Doctoral (PhD) student position within the project: Sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people: how does digitalization in healthcare services impact on accessibility, content and quality of care? - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to better health for all?

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 PhD student will be part of the Global and Sexual Health research group (Glosh) KI. The research project is a collaboration between KI and Region Stockholm’s Centre for Epidemiology and Community Medicine (CES), and more specifically CES´s unit for SRHR.

The Global and Sexual Health research group (GloSH)

The research at the department of Global Public Health at KI is conducted in areas such as global health, public health epidemiology, healthcare services, prevention and health promotion, and social medicine. The PhD student will be part of the (GloSH) at the Department of Global Health at KI. The research group works interdisciplinary with a focus on various aspects of SRHR such as youth health, prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, contraceptives, unsafe abortions, gender equality, gender-based violence, health economics and e-health. Our researchers have broad experience in both quantitative and qualitative study design and implementation research. 

The Centre for epidemiology and community medicine (CES) within Region Stockholm

CES is an intermediary Research and Development (R&D) organization that engages in epidemiological surveillance and aids public authorities within Region Stockholm. It employs about 80 epidemiologists, statisticians and public health experts with extensive experience in epidemiologic studies and analyses of healthcare data in Stockholm County. The Centre has close links to the Region Stockholm’s health service system, thus granting more effective translation of research findings into clinical practice. The SRHR Unit within CES has regional responsibility for public health issues within SRHR, and employs several analysts and a statistician. 

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The overall aim of the doctoral project is to examine quality and equity aspects of digital healthcare (e.g video-consultations, chat, phone calls, self-tests) for sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people within primary care (e.g. youth clinics, midwifery clinics). To this aim, the doctoral student will analyse large scale quantitative data on healthcare use (e.g. health care visits, clinical diagnoses, prescribed medications) in Stockholm County from regional registers available to us. Part of the project will also involve qualitative data collection and analysis, with a focus on young people´s perspectives of digital SRHR care. The project strives to understand how digitalization in healthcare services for SRHR of young people, which has been accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, might have influenced the accessibility, content and quality of SRHR related care (e.g. prescriptions and consultations for contraceptives, prevention of gender-based violence and sexually transmitted infections, consultations for sexual and reproductive ill-health).

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 doctoral candidate that already possesses and wants to further develop her/his skills in quantitative data analysis and epidemiology, in parallel with obtaining a breadth in public health research that will include qualitative methods. We also look for a candidate that will be especially interested in the areas of healthcare research, digital healthcare, and SRHR of young people. You need to be structured, analytical, ambitious and have very good collaboration skills. Excellent knowledge of English language is a requirement, as well as previous experience in quantitative data analysis. Good knowledge of Swedish language is also requirement, while experience of work with SRHR or digital healthcare is meritorious.  

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.

Read more about the Department of Global Public Health 

Read more about CES

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