Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medicine, Solna, Cardiovascular medicine division

The Department of Medicine, Solna, is one of the largest departments at Karolinska Institutet. The department consists of several divisions that are separated into different research groups. The core activities of the department are research, doctoral education and undergraduate education for medical and biomedical students. The research has three main profiles: allergy, cardiovascular medicine and inflammatory diseases.

A doctoral student is admitted to third-cycle/doctoral education. A doctoral education consists of supervised research, combined with courses and other educational activities. An individual study plan is established for each doctoral student. For a doctoral degree, the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral education is required.

Research group
The project will be performed in close collaboration between the team of Ewa Ehrenborg (professor) in the Cardiovascular theme at BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital (Solna); Paolo Parini (professor) and Paolo Garagnani (associate professor) at the Lipo-Group Research Constellation, Karolinska University Hospital (Huddinge).

Together, this will bring together a wide range of competences – encompassing advanced molecular and cell biology, cardio metabolic genetics, transcriptional ad epigenetic regulation, functional analysis of genetic variants and cardiovascular biology – for the student to learn from.

The project will mainly be pursued at BioClinicum, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna but also at Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge and at the University of Bologna.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student
The overall aim of this doctoral project is to delineate how the insulin sensitizer metformin influence different autophagy pathways involved in longevity and diseases of ageing such as cardiovascular diseases. The translational approach of this project includes both mechanistic and descriptive studies based on results from unique biobanks. Indeed, the project involves a wide variety of state-of-the-art techniques from cell/tissue culture, cell and molecular biology, confocal imaging to statistical analysis of complex biological data. The student will under supervision plan and perform experiments, analyse data, interpret and present the results and write scientific papers. The doctoral student will work independently formulating new hypotheses and critically evaluate results, but also interact closely with other researchers, PhD students and clinicians in cardiovascular medicine and other disciplines.

The applicant is expected to be a talented and enthusiastic aspiring researcher with strong drive to perform translational research. He or she is expected to develop into an independent scientist whom can play a leading role in the elaboration of scientific hypothesis, experimental design, experimentation, data analysis and presentation/publication of the research.

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
We are looking for a highly motivated person with innovative thinking and some knowledge in the research field of cardiovascular disease, aging, metabolism and/or autophagy. The applicant should have a solid background in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology. Also, knowledge of basic statistics and laboratory experience in cell culture, immunological and molecular biology techniques is an advantage. Good communication skills and fluency in the English language, written and spoken are required. Applications are welcomed from ambitious and committed students with a good ability to work efficiently as part of a team.

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

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.

KI 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.

Type of employment PhD placement
Contract type Full time
Reference number 2-1807/2019
Contact
  • Ewa Ehrenborg, Professor, +46 70 788 61 91
Union representative
  • Biborka Bereczky Veress, SACO, +46 70 173 85 75
  • Niklas Andersson, OFR, niklas.andersson@ki.se
Published 26.Mar.2019
Last application date 15.Apr.2019 11:59 PM CEST

Return to job vacancies