Doctoral (PhD) position in human immunology - 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 are seeking a curious and ambitious individual to join the research group of Professor Yenan Bryceson as a PhD student to identify and mechanistically understand novel primary immunodeficiency diseases with susceptibility to viral infection, hyperinflammation, as well as cancer. Recent high-impact studies from our group on this subject include Zitti et al. Immunity 2023, Campbell et al. J Exp Med 2022, Kalinichenko et al., Blood 2021, Holmes et al., Science Immunology 2021, Tesi et al., Blood 2017, and Schlums et al., Blood 2017.

In the Bryceson group, you will be working in an international and interdisciplinary research environment, where collaborative efforts are encouraged and your scientific development will be fostered by a highly motivated team of scientists. We constitute a multi-disciplinary group of experimentalists, lab technicians, computational biologists, and developers of various backgrounds. We always aim for an open and creative environment. The research group is based at the Center of Hematology and Regenerative Medicine (HERM). HERM consists of approximately 90 research fellows and is a nationally leading and internationally competitive environment for studies of the human immune system in the context of normal and malignant hematopoiesis, immunodeficiency and cellular immunotherapy. As part of the Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, the center offers state-of-the art cell culture, molecular biology, flow cytometry and microscopy facilities.

To build a strong and creative research team, we are looking for curious and driven individuals from universities around the world. We will offer an intellectually stimulating environment.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

Previously considered rare diseases of infancy, primary immunodeficiencies are now viewed as more common, also explaining severe diseases in children, adolescents, and adults. With high-throughput genetics, rare, potentially disease-causing variants can be uncovered. A major challenge is to understand how such variants may cause disease. The project will be focused on defects in cytotoxic lymphocytes as well as other hyperinflammatory syndromes with impaired lymphocyte development, differentiation, or function. Your aim will be to gain detailed insights to associations between specific genetic variants/mutations and immune function, allowing better diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering severe primary immunodeficiency disorders. Insights can also be used to improve cellular immunotherapy of cancer. The research group is internationally recognized in the field through a consistent track-record of high impact publications.

As member of the Bryceson lab, you will apply and integrate high-throughput sequencing data to identify candidate disease-causing variants. You will develop model systems, e.g. reconstitution systems in gene knock-out cells or genome-edited induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) with specific patient-derived genetic variants. We aim to recruit a knowledgeable and highly motivated person who can set up and maintain workflows by adapting existing and implementing new tools. Your efforts aim to map key molecular interactions that contribute to the disease pathogenesis of immunodeficiencies and to drive the development of precision medicine.

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 applicant ideally has training in molecular and cell biology. Interests in programming, computational biology, and statistics as well as experience in analyses of high-dimensional data sets, e.g. high-throughput sequence and gene expression data analysis, will be considered a merit. Experience with cell isolation, culture and modification will also be considered a merit.

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.

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