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 research group is headed by Kristina Broliden who is a specialist doctor in clinical virology and Professor in infectious diseases at the Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet. Her projects are devoted to HIV research and studies on viral infections in immunosuppressed patients and the research group comprises about 15 students and scientists. The group is part of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student
The HIV pandemic continues to be a major global health challenge. There is emerging evidence that the human genital microbiome impacts HIV-infection risk, but the molecular mechanisms for this is still unclear. The first part of the program will therefore include characterization of the female genital microbiome for its molecular effects on the cervical mucosa. Furthermore, the human gut microbiome also influences some of the most important clinical complications of HIV infection, including immune disorders, chronic inflammation and accelerated aging. The second part of the program will therefore include characterization of the gut microbiome for its molecular effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa and corresponding implications for HIV replication and clinical complications in HIV-infected individuals. The overall project will thus focus on which molecular alterations may contribute to mucosal barrier defects, and thereby increased HIV-infection risk, as well as clinical complications in those already infected.

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.

Skills and personal qualities
The doctoral student is required to have a deep knowledge in bioinformatics, as the project will generate large sets of data from multi-omics techniques. It is also expected that the student have good knowledge in the field of the human microbiome, preferably as a subject of a previous or ongoing master thesis. Excellent knowledge in medical statistics is an additional merit. The project will require a student who is prepared to spend several months or a semester in a foreign laboratory to work with a research database generated by a number of international collaborators.

Terms and conditions
The doctoral student will be employed on a doctoral studentship maximum 4 years full-time.

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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.

Your application should contain the following documents:

- A personal letter and a curriculum vitae (Swedish or English)
- Degree projects and previous publications, if any (Swedish or English)
- Any other documentation showing the desirable skills and personal qualities described above (Swedish or English)
- 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 Department of Medicine, Sona, consists of twelve divisions and each division consists of several research groups. The position is located within the research group of Professor Broliden at the Bioclinicum research laboratory, Karolinska University Hospital, Campus Solna.

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

Type of employment PhD placement
Contract type Full time
Reference number 2-1600/2020
Contact
  • Kristina Broliden, Professer, +46 8 5177 60 45
Union representative
  • Afsar Rahbar OFR, Afsar.Rahbar@ki.se
  • Louisa Cheung, SACO, Louisa.Cheung@ki.se
Published 31.Mar.2020
Last application date 09.Apr.2020 11:59 PM CEST

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