Doctoral (PhD) student position in research on Covid-19 and mental health - 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

You will be joining the Unit of Integrative Epidemiology at the Institute of Environmental Medicine. Our research aims at understanding the risk factors and prognostic indicators for different chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric disorders, and cancer. We use various research tools to address these research questions, including population and health registers, large-scale cohort and case-control studies, and different biobanks. We integrate epidemiology closely with other pre-clinical and clinical research. We are now looking for a PhD student to join us.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The COVID-19 pandemic, and its resulting societal, behavioral and economic changes, have had widespread impacts on population health, including mental health. This doctoral project will investigate the mental health of individuals with COVID-19, their families, and the general population, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will use unique research materials, including register data, in Sweden, and will collaborate with international research groups from other Nordic countries and beyond. As a doctoral student, you are expected to lead the individual studies in the PhD thesis, including project coordination, study design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing, and result dissemination.  

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 candidate with demonstrated multidisciplinary training, e.g., clinical medicine or biology and alike in combination with public health or epidemiology background. The applicant must be detail oriented, with the ability to manage several projects simultaneously. Curiosity-driven candidates eager to learn new methods with experience in project coordination, data management, and statistical analysis (using e.g., STATA, SAS, or R) or experience with large-scale data will be preferred. Good team-working ability and excellent communication skills in English, as well as previous work in a multidisciplinary environment with international collaborations, are desirable. Previous research experience in psychiatric disorders will be considered a merit. Additional qualities that we will consider meritorious include experience in research protocol writing, previous publications, and understanding of electronic medical record data and register linkages. A basic command of Swedish is also meritorious for the position.  

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.

For more information: https://ki.se/en/imm/unit-of-integrative-epidemiology  

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