Research specialist in respiratory epidemiology

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

The Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, pursues undergraduate education, research education and internationally recognized research focusing on common diseases and injuries. The goal of all activities is to improve human health. We are now looking to recruit a research specialist for a fixed-term position of one year.

Description of the subject area

The research group led by professor Erik Melén, pediatric allergist and genetic epidemiologist, is focused on advancing knowledge about disease etiology and prognosis using a translational approach; from genetics, immunology and mechanisms to environmental and lifestyle factors. Clinically, the group has a major focus on asthma, allergies and lung function. Molecular biomarkers and immune phenotyping methods are used to assess interactions between environmental and hereditary factors, as well as to better characterize environmental exposure and health effects. Many projects are conducted in international collaboration.

Your mission

This project proposal aims at exploring epidemiologic and genetic data to identify risk factors and relevant biomarkers in relation to asthma and lung function in early adulthood. Asthma is a common disease affecting around 10% of the population. Asthma is comprised of several different endotypes and manifests as different phenotypes. However, the underlying risk factors associated with these clinical phenotypes are not well studied, and there is an unmet need to understand lung function development in relation to genetics, environmental factors and health parameters. The proposed projects will be conducted within our ongoing population-based birth cohort BAMSE . Replication attempts, when applicable, will be done in independent cohorts.

The research specialist will take the leading role in performing advanced statistical data analyses to explore genetic, biomarker and clinical data in the project. Causal modelling approaches will be used.

Eligibility requirements

For employment as Research Specialist at Karolinska Institutet, the eligibility requirements stated in the Guidelines for non-teaching positions at Karolinska Institutet are applied in relation to the established profile of employment.

To be eligible for employment as a Research Specialist, in addition to holding a Degree of Doctor, PhD, or having a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a Swedish doctoral degree, the applicant must have demonstrated research expertise as well as have documented postdoctoral research experience.

Assessment criteria

It is particularly meritorious that the applicant has shown

• A genuine interest in research and an inner drive to understand biological problems as well as clinical relevance.
• Previous research experience in the respiratory field
• Experience from a wide range of methods used in epidemiology and biostatistics
• Experience from large-scale genetics analyses, including genome sequencing data
• Knowledge of R, STATA (or similar programs) and large-scale data management

It is meritorious that the applicant has shown

• Experience in multi-omics data, immunology and bioinformatics analysis (e.g. pathway analysis)

After an overall assessment of the expertise and merits of the applicants in relation to the subject area, Karolinska Institutet will determine which of them has the best potential to contribute to a positive development of the activities at KI.

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. Here, 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: Södersjukhuset, Stockholm

Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset | Karolinska Institutet

Group Melén

Application

We prefer that Your application is written in English, but You can also apply in Swedish. An application must contain the following documents:  PhD certificate, resumé, qualifications and description of planned research, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet's qualifications portfolio.

Welcome to apply at the latest August 18, 2025. 

The application must be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.

Permanent position is initiated by a six months trial period.

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