Doctoral (PhD) student position in Multi-scale modelling and multimodal brain imaging in Parkinson’s disease - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to better health for all?

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

This project is organized as a collaboration between three research groups: Associate Professor Daniel Lundqvist at Karolinska Institutet, Professor Petra Ritter at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Assistant Professor Christoph Pfeiffer, NatMEG, Karolinska Institutet and Postdoctoral researcher Josefine Waldthaler, NatMEG, Karolinska Institutet. The collaboration forms a unique and fruitful environment for the doctoral student, where computational modelling, clinical neuroscience, clinical neurology, and brain imaging methods (with a particular focus on conventional MEG and on-scalp MEG) are combined with the goal of developing novel brain function markers for diagnostic and monitoring purposes in Parkinson's disease. Lundqvist is the main supervisor for the doctoral student, Ritter, Pfeiffer, Waldthaler are co-supervisors.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is highly heterogeneous regarding the onset, characterization, and progression of symptoms, and individual disease trajectories often diverge even when clinical symptoms are initially typical. This PhD project offers a strong, unique, and highly realistic potential to advance the understanding of how the neurodegenerative progression in Parkinson’s disease influences functional brain activity that manifests as clinical symptoms. This field is now at a critical window of opportunity, where the imaging technology (e.g., on-scalp MEG) and powerful modelling infrastructures (e.g., TVB, EBRAINS) are both available to enable this study, while MEG-based neuromarkers (on-scalp MEG-based neuromarkers in particular) are highly under-explored opportunities.

To advance the mechanistic understanding of PD, the doctoral student will be tasked to apply a personalized medicine approach where functional magnetoencephalography (MEG) recordings of PD patients’ brain activity are combined and modelled together with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography imaging (PET), deep brain stimulation (DBS), pharmacological treatment and clinical symptom assessments. Within the doctoral project, the student will develop computational multi-scale models that predict the individual treatment effects, symptom manifestations and disease progression from structural and neurochemical changes on functional brain dynamics, using e.g. the Virtual Brain (TVB) neuroinformatics platform.

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 a strong background in clinical neuroscience and brain imaging, with a passion for computational modelling. It is necessary that the candidate can demonstrate broad insights (courses and/or hands-on measurements) from brain imaging as well as computational modelling. It is meritorious if the candidate has education/training in MEG, MRI, PET, and in computational modelling. It is also meritorious if the candidate has training in clinical neuroscience and/or neurology. The successful candidate is independent, professional, reliable, and service- minded, and can collaborate effectively enjoys interacting with global research professionals and patients.

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

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