Doctoral (PhD) student position in oesophageal cancer research - 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

The oesophageal and gastric cancer research group at the Division of Surgery and Oncology, CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet is a multidisciplinary team including surgeons, oncologists, nurses and dieticians. The group comprises two professors, three associate professors, one junior PI, three postdocs and nine PhD students. Within the group highly qualified clinical, epidemiological, and translational research is performed, addressing various aspects of oesophageal and gastric cancer care. Several randomised clinical trials, some of them international, are led from the group. The research group also collaborates very closely with a local research network of pathologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine specialists, as well as the Clinical Trials Unit and Clinical Trials Office (CTO), at Theme Cancer, Karolinska University Hospital. 

The translational part of the project is performed in close collaboration with Ponzetta lab, at CIM, MedH, a leading research unit in translational studies of the human immune system in the context of chronic inflammation, infectious diseases, and cancer. At CIM, we offer an engaging research environment where you may contribute to high quality research at international level. The Ponzetta team strive to understand the role of immune cells participating to the anti-tumor response, to identify new therapeutic targets and disease-associated immune traits

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The aim of the project is to increase knowledge about outcomes of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) treatment including survival, resection rate, complications, and recurrent disease. The project includes studies on large European population-based prospective cohorts of patients with EAC. The student will work with prospective standardized biobank collection of samples. The project will also aim to identify immunologically defined subtypes of EAC with impact on outcomes of treatment, including treatment response and survival.

The project will create novel insights on immune-related antitumor mechanisms and association with treatment response and survival based on tumor characteristics and patient classification based on tumor-infiltrating immunological signatures. This has the potential to identify immunological subtypes and evaluate their impact on outcomes of treatment, including treatment response and survival.

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 an ambitious and goal-oriented person with excellent interpersonal skills. You have a medical background and also a solid understanding of immunology and lab work. Knowledge of medical bioinformatics is an added advantage. Additional qualifications such as good understanding and knowledge of epidemiology are highly valued. The candidate must be fluent in spoken and written English and ready to work in other locations with the EU project partners.

To be hired as a PhD candidate, you will also have:

• Master's degree in medical science, immunology or equivalent.
• Experience in next generation sequencing data analysis.

Further experience is advantageous:

• Experience in the field of tumor immunology or cancer biology
• Previous contributions to scientific publications
• Experience in R- or Python-based programming
• Experience with cell isolation from human blood or tissues, culture of primary cells,
• DNA/RNA isolation, ELISA, qPCR and data analysis.
• Previous experience in multiparametric flow cytometry/cell sorting.

To be employed as a doctoral student, the MSCA-ITN mobility clause applies (more than 24 months of the last 3 years must have been spent working or studying outside Sweden).

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)

Welcome to apply at the latest December 26th 2023. 

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.

Division of Surgery and Oncology

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