Doctoral position in health data science

Do you want to contribute to improving human 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 research group

The Department of Global Public Health is an interdisciplinary institution that aims to advance knowledge on how to improve population health at local, national and global level. Research at the department aims to identify the determinants of health, develop and evaluate individual and structural interventions, and provide evidence for guidelines and policy documents. Many of the department's researchers are scientific advisors to authorities and other decision-makers at regional, national and international level. The department has 12 research groups, about 120 research students and about 140 employees.

The position is placed in the Climate Extremes & Population Health team in PRIME (Prevention, Intervention and Mechanisms in Public Health) research group. We lead major national and international projects on how climate extremes affect population health, focusing on three key areas: vulnerability, adaptation and future risks.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

Seasonal changes of climate conditions have been associated with increased transmission of mosquito-borne viral diseases, such as West Nile Virus and Dengue, yet the impact of climate extremes in their spread is less understood. The PhD project will focus on the role of climate extremes in modulating the spread and frequency of diseases transmitted by the Culex Pipiens (e.g. West Nile Virus), Aedes (e.g. Dengue) and Anopheles (Malaria) mosquito species in Africa and Europe. The specific objectives are to:

• examine the main climatic and socioeconomic (e.g. age, income and gender) drivers of the spread of vector borne diseases using time series approaches.
• develop complex models to represent the causal interactions between wet, dry, hot, and cold extremes, infected mosquitos, mosquito-borne viral diseases cases, environment (e.g. land use type) and socioeconomic conditions (e.g. age, income, distance to health centre, water access), and policy responses.

This doctoral position is embedded in the project “Understanding and Predicting Impacts of Climate Extremes under Global Change”, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network (grant agreement No. 101226348). The project’s international consortium is coordinated by Uppsala University and it will start on 1st of March.

You will be part of a leading cohort of early-career researchers studying different aspects of impacts of climate extremes in Europe, from public health to societal perspectives and agricultural impacts, and will have access to a rich programme of training activities and research exchanges. These are designed to enhance your career prospects in both academia and the private sector. You will also be affiliated to the Swedish Centre for Impacts of Climate Extremes (CLIMES). You will be based at Karolinska Institutet, but as part of your duties, you will be required to complete two in-person international secondments (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium and Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Region Italy) and attend international meetings.

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.

C) Specific eligibility requirement for MSCA Doctoral Network

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.

Skills and personal qualities

• The candidate must hold a master degree in computer and data science, statistics, mathematics, or related disciplines.
• Documented experience of data science is required.
• Experience in analysing large-scale data, along with advanced programming skills in R and/or Python (or other relevant languages), is required.
• Fluent knowledge in written and spoken English is mandatory.
• Experience with large scale climate or health data is a merit.

We put great importance on personal qualities in this recruitment. As a person, you are curious, highly motivated and persistent. You demonstrate a degree of independence and problem-solving skills. You are collaborative and have good communication skills

Terms and conditions

The doctoral student will be employed on a doctoral studentship maximum 4 years full-time.

Location: Solna.

Startdate: Spring 2026.

Application process

You must submit your application both through the Varbi recruitment system and through the job application platform here: EURAXESS

In 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 (max 1 page, please summarize how your previous training and work makes you suitable for the position) and a curriculum vitae (Swedish or English)
- Degree projects and previous publications, if any (Swedish or English)
- Any other documentation showing the desirable skills and personal qualities described above (Swedish or English)
- 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.

Based on the application material, a short-list of candidates will be drawn. The short-listed candidates will be interviewed in digital format and references will be collected.

All applicants will be informed when the recruitment is completed.

Read more about the Department of Global Public Health.

Read more about the Climate Extremes & Population Health Science team.

Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all