Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society

The Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) conducts world leading research in aging, dementia, epidemiology and care sciences. This research extends from basic molecular and cell levels to clinical research and societal studies. NVS educates almost a third of KI students at basic and advanced levels. The Department has approximately 540 employees and a revenue 2023 of 530 million SEK. It comprises seven divisions, located at Campus Flemingsberg and Campus Solna.

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 research group "Nordic UK Brain Network" (NBN) at the Centre for Alzheimer's Research offers a dynamic and international research environment where the healthy brain aging is the focus. NBN is part of the Division of Clinical Geriatrics at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) at KI. The goal of the NBN research is to identify and prevent the development of cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Our activities include research, implementation, and information dissemination. We participate in international research networks with both prevention and treatment studies, such as multimodal lifestyle interventions for people at risk for developing cognitive problems and clinical drug-trials for dementia.

The research at the Clinical Geriatrics, is clinically focused on diagnosis, prevention, and treatment and the researchers works closely with Theme Aging and the cognitive clinics in Solna and Huddinge at Karolinska University Hospital. The Division of Clinical Geriatrics, with over 100 employees and affiliated researchers, is located both in Neo Campus Flemingsberg and in the Q building in Solna.

The announced position will be in collaboration with the division of Neurogeriatrics at the same department (NVS) which has a focus on disease mechanisms and basic research in neurodegeneration. This collaboration offers a translational research environment.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

In this PhD project the candidate will investigate new biomarkers of neurodegenerative disorders as well as mechanisms of action for prevention of dementia. The project is translational involving research on both fluid biomarkers of dementia and experiments in transgenic mice and cellular models of neurodegeneration.

The biomarker studies will be performed both in observational cohorts and multidomain lifestyle interventions (randomized clinical studies) in the prevention of dementia. The focus will be to gain a deeper understanding of the heterogenous Alzheimer disease in terms of biological signatures.

For the mechanistic part of the project the PhD student will perform an intervention protocol on a mouse model for neurodegeneration to study the interception between pathological mechanisms and prevention.

In addition to completing doctoral student courses at KI and acquiring the required credits, the doctoral student's tasks will include carrying out literature reviews and data analyses (both from experimental data and databases from the observational cohort and RCTs). Further, the student will interpret the results and write publications for scientific journals. The PhD student will also present the research results in seminars/conferences and take an active role in experimental design and presentations.

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 ideal candidate for this PhD position has a MSc in Biomedicine, Drug discovery or similar. Experience from work with murine animal models is a prerequisite. Previous research experience related to neurodegenerative diseases, biomarker research and mechanisms of action in models for dementia is an advantage. Competence in cellular signaling, neuroscience, biostatistics and experience from data management is also a merit for this position.

Since the applicant will be part of an international and interdisciplinary research team, flexibility, collaborative, and problem-solving skills are required. Great communication skills in English and Swedish (oral and written) are also a requirement as the doctoral student will work with Swedish data files, interact with clinicians, researchers, and participants in studies within the doctoral student project. We are looking for a candidate who is driven, motivated, takes initiative and can work independently.

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.

Your application must contain the following documents. We prefer that your application is written in English, but you can also apply in Swedish:

- 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.

Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society

The research group Nordic-UK brain network

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

Type of employment PhD placement
Contract type Full time
First day of employment Enligt överenskommelse
Salary Månadslön
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100
City Solna
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number STÖD 2-784/2021
Contact
  • Dr Anna Matton, anna.matton@ki.se
  • Professor Miia Kivipelto, miia.kivipelto@ki.se
  • Samordnare forskarutb. NVS Catarina Cleveson, catarina.cleveson@ki.se
Union representative
  • Carina Eklund, OFR, 08-585 826 65
  • Henry Wölling, SEKO, henry.wolling@ki.se
  • Taher Darreh-Shori, SACO, 08-524 835 29
Published 17.Feb.2021
Last application date 10.Mar.2021 11:59 PM CET

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