1-2 PHD-POSITIONS IN PEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to improving child health?

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 Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics conducts research in epidemiology and biostatistics across a broad range of areas within biomedical science. The department is among the largest of its type in Europe and has especially strong research profiles in psychiatric, cancer, reproductive, pediatric, pharmaco, genetic, and geriatric epidemiology, eating disorders, precision medicine, and biostatistics.

Part of the success of our department is due to our collaborative spirit where one factor is that researchers at the Department share and co-finance common resources (e.g., IT and an applied biostatistics group). The department is situated at campus Solna. Further information can be found at http://ki.se/en/meb

The research group

The doctoral student will be part of the main supervisor Samuel Arthur Rhedin’s newly established team focusing on pediatric infections, which is organized under Professor Catarina Almqvist’s research group. This group consists of several researchers at different stages of their careers, all conducting research in pediatric epidemiology. Within the research group, weekly meetings are held where new research and methodologies are presented and discussed in various forms, such as journal clubs and seminars. The main supervisor will have the main responsibility for the supervision and initially schedule more frequent supervisory meetings to establish the framework for the project. Gradually, the supervisors will work towards enabling the doctoral student to apply a more independent working approach with increasing responsibility for the progress of the projects as well as for their scientific development, aiming to eventually become an independent researcher. The main supervisor, I will always aim at being as available as possible for questions and discussions. The co-supervisors will contribute expertise in research methodology, statistics, public health, leadership, and epidemiology.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The research project focuses on the prevention, complications and diagnostics of severe lower respiratory tract infections in children, with a special focus on respiratory syncytial virus infections. The doctoral student will work with large datasets from the Appeasing the Wheezing database, which includes various national health registries, as well as clinical data from two prospectively collected cohorts of children with pneumonia from Sachs’ Children and Youth Hospital. The tasks of the doctoral student will involve participating in discussions regarding the final study design, driving the projects forward, data processing, statistical analysis (using STATA and SAS), and scientific writing under supervision. The doctoral student is also encouraged to attend relevant seminars at the department and present the study results at national and international conferences.

Furthermore, the position will involve theoretical studies and training in epidemiology, advanced statistical methods (such as sibling analysis, regression analysis, and survival analysis), and public health.

What do we offer?

Choose to work at KI-Ten reasons why
Career support for doctoral students
International staff

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 place great importance on personal qualities in this recruitment. As a person, you are social, curious, good at project management, independent, and meticulous.

You should be proficient in communicating in English both verbally and in writing, as the research group operates in an international environment where a lot of communication takes place in English. Proficiency in Swedish is an advantage, as part of the position involves working with clinical data collected in Swedish pediatric healthcare, but it is not a requirement.

You should have a background in medicine (especially pediatrics, infectious diseases, public health, and microbiology) or epidemiology, along with experience in clinical patient-related work, leadership, project management skills, and good teamwork abilities. Previous scientific publications are advantageous.

Additionally, skills in programming and/or statistics are desirable, as much of the data processing will be done in statistical programs such as STATA and SAS.

Terms and conditions

The doctoral position entails employment as a doctoral candidate for a maximum of 4 years on a full-time basis. 

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.

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