KI-NIH funded doctoral (PhD) student position 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

We seek a new doctoral student who will work in the Unit of Integrative Epidemiology at the Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM), Karolinska Institutet. The main goal of research activities in the Unit is to improve the understanding of the causes and consequences of ill health and disease, with a focus on psychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer.

The doctoral student will be part of a collaborative network for women’s mental health, which involves Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the USA. The student will work with Assistant Professor Donghao Lu at Karolinska Institutet. Dr. Lu leads a program to understand the underlying biological mechanisms affecting reproductive mood disorders (such as perinatal depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, perimenopausal depression, etc.) and potential health consequences. Currently, the group consists of 1 postdoc, 2 doctoral students, 1 research assistant, and 2 master students.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The main aim of the proposed projects is to identify novel biomarkers for premenstrual dysphoric disorder using multiomics data based on large cohorts from Iceland, Sweden, and USA. The student will lead the genome-wide, transcriptome-wide, and metabolome-wide association studies in several cohorts and coordinate different cohorts for meta-analyses. The successful applicant will play a key role in these novel projects, and will have rich interactions with senior collaborators across countries/institutions. Because this is a KI-NIH funded position, the student will spend 18 months in the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD during PhD training.

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

• You should have a master degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, or bioinformatics.
• Prior research experience in premenstrual disorders, professional analysis of omics data and/or GWA studies, and/or experience in programming in R or Python will be a plus.
• You should be willing/flexible to travel and visit NIH for 18 months in total as well as other institutions (e.g. University of Iceland) to work on foreign cohorts.
• You should be highly collegial and experienced in working effectively in “team science” contexts. Successful applicant possess exceptional organizational skills and know how to multitask.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required, along with experience with scientific writing.

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/imm/unit-of-integrative-epidemiology

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