Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Medicine/Center for Infectious Medicine(CIM)

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.

We are recruiting a doctoral (PhD) student. For more information regarding doctoral education at Karolinska Institutet (KI), see:

http://ki.se/en/phd/about-doctoral-education-at-ki

Research group
The Department of Medicine at Karolinska Institutet’s Huddinge Campus comprises seven units, three research centers, and around 70 independent research groups. The Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM) is a research unit within the Department of Medicine Huddinge with a focus on translational studies of the human immune system and infection-immunity in humans. CIM has since its inauguration in 2002 rapidly grown and gained national and international recognition. The vision is to be one of the leading translational research centers within immunity and infectious diseases in Europe.

The research group where the announced position will be placed is headed by Dr. Jonas Klingström. The group studies hantaviruses and the diseases they cause (http://ki.se/en/medh/jonas-klingstrom-group). The studies are translational, combining experimental virology, molecular biology and immunology with analyses of patient material.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student
The planned doctoral student project will be focused on molecular mechanisms of hantavirus pathogenesis and to a large extent involves in vitro experiments. The doctoral student will investigate how hantaviruses interact and interfere with infected and bystander cells with the aim of identifying novel virus-host interactions relevant for pathogenesis. Particularly the project will focus on viral interactions with host cell stress pathways, including analyzing stress granule formation.

The project involves the following tasks: Culture of primary human cells; infection with hantaviruses; transfections of cells with plasmids and siRNA; handling, manipulations, and sampling of infected and transfected cells; basic and advanced imaging, such as immuno-fluorescence, confocal microscopy, FISH, live-imaging, and analysis of data from imaging techniques; Western blot; qRT-PCR; ELISA and multiplex. In addition, the successful candidate will analyse patient samples for viral and inflammatory markers.

The student is expected to independently move the project forward in all its parts after appropriate supervision. This will involve designing, planning and executing experiments, and analysis of data. We are searching for a highly motivated and ambitious doctoral candidate that can work in a team as well as independently. Oral and written presentations and reports, in English, are mandatory elements of the studies.

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
Besides the general entry requirements, the applicant should have specific knowledge within cell biology, virology, and cell culture work. To qualify, the applicant must have a background in microbiology (e.g. Master’s degree in Microbiology, molecular biology, or similar) with experience in basic cell biology and virology techniques, including immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy and FISH.

Of special merit will be previous experience from work with viruses, especially hantaviruses, in a BSL3-classified laboratory, and experience in analyses of stress granules. The applicant should have excellent communication skills and a strong interest in interacting with other group members as well as with clinical and research collaborators.

Moreover, the candidate should be highly motivated, have good communication skills, and the ability to interact effectively and work productively in a team of international researchers.

Fluency in English is a requirement.

Emphasis will be placed on technical competence, past experience with working in a BSL3-classified laboratory and with hantaviruses, as well as personal suitability.

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
First day of employment May, 2019
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100 %
City Huddinge
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number 2-2075/2019
Contact
  • Jonas Klingström, jonas.klingstrom@ki.se
Union representative
  • Belinda Pannagel, SACO, belinda.pannagel@ki.se
  • Carina Eklund, OFR, 08-585 826 65
Published 04.Apr.2019
Last application date 25.Apr.2019 11:59 PM CEST

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