Karolinska Institutet, MEB

The Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics conducts research in epidemiology and biostatistics across a broad range of areas within biomedical science. The department is among the largest of its type in Europe and has especially strong research profiles in psychiatric, cancer, reproductive, pediatric, pharmaco, genetic, and geriatric epidemiology, eating disorders, precision medicine, and biostatistics.

Part of the success of our department is due to our collaborative spirit where one factor is that researchers at the Department share and co-finance common resources (e.g., IT and an applied biostatistics group). The department is situated at campus Solna. Further information can be found at http://ki.se/en/meb

About the KI Psychiatric Genomics Institute (KI-PGI)

In 2014, the Swedish Research Council awarded a “Grant for international recruitment of leading researchers" to Prof Patrick Sullivan to establish the KI-PGI at MEB (ki.se/pgi). This 10 year award is meant to establish a high quality research programme focused on psychiatric genomics. Psychiatric genomics has achieved unprecedented advances. After a century of uncertain progress and debate about the nature of severe psychiatric disorders, we now possess extraordinary new knowledge about the fundamental genetic architectures. A decade ago, there was perhaps one solid finding for schizophrenia, and there are now over 130 loci that meet consensus criteria for significance and replication. Work in progress is likely to increase this number substantially.

The overall goal of the KI-PGI is to systematically evaluate the epidemiological, molecular, and cellular effects of these loci. The research is highly trans-disciplinary with deep collaborations within the KI, Sweden, Europe, the US, and Australia. Multiple large data collection efforts have been based at MEB, and new efforts are in progress. 

Description of the work

The overarching goals of the KI-PGI are: (a) on a population scale, how do genes and environment act and interact to modify risk for the cardinal psychiatric disorders? (b) By what molecular and cellular mechanisms do these genes act?

We have data from large case-control studies of schizophrenia, and all subjects have been comprehensively evaluated with genome-wide association arrays, copy number variation, exome array, and whole exome sequencing. Larger studies are in progress. For example, a new schizophrenia study with the aim to include at least 5000 additional patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder is ongoing, the Swedish schizophrenia study – S3 (ki.se/s3). An initiative to aggregate and analyze existing genomic data from a large number of Swedes has been started (the GAPS consortium, Genomic Aggregation Project in Sweden). We are extremely interested in integrating genomic findings in the context of Swedish population epidemiological studies.

For more information, please see PubMed IDs 23974872 24776740 24463508 25056061 22777127.


Entry requirements


A person is eligible for a position as Postdoctoral Researcher if he or she has obtained a PhD no more than seven years before the last date of employment as postdoc.

Applicants should have a PhD degree in epidemiology, biostatistics, or genetics, as well as substantial experience in high-level analysis of multiple types of modern genomic datasets (e.g., genome-wide association, exome sequencing, whole genome sequencing, RNA-sequencing). Modern genomics also requires proven skills in programming (e.g., R and PERL), use of standard software packages (e.g., PLINK, IMPUTE/MACH, GATK), flexibly manipulating large datasets, and bioinformatic integration, and pathway analysis.

An in-depth knowledge of complex trait genomics is very important. Specific knowledge of psychiatric genomics (particularly for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, or major depressive disorder) is similarly crucial. Knowledge of the principles of GxE analysis is important.

The appointment will be for 2 years, with a possible extension after evaluation.

Personal characteristics

The applicant should be highly collegial, experienced in working in “team science” contexts, possess exceptional organizational skills, know how to successfully multitask, and should be able to describe past examples of having developed structured approaches to solving unanticipated and complex problems. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are required, along with ample experience with writing and publishing research articles in English.


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

  1. A complete curriculum vitae, including date of the thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions, and committee work
  2. A complete list of publications
  3. A summary of current work (no more than one page)
  4. Verifications for crediting of illness, military service, work for labour unions or student organisations, parental leave or similar circumstances
  5. Verification from the thesis defence committee or the equivalent (only if the thesis defence is scheduled within three months after the application deadline)

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

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment According to agreement
Salary Monthly
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Stockholm
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number 2-2839/2016
Contact
  • Anna Kähler, PhD, Project Manager, anna.kahler@ki.se
  • Patrick Sullivan, Professor, patrick.sullivan@ki.se
Union representative
  • Ann Almqvist, OFR, 08-524 861 99
  • Ulrika Zagai, SACO, 08--524 871 84, ulrika.zagai@ki.se
  • Henry Wölling, SEKO, 08-524 840 80, henry.wolling@ki.se
Published 30.Jun.2016
Last application date 14.Aug.2016 11:59 PM CEST

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