Doctoral (PhD) student position in Immunology of Multiple Sclerosis

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

You will join the dynamic and collaborative group led by Prof. Maja Jagodic at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience. The group is a part of the Karolinska Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis (KNIMS) network which gathers ca. 70 researchers who work with different aspects of MS pathogenesis. This opportunity allows you to contribute to interactive research fueled by relevant clinical questions, merging a deep molecular understanding of the mechanisms behind Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with access to some of the world's most competitive clinical cohorts. You will benefit from a highly collaborative, engaged, and international research environment dedicated to exploring innovative translational ideas in precision medicine.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The doctoral student will be a key-driver of several translation projects, exploring B cell biology in MS. You will be implementing Next Generation Sequencing workflows and bioinformatics pipelines to analyse multi-omics data, including library preparation, quality control, statistical analysis, visualization and biological interpretation. You will be expected to work in a collaborative environment, actively engaging with other group members and external collaborators. Your contributions will need to align with the research group’s goals and interests, ensuring integration within the team and unit. Additionally, you will be encouraged to present your findings both within the team and at broader international conferences, fostering knowledge exchange and enhancing the visibility of the group’s work.

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 driven, enthusiastic, and collaborative person, highly motivated to pursue academic career in the future. The candidate should work in an independent manner, be able to develop hypotheses and design and conduct experiments that can test them. The candidate should have good organizational skills and excellent communication skills.

The candidate should exhibit a strong interest in immunology and complex neuroinflammatory disease. The candidate should have a developed bioinformatics skills, with documented experience of data analysis, and have familiarity with handling large-scale data. The candidate should be able to develop and implement new methodologies and also be comfortable with a wet-lab work.

Additional skills that are meritorious for the position

Strong programming skills in R & Python (other languages are advantageous). Strong understanding of immunology (specifically B cell biology). Knowledge of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of regulation, as well as familiarity working with omics data (e.g., DNAseq, RNAseq, scRNAseq, ChIPseq or HiC are advantageous). Familiarity with high-performance computing environments. Clinical knowledge is meritorious due to the nature of translational research.

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.

Read more about Department of Clinical Neuroscience 
Read more about the research group you will be part of   

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