Doctoral (PhD) student position in Clinical 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

Our research group within the Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine Solna, conducts epidemiological research focusing on rheumatic diseases. The group is led by Professor Johan Askling and conducts epidemiological research using Swedish registers and clinical data. The student will work with Associate Professor Daniela Di Giuseppe who focus on studies of the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis, and pharmacoepidemiologic studies of the disease.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

Applicants are invited to apply for a PhD research training position to work on the design and analysis of epidemiological studies using Swedish cohort and register-based data. The applicant will use epidemiological and biostatical methods to investigate the relationship between lifestyle factors, inflammation and risk of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as understanding the phenotypic classification of this complex disease. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in epidemiology and biostatistics, be proficient in programming and handling of data, and be motivated to learn new things. During the PhD, the student will conduct data management, analysis, and prepare manuscripts and presentations to communicate results. The project requires active collaboration between clinicians, biostatisticians, and epidemiologists.

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 successful applicant should be self-motivated, have excellent written and oral communication skills, and be able to interact effectively and work productively in a team.

Requirements:

• M.Sc. degree in medicine, epidemiology, pharmacy or similar field
• Experience with data analysis, preferably real-world data
• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written scientific English
• Proficiency in using a statistical software, such as R

Merits:

• Knowledge of, and experience of working with, chronic inflammatory diseases in general (rheumatoid arthritis in particular) is considered a strong merit
• Experience of working with Swedish Health Registers
• Hands-on experience of data cleaning and data analysis

The work requires good collaboration ability and problem-solving skills. Personal suitability and experience from research environment are highly valued.

Terms and conditions

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

--[Video about Karolinska Institutet, how we all work towards "a better health for all"] -

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.

Location

The position is located within the Department of Medicine, Solna. The department consists of eleven divisions and each division consists of several research groups. The position is located within the research group of Chronic inflammatory Diseases at the Clinical Epidemiology Division. Our research group contains well over 30 people (PhD students, postdocs, senior researchers, clinician researchers, and statisticians, with various backgrounds), with a common research interest, namely to study inflammatory diseases using combinations of registers, clinical data and genetic and biomarker data. You can find more information on our website: https://ki.se/en/meds/research-group-johan-askling 

Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all