Karolinska Institutet, Institutionen för neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle

The Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) conducts world leading research in aging, dementia, epidemiology and care sciences. This research extends from basic molecular and cell levels to clinical research and societal studies. NVS educates almost a third of KI students at basic and advanced levels. The Department has approximately 540 employees and a revenue 2023 of 530 million SEK. It comprises seven divisions, located at Campus Flemingsberg and Campus Solna.

A doctoral position is an available doctoral education project to which a PhD student is to be recruited. After the selection process the process for admission to doctoral education will commence. An admission decision will not be taken until an individual study plan has been approved by the departmental admission board.

For more information regarding doctoral (PhD) education, see: http://www.ki.se/doctoral

Research group
The research group is located at Karolinska Institutet, campus Huddinge and at SLU in Uppsala. We are currently six PhD students, three post docs, two senior scientists and a professor. The common theme of our research is the study of protein aggregation, in particular in relation to spider silks and amyloid disease. We also have projects in drug development for lung disease.

Our group has developed a method for producing artificial spider silk fibers, and the silk we produce provides excellent support to human pluripotent stem cells. In this project, the student will investigate if artificial spider silk can be used to enable regeneration of spinal cord injuries using ex vivo and in vivo animal models, as well as study the behavior of human fetal progenitor cells when grown

on spider silk matrices. Studies of immunogenicity and local tolerance will also be part of the work. The student may be required to produce the silk proteins in E.coli, perform standard protein chromatography and produce cell culture scaffolds.

The doctoral education project and the duties of the student
The project involves work with animal models and human tissues as well as with human stem cells. The student will culture stem cells in vitro, use PCR and immunostaining techniques to characterize the cells, use human organotypic spinal cord cultures, study regeneration of spinal cord injuries in a rodent model, and study regeneration of myocardial injuries after implantation of spider silk scaffolds and fetal heart progenitor cells in animal models. Possibly, the student will also produce spider silk protein, purify these and make scaffolds for the cell- and animal studies. We work in collaboration with other groups and very interdisciplinary, which demands the student to be independent, creative, have a positive attitude and be collaborative.

Entry requirements for doctoral education at KI
To be eligible for doctoral education following requirements has to be met:

General entry requirements
A person meets the general entry requirements for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education (according to Higher Education Ordinance Chapt 7, section 39) if he/she:

  1. has been awarded advanced/second-cycle/master qualification (i.e. master degree) or
  2. has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle/master level, or
  3. has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Specific entry requirements
Proficiency in English equivalent to the course English B/English 6 at Swedish upper secondary school:
Proficiency in the English language can be documented by an internationally recognized test such as TOEFL or IELTS, see web-link below for more information.
Applicants who meet the general entry requirements (1 or 2 above) from a university in one of the Nordic countries fulfill the requirements in English.

For more information regarding general and specific entry requirements: http://ki.se/en/education/entry-requirements-eligibility-for-doctoral-education

The applicant should have a degree in medicine, biochemistry, biomedicine or similar topic. The successful candidate is expected to have a strong drive to pursue experimental research, and an ambitious and innovative attitude. The project is cross-disciplinary and pursued in collaboration with several research groups, and good collaborative skills are necessary. Previous experience of cell culture and animal studies are considered merits. Emphasis will be put on personal skills in the evaluation process. Very good ability to speak and write English is a requirement.

Assessment criteria
A selection will be made among qualified applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from doctoral education. 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

The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis.

Terms and conditions
The most common way of financial support for doctoral students at KI is doctoral grant the first year and a doctoral studentship (doctoral employment) for year 2, 3 and 4. During the time between recruitment and admission a short-term employment can be offered for up to 6 months.

Application process
An application must contain the following documents in Swedish or English:

  • A personal letter and curriculum vitae
  • A copy of degree certificates and associated certificates
  • A copy of degree projects and any previous publications

The application is to be submitted through the MyNetwork recruitment system.

Type of employment PhD placement
Contract type Full time
Reference number 2-705/2016
Contact
  • Anna Rising (Doc) , anna.rising@ki.se, +46 (0) 70-974 48 88
  • Jan Johansson, (Prof.) , janne.johansson@ki.se, +46 (0)70-345 70 48
Union representative
  • Carina Dahlin, OFR , 08-524 836 92
  • Mathilde Hedlund Lindberg, SACO, 08-524 839 21, mathilde.hedlund-lindberg@ki.se
  • Gunnar Stenberg, Seko, 08-524 880 75
Published 14.Apr.2016
Last application date 28.Apr.2016 11:59 PM CEST

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