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

Description of research groups and projects

Our breast cancer epidemiology group comprises 2 professors, 4 postdocs, and 4 PhD-students. The group has a vast international collaboration and frequently interacts with European, Singaporean and US groups. The present thesis will aim at identifying women at elevated risk of developing interval breast cancer and also at understanding the genetic processes behind the aggressive development of these cancers. For most women, mammography screening is a good mean for early detection and reduced mortality. However about 20% of all breast cancers occur symptomatically between screening rounds. These interval cancers are likely constituted by a mixture of aggressive tumors that have developed rapidly to the symptomatic phase and less aggressive tumors that have been missed at the previous screening. We believe that efforts should focus on how to identify women at high risk for interval cancers so that screening approaches can be modified.

 

Duties and responsibilities

Under supervision, the PhD student will be responsible for literature review, data analysis, result interpretation, scientific article writing and data presentation. Our specific studies are: 1) Inherited genetic variants as well as other risk factors (hormonal, life-style) associated with interval breast cancers; 2) Mammographic features and interval breast cancers; 3) Tumor characteristics and prognosis of interval breast cancers and 4) Mutation patterns of interval breast cancers and their implications for prognosis. Your supervisors have a broad expertise in cancer epidemiology, clinical oncology, biostatistics and molecular techniques.



Entry requirements
To meet the general entry requirements for third-cycle studies, an applicant must have

1. taken a second-cycle qualification

2. completed course requirements for at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or

3. otherwise acquired essentially the same knowledge in or outside Sweden.

The applicant should have a background in biomedicine at large. A background in clinical medicine is a plus.

An applicant who met the general entry requirements for third-cycle studies before 1 July 2007 is regarded as having met the current requirements, though no longer than until the end of June 2015.

Furthermore, English proficiency is required, for details see http://www.ki.se/doctoral/admission

A selection will be made among qualified applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from third-cycle studies. 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 third-cycle studies in the subject

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

A decision concerning the doctoral student position will be made after admission to third-cycle studies. For additional information about third-cycle studies at Karolinska Institutet, see http://www.ki.se/doctoral.  

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

  • A personal letter and curriculum vitae
  • A copy of a degree certificate and associated certificates
  • A copy of a degree project and any previous publications

The application is to be submitted on the NetRecruiter system.

Type of employment PhD placement
Contract type Full time
Reference number 3-2867/2013
Contact
  • Prof. Kamila Czene, email: kamila.czene@ki.se , 08-524 86144
Union representative
  • Ann Almqvist, OFR, 08-524 861 99
  • Gunnar Stenberg, SEKO, 08-524 880 75
  • Ulrika Zagai, SACO, 08--524 871 84
Published 04.Nov.2013
Last application date 29.Nov.2013 11:59 PM CET

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