Doctoral (PhD) student position in omics and phenotypic data integration in the context of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus - 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 doctoral student will work with Lina M. Diaz-Gallo's team (https://ki.se/en/people/lina-diaz). Our team aims to uncover patterns across heterogeneous autoimmune diseases by integrating diverse data domains, such as genetics and genomics, with the ultimate goal of contributing to developing better treatment strategies. We identified subgroups of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and myositis with different genetic risk factors and immunological profiles, thus, with divergent pathological mechanisms. We are now interested in validating and characterizing those subgroups of patients.

Diaz-Gallo’s team belongs to the research groups of Professor Elisabet Svenungsson and Associated Professor Leonid Padyukov . We are part of the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet. The team is located at the Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), which has a multidisciplinary and cooperative environment.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

This project aims to replicate and characterize the previously identified subgroups of patients with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to understand how different the patients are among those subgroups and suggest which could be the specific pathogenic pathways of each subgroup. The student will develop analytical pipelines using bioinformatic tools for genetics, proteomics, and phenotypical data to achieve this. The candidate will contribute to coordinate the collaboration with the different centers, implying interaction with multidisciplinary and multicultural backgrounds. The student is expected to plan analyses (with supervision), write reports, and present data at group meetings and conferences. The student will work on independent projects but will also have the possibility to collaborate with other group members.

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, driven, inquisitive, enthusiastic person interested in our area of research—a person with a critical and creative mind and a problem-solving attitude. The candidate must have experience as an applied bioinformatician (for more than a year). The education should be in biomedicine or similar. Education in bioinformatics or similar is desirable. The ability to design analytical pipelines rigorously is required. Knowledge of R or Python is required. Knowledge of high-performance computing is desirable. We would like someone with experience with analytical tools for human genetics or genomics (such as GWAS, genome sequencing, or single-cell omics). It would be advantageous for the candidate to have experience in scientific communication (oral or written), interacting with people from diverse backgrounds, and a cooperative attitude.

Terms and conditions

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

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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.

Location

The position is located within the Department of Medicine, Solna. The department consists of eleven divisions and each division consists of several research groups. The position is located within the research group of Professor Elisabet Svenungsson: https://ki.se/en/meds/research-group-elisabet-svenungsson and Associated Professor Leonid Padyukov:  https://ki.se/en/research/groups/genetics-of-autoimmune-diseases-team-leonid-padyukov#tab-members-and-contact

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