Doctoral (PhD) student position in immunology with focus on sarcoidosis

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 research group

The successful candidate will join an international, dedicated research group composed of preclinical and clinical scientists that do experimental and translational research to understand disease driving mechanisms in respiratory inflammatory diseases and respiratory viral infections. Our studies use unique, clinically well characterized patient samples from cohorts that we follow longitudinally, and we house large biobanks of blood and tissue samples from patients and controls. We have also established 3D model systems to study immune cell interactions with the airway epithelium.

 Our lab is part of the Division of Immunology and Respiratory Medicine within the Department of Medicine, Solna. We are based in the Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM) building on the Karolinska University Hospital Solna campus, a hub for cutting-edge immunology research with close proximity to the hospital and collaborators and core facilities at KI campus and SciLifeLab. CMM boasts one of the highest concentrations of immunology labs in Sweden, fostering a vibrant research environment. We actively collaborate with numerous labs across the country and internationally.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

Our research focuses on immunological studies to understand sarcoidosis pathogenesis with the goal to improve early diagnosis and predict disease outcome using novel biomarkers and targetable immune pathways. Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory granulomatous disease that can affect any organ in the body. 90% of patients have sarcoidosis in their lungs and lung-draining lymph nodes. It is an enigmatic and challenging disease: the cause is unknown, the clinical outcome spans from spontaneous resolution to organ failure, and there are no sarcoidosis specific treatments available. The breath of clinical disease progression is thought to be dictated by the immune system but precisely what immunological events dictate disease trajectory remains unknown. We utilize clinically well characterized longitudinal patient samples across disease severity from blood and tissues to conduct high-resolution immunological studies using i.e. spectral flowcytometry, proteomics and functional assays, and then link experimental data to clinical outcome to understand what immunological responses associate with good vs. poor prognosis.

 We recently showed that a high frequency of TNF producing monocytes at the time of diagnosis predict an increased risk of developing chronic sarcoidosis (Lepzien et al ERJ 2021), suggesting that monitoring TNF-producing monocytes could be a tool to identify patients at risk of developing severe disease. The PhD student will expand on the role of TNF producing immune cells in sarcoidosis and also dissect the cellular composition and function of sarcoid granulomas in lung-draining lymph nodes using spatial transcriptomics. The thesis work will also include analyses of the role of autoantibodies in sarcoidosis pathogenesis and their potential as diagnostic disease markers.

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 seek a highly motivated PhD student with a strong desire to study immune system function in sarcoidosis. Passion for science and desire to work hard for its progress are the main requirements. Having prior wet lab experience is a strong advantage. Knowledge of immunology and experience with some of the relevant experimental approaches (e.g. cell culture work, flow cytometry, ELISA, scRNA-seq, bioinformatical analysis) are beneficial. Applicants must have good English skills and good communication skills in speech and writing. Applicants must have the  ability to collaborate effectively and work productively in a team. Communication skills in Swedish are not required but beneficial to communicate with collaborators outside the lab and study participants.

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.

http://ki.se/en/meds/research-group-anna-smed-sorensen 

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