Doctoral (PhD) student position in Medical Education - 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

The doctoral position is placed within the research group Lifelong Learning in Healthcare Contexts (LLiHCC), led by Professor Terese Stenfors. Our group explores learning processes within healthcare and higher education. The research aims to increase the understanding of various aspects of learning and how learning can be promoted and supported at multiple levels, from the individual student, teacher, or patient to group and macro levels, such as healthcare organizations and universities.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student
The doctoral student project will explore the role of patients in the learning of medical students. The aim is to better understand how students learn from and together with patients and how this learning can be supported and developed. The project adopts a qualitative approach, and data will be collected through observational studies and interviews with medical students, supervisors, and patients. By gaining a deeper understanding of the patient's role in the clinical learning context, we hope to improve the education of future doctors and simultaneously enhance patients’ experiences of healthcare. The project is based on socio-cultural theories and will apply phenomenography and activity theory as the primary research methodologies.

The doctoral project is carried out within the framework of the Research School of Medical Education, which is a collaboration between Linköping University, Karolinska Institutet (KI), and Stockholm University. The Graduate School offers courses, seminars, and annual retreats Forskarskola i medicinsk pedagogik - Linköpings universitet (liu.se).

The doctoral project can be pursued on a full-time basis or combined with clinical or educational work on a part-time basis.

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.

1. A) General eligibility requirement
   You meet the general eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

have been awarded a second-cycle/advanced/master qualification (i.e. master degree) or 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 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.

1. 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.

Skills and personal qualities
The doctoral work requires close collaboration with other researchers, clinicians, students, and patients, which is why flexibility and excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing, are important. The work demands organisational skills, thoroughness, a results-oriented mindset, and the ability to work independently and within given time frames. As the work proceeds, you are expected to independently manage the project, including tasks such as recruitment of participants, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of results. Strong emphasis is placed on collaborative skills and personal suitability.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience working in a clinical context
• Good understanding of the clinical healthcare environment
• A degree in a relevant field for the position
• Documented interest in teaching and learning
• Experience conducting qualitative data collection and analysis
• Excellent proficiency in Swedish, as all data collection will be conducted in Swedish
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Experience searching, reading, and summarizing scientific papers

It is meriting if you have: 

• A medical degree
• Documented experience in teaching and supervision
• Qualifications (for examples five weeks of training) in teaching and learning in higher education (teacher training)
• Experience from working independently on research tasks such as recruiting research participants
• Experience in writing and publishing scientific papers
• Experience in research administration

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.

Your application should contain the following documents:

- A personal letter and a curriculum vitae (Swedish or English)
- Degree projects and previous publications, if any (Swedish or English)
- Any other documentation showing the desirable skills and personal qualities described above (Swedish or English)
- 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.

Location: Solna, SÖS

Read more about the Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics (LIME)
Read more about research group Lifelong Learning in Health Care Contexts - a medical education research group | Karolinska Institutet (ki.se)
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