Doctoral (PhD) student position in vaccinology - 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 Department of Medicine, Solna, is one of the largest departments at Karolinska Institutet. The department consists of several units that are separated into different research groups. The core activities of the department are research, doctoral education and undergraduate education for medical and biomedical students. The research has three main profiles: allergy, cardiovascular medicine and inflammatory diseases.

The Division of Immunology and Allergy at the Department of Medicine, Solna performs research on different aspect of allergy, immunology, and autoimmune diseases. The research group where the announced position will be placed is headed by Professor Karin Loré. The group is one of 5 independent groups active at the Division. Our research group is studying the immune mechanisms of vaccination. One focus in our group is how the B cell immune responses can be enhanced by new vaccine antigen display methods as well as different adjuvants. Recently we introduced a new line of research specifically addressing characteristics such as the diversity and degree of mutation of B cell clones induced by vaccination.

We are now seeking a highly motivated individual to join the group to work on a project on evaluating the antibody repertoires after vaccination to RSV vaccination in different cohorts.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The project aims at understanding the induction and function of critical B cell responses induced after RSV vaccination. By using specialized computational tools, sequences of antibody transcripts after vaccination will be studied in depth to identify dominant B cell clones and levels of affinity maturation. The work will also include cloning of selected antibodies to test for potency. The project has a special focus on the development of RSV-specific B cell responses to the novel vaccine platform virus-like particles for multimeric presentation of vaccine antigen as well as mRNA vaccines. The studies will include work with primary immune cells using molecular approaches to extract genetic information to be assessed by bioinformatic analyses. The studies will include both animal and patient specimens.

The PhD student will learn to use and employ state-of-the-art methodology as well as unique materials to test novel hypotheses. The methods include tissue processing, multi-parameter flow cytometry, RNA/DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing approaches as well as antibody cloning. The studies also include live virus neutralization assays. A considerate proportion of work entails computational tools for bioinformatic analyses of large data sets of genetic information.

The PhD student is expected to join research-related activities such as group meetings, departmental seminars, national/international meetings, as well as take part in routine work within our research team. Finally, the PhD student will work to fulfill the course requirements of the PhD program as outlined in the relevant rules and documentation available at the ki.se website

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

For this PhD project we are seeking a highly motivated person with a strong desire to study the effects of vaccination on the immune system. The successful applicant should be self-motivated, needs to be fluent in English, have excellent communication skills and the ability to interact effectively and work productively in a team. Merit is previous lab experience in laboratories involved in related work and experience of international collaborations. Great advantage is experience in utilizing computational tools for analyses of antibody transcripts as well as performing live neutralization assays.

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.

Location

The position is located within the Department of Medicine, Solna. The department consists of twelve divisions and each division consists of several research groups. The position is located within the research group of Professor Karin Loré. https://ki.se/en/meds/research-group-karin-lore-immunology-and-allergy

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