PhD position in Cancer Epidemiology and Applied Biostatistics - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

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.

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (MEB) is among the largest departments of epidemiology in Europe with special focus on increasing our knowledge of the aetiology of different diseases. Our department consists of researchers, doctoral students, biostatisticians, data collectors and database administrators as well as administrative personnel, in total some 250 staff. The department is situated at campus Solna. Further information can be found at www.ki.se/meb

The research group

A doctoral student position is available within the biostatistics group at MEB. The biostatistics group comprises 5 professors, 3 senior lecturers, 9 PhD-level statisticians, 4 masters-level statisticians, and 10 doctoral students. The group is involved in a wide variety of research projects, including population-based cohort and case-control studies, twin and family studies, survival analyses, predictive modeling, genetic epidemiology and bioinformatics.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The doctoral student project is in breast cancer epidemiology and applied biostatistics, where novel statistical methods for cancer epidemiology will be applied to address clinically important research questions. The research project encompasses large-scale epidemiological studies with population-based cancer register data. The overall aim is to quantify and describe incidence and survival of breast cancer subtypes in Sweden and evaluation of hypothesized risk factors, e.g. patient, tumour and treatment factors. The project uses advanced methodology for cohort studies, including statistical modelling of incidence and survival in the presence of missing data. Data materials include the Swedish health and population registers, and in particular the National Quality Register for Breast Cancer (NKBC). The doctoral project will be a mix of epidemiology and biostatistics, where the focus can to some extent be tailored to the interests of the successful applicant.

As a doctoral student, your role is to learn the necessary theory and skills to perform and manage the research project under supervision of the supervisory team.

The successful applicant will be supervised by statistician/epidemiologist Anna Johansson, Assistant Professor and Docent. One of the co-supervisors will be Dr Irma Fredriksson, Karolinska Institutet, who is Senior Consultant in Breast Surgery at Karolinska University Hospital and register holder of the NKBC.

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 have a background in biostatistics, epidemiology, medicine or public health. It is desirable to have an undergraduate degree (MSc) with good coverage of statistical methods, medicine or public health. A strong interest in medical research is desirable, including a strong interest in applying statistical methods to answer clinically relevant research questions.

Prior experience of research projects in epidemiology and/or biostatistics, including analyzing population-based register data in cancer research is desirable. Prior experience from project management is also desirable.

The applicant should have good communication skills and be proficient in spoken and written English. Personal qualities for the role include being independent, structured, and with strong analytical abilities. The applicant should enjoy working in a team and collaborate well with team members with different academic backgrounds.

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.

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