PhD in geriatric epidemiology, with a focus on complex system approaches to multimorbidity

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 selected candidate will work at ARC, in the research group “Multimorbidity and Frailty in Older Adults” led by associate professor Davide Liborio Vetrano. By recognizing the aging process as a complex and heterogeneous phenomenon, the primary goal of the group is to identify clinically relevant health phenotypes in the older population. By decomposing and combining meaningful health domains – including disease, physical and cognitive functioning – we look for robust models to group people in homogeneous classes. Multimorbidity, frailty, disability and dementia are some of the geriatric syndromes we investigate. These phenotypes can simultaneously serve as targets for personalized prevention and intervention, as well as function as metrics for risk stratification. Much of our research is devoted to the understanding of the biological, clinical and psychosocial determinants of geriatric syndromes, as well as their impact on one’s future health trajectory. In the group, we have a strong interest in statistical methodology, particularly advanced longitudinal methods designed to study aging and multimorbidity. By leveraging both simulation studies and real data applications, we aim to facilitate the use of these methods in aging research by providing open-source software and demonstrating how different methods perform across various study-design scenarios and settings.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

This doctoral position is embedded in project “Understanding frailty towards a future of healthy ageing (UNION)”, funded as a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network. UNION involves ten institutions from five European countries and will provide support to 17 doctoral students for advancing the current understanding of frailty, and providing innovative solutions on how healthy aging can be achieved. UNION is a multidisciplinary and translational project, involving animal experiments and analysis of large clinical cohorts. UNION’s overall goal is to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging that predispose individuals to develop frailty and live a longer residual life in poor health.

The title of this PhD project is “A complex system approach to the mechanisms of disease and function in old age”. The overarching objective of this doctoral project is to explore how various biomarkers of aging interact with each other in longitudinal networks, and establish relationships between biomarkers and networks of diseases and physical and cognitive functional parameters using advanced statistical methods. By understanding the common and distinct mechanisms behind different aging patterns, we aim to uncover new therapeutic strategies to improve the health and quality of life of older adults.

The selected candidate will apply a complex system medicine approach to data from the population-based Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K study). He/she will analyze a pool of aging-related biomarkers in relation with chronic disease progression and development of functional impairment. The student is expected to contribute to the fine tuning of the specific research questions, implement multilayer longitudinal network modelling approaches, and to interpret and put in context their findings. The student is also expected to take doctoral courses, and to actively participate in the scientific events organized at ARC and KI. Please note, for this doctoral position no wet lab expertise is required and no lab experiments will be carried out.

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.

Moreover, specific requirements apply to doctoral positions linked to MSCA-funded projects:

Eligible Researchers: Researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible.

AND

Mobility Rule: Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account. For international European interest organizations, international organizations, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) or an 'entity created under Union law', recruited researchers must not have spent more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date at the same appointing organization.

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 candidate that has the required background and the capability to work in a multidisciplinary team, to be independent and able to take initiatives as well as to find solutions proactively. The applicants must also possess good organizational skills, attention to detail, and excellent written and oral communication skills.

The following skills and personal qualities must be necessarily met:

• Background in statistics, biostatistics, data science, mathematics, bioinformatics or similar.
• Good epidemiology knowledge and demonstrated experience.
• Good statistical knowledge and demonstrated experience.
• Proved experience in conducting biomedical research.
• Proved experience in longitudinal data analysis.
• Excellent programming skills using statistical software (e.g., R, Python etc.).
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
  
  

The following skills and personal qualities are desirable:

• Experience in collaborating with clinicians on medical research questions.
• Experience in conducting research in the field of aging.
• Knowledge of the clinical and societal relevance of geriatric syndromes, including multimorbidity, frailty and dementia.
• Proficiency in the implementation of data dimensionality statistical modelling.
• Proficiency in the implementation of network analysis, possibly multilayer network analysis.
• Proved knowledge and research experience in the field of biomarkers of aging.
• Proved experience in writing and publishing in peer-reviewed journals of high-quality scientific papers.
• Proved experience in finding dissemination (e.g., participation in conferences).
• Studying and/or working experience in an international institution (e.g., Erasmus program etc).
  
  

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.

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