Doctoral student in computational pathology - 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 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

This PhD program is anchored within the prostate cancer research environment at Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (MEB) and the research group for colorectal surgery at Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (MMK). The doctoral student will be employed at MEB, but is expected to work actively in both research groups in this collaborative project. The involved research groups have a solid track record of performing innovative and impactful research, spanning world-quality data sources, innovative clinical trials, cutting edge genomics, as well as machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) for advancing prostate cancer and colorectal cancer diagnostics and treatment. We offer a highly interdisciplinary and vibrant research environment at the international forefront of developing and implementing precision medicine strategies for improving diagnostics and treatment.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The work aims at improving cancer care, with a focus on colorectal cancer, by developing AI techniques for digital pathology data. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide, having caused over 900,000 deaths in 2020, and is likely to continue to be a significant global burden in the future. Management of the disease benefits from research on multiple angles, including improving prevention, diagnostics, treatment, and aetiological understanding.

Research in utilizing AI as a medical tool is becoming prominent in many contexts, including detection, diagnostics, prognostics and treatment of cancer. The work aims at developing AI and image analysis algorithms to analyze high-resolution digital images of tissue specimens, together with genomics data, in order to improve histopathological diagnostics and prognostics of colorectal cancer. Moreover, the project includes development of image processing and AI methods with wider applicability in other disease types and computational pathology applications, such as tissue detection and uncertainty estimation algorithms.

The doctoral student is expected to build an in-depth understanding of state-of-the-art AI and image analysis methodology and to absorb a necessary level of medical and histopathological knowledge while working as a part of an interdisciplinary team of scientists and clinicians. The position of a doctoral student involves taking an active role in driving your own research projects, with guidance from the supervisor team, and in preparing scientific research articles for publication.

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

The applicant is expected to possess the following skills and experience:

• Strong problem-solving and mathematical skills and an interest and capacity to deeply understand the algorithmic foundations of AI and image analysis methods.
• Strong programming skills, particularly in Python, and software development experience (e.g. version control and dependency management tools).
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
  
  

The following skills and experience are considered meriting:

• Experience of analysing digital pathology data and familiarity with whole slide image file formats and tools (e.g. OpenSlide, Bioformats, QuPath, Cytomine).
• Experience of AI and image analysis frameworks e.g.PyTorch, TensorFlow, OpenCV.
• Knowledge of other programming languages used in image analysis and biostatistics (e.g. MATLAB, R).
• Expertise in data management, databases and registries, in particular with clinical data.
• Experience of conducting cancer research in an interdisciplinary setting and communicating with clinicians and researchers.

We attach great importance to personal qualities in this recruitment. The applicant should be highly collegial and be able to work well in a cross-disciplinary team as well as having the ability to work independently. Further, the applicant should possess exceptional organizational skills and know how to successfully multitask. The applicant should have excellent analytical skills, possess curiosity and creativity, and have capacity to take responsibility for research projects together with the supervisor.

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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