Doctoral (PhD) student position in geriatric epidemiology

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

Multidimensional health in old age – Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga group. Our research focuses on studying health in older age, shifting from the traditional focus on single diseases towards multidimensional and longitudinal health trajectories. More specifically, we study the clinical, psychosocial and behavioural determinants of multimorbidity and frailty, as well as the interaction of these syndromes with older people’s use and needs for medical and social care services.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The purpose of this project is to identify the dietary recommendations that could have the highest impact on healthy longevity and the groups of older adults who could benefit the most, according to their age, sex, psychosocial background, and comorbidities. We will use data from three Swedish cohorts belonging to the NEAR research infrastructure and replicate the analyses in two Spanish datasets. You will be expected to contribute to project design and carry out data harmonisation, statistical analyses, interpretation, and presentation of results. As a PhD student you will participate in activities of the research group, as well as complete doctoral courses to acquire the required credits.

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

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with experience in epidemiology. The candidate:

• must hold a master’s degree in biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, or similar;
• must have a bachelor’s degree in health sciences (e.g., nutrition, medicine, pharmacy) or formal sciences (e.g., statistics, computer science, mathematics);
• must have previous research/work experience related to epidemiology (ideally nutritional and geriatric);
• should have authored academic article(s) related to epidemiology (ideally nutritional and geriatric);
• must have good analytical/programming skills (e.g., STATA, R) and experience working with large, longitudinal datasets;
• should have previous research/work experience related to pooled analyses or meta-analyses;
• must have excellent oral and written English skills (and ideally some knowledge of Swedish);
• should have a positive attitude towards team-work;
• should be eager to learn.

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.

https://ki.se/en/nvs/research/centres-at-nvs/aging-research-center-arc

https://ki.se/en/research/research-areas-centres-and-networks/research-groups/multidimensional-health-in-old-age-amaia-calderon-larranaga-group

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