and prognosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). First, the Swedish National Diabetes Register will be used, which includes about 750 000 patients with a diagnosis of T2DM and has detailed clinical and lab-based measures. The Swedish National Registers will also be used, which cover the entire Swedish population since 1932 (>15 million individuals), and can be used to obtain information on diagnosis of psychiatric and somatic diseases, medication treatments, date and cause of death, and socioeconomic status. One of the PhD projects will also include a cross-site meta-analysis of numerous health records, as part of a large EU Horizon 2020 grant (read more here: https://timespan.eu).

The successful candidate is expected to apply advanced epidemiological analytical methods to explore the impact of ADHD and treatment with ADHD medications on the management and prognosis of T2DM. The candidate will also be expected to contribute to project design, and the interpretation and presentation of results (through scientific publications and conference presentations).

For any questions, please contact Ebba Du Rietz. See details below.

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

The applicant should also have strong organizational skills and be able to take own initiative and work independently, while also having the ability to work in a group. The applicant should be a highly motivated and enthusiastic person. Special emphasis will be put on previous experiences of working with large databases, such as the Nordic register data, and an interest in epidemiology, psychiatry and medical sciences. Ideally the candidate shall have some prior experience and knowledge in writing scripts for data management and analyses in programs such as R, SAS or STATA.

Excellent communication skills and fluency in both written and spoken English is a requirement.

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.

You can find more information about the department here and 10 reasons why you should choose to work at KI here.

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