Doctoral student - Blood-based biomarkers and dementia in a population setting - 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 Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) conducts world leading research in aging, dementia, epidemiology and care sciences. This research extends from basic molecular and cell levels to clinical research and societal studies. NVS educates almost a third of KI students at basic and advanced levels. The Department has approximately 450 employees and a revenue 2018 of 490 million SEK. It comprises seven divisions, located at Campus Flemingsberg and Campus Solna.

Aging Research Center (ARC), a division within NVS, is located at KI Campus Solna, Stockholm. It is a multidisciplinary academic environment, representing medicine (e.g., neurology, epidemiology, psychiatry, geriatrics), psychology (e.g., cognition, structural, functional, and molecular brain imaging), and social gerontology (e.g., sociology, public health, social epidemiology, social work). The center has around 75 employees, it has a strong focus on research with unique research resources, such as large-scale longitudinal studies and nationwide registries.

Most of the scientific activities in the research group are based on the ongoing population-based Swedish National Study on Aging and Care-Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), which includes people 60+ years who are followed up at regular intervals. The protocol includes extensive assessment of social, medical, biological, and genetic factors as well as a comprehensive cognitive battery. Further information is available at http://www.snac-k.se/.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

A doctoral student is admitted to third-cycle/doctoral education. A doctoral education consists of supervised research, combined with courses and other educational activities. An individual study plan is established for each doctoral student. For a doctoral degree, the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral education is required.

We are looking for a highly motivated doctoral student who is interested in studying the clinical validity of blood-based biomarkers in dementia in a population setting and expanding our understanding of the biology of dementia in the oldest, by studying different possible pathways underlying the onset of the disorder.

The doctoral project will be based on a large-scale population study of older people and modern advanced statistical approaches will be used. Hence, it is a challenging project for a PhD student, especially from a clinical, epidemiological and biostatistical point of view. For that reason, we look for a PhD student with good knowledge in geriatric epidemiology and/or biostatistics. The doctoral student should be familiar with statistical software (such as Stata, SAS or SPSS). Furthermore, since clinical interpretation of the results of the studies is mandatory for the success of the projects, it would be advantageous if the student also has clinical experience from working with geriatric patients. For this reason, we look for a student with a degree in medical science, better if with a background in Clinical Neurology or Geriatrics.

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 highly motivated candidate with experience in geriatric epidemiology.

The successful candidate:

• Must have an educational background in health/medical sciences and hold a medical doctor degree with clinical experience preferably within neurology or geriatrics;
• Must have excellent English skills in terms of oral and written communication
• Should preferably have previous research and/or work experience related to aging health;
• Should have good analytical skills
• Should have good programming skills and experience working with longitudinal datasets and have experience of using statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, or Stata;
• Should have a positive attitude towards team-work;
• Should be eager to learn.

The successful candidate is expected to play critical role in formulating scientific research hypothesis, testing those hypotheses using proper study design, analyzing the data, presenting and interpreting the results, and writing scientific reports and articles in English.

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.

https://ki.se/nvs

https://ki-su-arc.se/

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