Postdoctoral Researcher in Behaviour Genetics and Twin Modelling - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

Prof. David Mataix-Cols' research group works to improve the lives of individuals with psychiatric conditions through understanding their genesis and developing evidence-based treatments. Our work is collaborative and involves other investigators at Karolinska Institutet (e.g. Profs. Paul Lichtenstein, Lorena Fernández de la Cruz, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Christian Rück, and Sven Bölte), as well as internationally (e.g. Prof Jan Beucke, MSH Medical School Hamburg, Dr. James Crowley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).

Your mission

A major theme in our research is to understand how environmental factors act together with genetic factors to increase the risk of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders, such as Tourette syndrome, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or Hoarding Disorder.

The overall aim of this 2-year postdoctoral project is to identify environmental risk factors that are in the causal pathway to OCD through within-pair comparisons of discordant monozygotic (MZ) twins. We have begun an ambitious project (called OCDTWIN) to create the world’s first cohort of MZ twin pairs where at least one of its members has a confirmed diagnosis of OCD. A wealth of data, including clinical assessments, biological specimens, MRI scans, and early life exposures (through linkage with the nationwide registers and the Swedish Twin Registry) are available and continuously collected for MZ twin pairs across Sweden.  

In addition to a myriad of potentially relevant environmental risk factors, the Swedish Twin Register also includes a wealth of information on related phenotypes, such as tics, body dysmorphic concerns and hoarding. Data from thousands of participants are already available for analysis. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to generate their own ideas about how to make the most of this wealth of data. It represents a unique opportunity for an ambitious post-doctoral fellow to rapidly publish high-quality scientific papers in this under-researched field.

Your profile

To be eligible for employment as a postdoctor a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree is required. This eligibility requirement must be fulfilled at the latest at the time of the employment decision. It is considered as an advantage if you have completed your doctoral degree within the last three years, if there are special reasons, your degree may have been completed earlier.

You are required to be experienced in behaviour genetic methods and twin modelling. The position requires documented experience using structural equation modelling software (Mx, OpenMx, or similar). Applicants not meeting these requirements will not be considered.

Experience using R, Python, Stata, SAS or similar statistical software will be an advantage. In addition to these requirements, it is of merit to have prior experience with register-based research and to have studied OCD and related disorders.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement.

Location: Solna 

Read more about David Mataix-Cols's research group here.

Read more about our collaborating research groups here and here.

Application

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

A complete resumé, including date of the thesis defence, title of the thesis, previous academic positions, academic title, current position, academic distinctions, and committee work A complete list of publications A summary of current work (no more than one page)

Welcome to apply at the latest 2022-12-01.

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

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