Doctoral student position in Epigenetics of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration - 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

Join the dynamic and cooperative group of Prof. Maja Jagodic under the supervision of Dr. Lara Kular at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, which offers the opportunity to contribute to interactive research driven by pertinent clinical questions, combining deep molecular understanding of the mechanisms underlying Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with some of the most competitive clinical materials worldwide. You will benefit from a highly collaborative, engaged and international research environment committed to exploring innovative translational ideas in precision medicine where you will have a possibility to conduct research at the top international level in the field.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

MS is a leading cause of progressive disability in young adults and a highly heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease with respect to its clinical presentation and treatment response. We hypothesize that the study of epigenetic mechanisms will facilitate a better understanding and management of disease development and progression. The successful candidate will contribute to our effort to unveil epigenetic mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in MS using both largescale omics approaches in unique clinical samples in combination with molecular in vivo and in vitro functional experiments. More specifically, the candidate will implement advanced next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies for multi-omic investigation in rare low-input clinical samples, centered on epigenetics particularly DNA methylation, and for biomarker exploration.

Additionally, the candidate will conduct functional investigation in different immune and nervous cellular models (cell lines, ex-vivo, organoid) using traditional and novel tools, such as CRISPR/dCas9-based epigenome editing. The candidate will be trained and will actively participate in all parts of the scientific work including the design and development of molecular and cellular assays, nucleic acid extraction from biological human samples, library construction, data interpretation (data processing and analysis is optional) as well as manuscripts redaction and presentation of the research findings  at international conferences. The successful candidate is expected to interact with many internal and external collaborators and to contribute to the efficient functioning of the unit.

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

Requirements for the position:

• Master in Life Science.
• Excellent documented practical skills in molecular biology techniques (in particular nucleic acid processing and analysis).
• Documented experience with NGS based approaches (preferably in low-input material) for single and multi-omics, such as separate or combined DNA methylation and accessibility, gene expression analysis (RNA-seq) and chromosome conformation capture methods (Hi-C).
• Experience and/or strong interest in method development.
• Experience with in vitro cell culture (human cell lines), tissue culture and epigenome editing tools (CRISPR/dCas9 system).
• Knowledge of mechanisms of gene regulation, in particular epigenetics, in complex human diseases.
• Good command of spoken and written English.
• Professional attitude, ability to adapt to dynamic work environment and collaborate with interdisciplinary research groups.
• Good communication and documentation/reporting.

The additional following skills would be judged favorably:

• Practical and theoretical knowledge of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders.
• Experience with automated liquid handling systems (e.g. TECAN, MANTIS).
• Practical knowledge of immunostaining and fluorescence microscopy.
• Basic bioinformatics skills including familiarity with different pipelines (e.g. nf-core, MultiQC) and packages, particularly for DNA methylation analysis (R studio and Terminal).

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 Department of Clinical Neuroscience here
Read more about the research group you will be part of here

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