The Department of Laboratory Medicine consists of 7 divisions and is active in many areas of Laboratory Medicine. The department is involved in advanced basic scientific, clinical and epidemiological research. The department is one of the largest departments of education at Karolinska Institutet.

A PhD position is now available within the the Division of Clinical Physiology.
This doctoral position is funded by the Marie Skodowska-Curie Action, Innovative Training Networks (MSCA-ITN) within the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union.

Division of clinical physiology and the research group
The PhD position is available at the Division of Clinical Physiology, within the research team led by Dr. Mikael Altun. The division of clinical physiology of clinical aims to increase awareness of the link between physical activity and health, and the causes of impaired body function such as muscle wasting during disease or aging. Our research is conducted in close collaboration with the clinical physiology department at the Karolinska University Hospital.

The biological focus within the research team is the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) in basic and translational aspects. In addition, our efforts are concentrated on developing novel molecular, chemical, and biophysical technologies to gain insight into complex cellular processes, such as sensor systems for cellular target engagement to state-of-the-art molecular biology tools. A spin-off with translational potential is to “hijack” the UPS for targeted protein degradation with small molecules or PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras), which have the potential to create novel therapeutic strategies.

We work in a cross-disciplinary fashion ranging from close interaction with clinicians to close collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry. This give the members of the laboratory the opportunity to work close to the patients, develop their skills to understand the needs at the clinic, and to conduct cutting-edge academic research with the state-of-the-art technologies, while we are developing novel treatments of the future. In addition, Dr. Altun is a Faculty member at the Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), a major hub for Sweden’s national bioscience infrastructures.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student
The overall aim of the PhD program will be to understand targeted degradation and create state-of-the-art tools and sensors that can unravel drug or e.g. hormone interaction in cancer, where the student will be able to apply the technologies created within the ITN-CANCERPREV program. The candidate will have the opportunity within the CANCERPREV to get a deep understanding in inflammation and cancer biology.

In the laboratory of Dr. Altun, the candidate will be;

  • trained in basic research within ubiquitin biology
  • trained in translational research
  • part of the next generation drug development
  • part of collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry and,
  • exposed to the clinical needs through the close interaction with the Karolinska University Hospital


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 (below).

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.*

*If you claim equivalent knowledge, follow the instructions on the web page; Assessing equivalent knowledge for general eligibility for doctoral education.

https://education.ki.se/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.
https://education.ki.se/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.

Additional requirements for the MSCA-ITN, skills and personal qualities
To be eligible for MSCA‐ITN funding the candidate needs to meet the following criteria:

The candidate cannot have resided in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date, and not have carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in that country. At the date of recruitment, the candidate needs to be an ‘early stage researcher’ (i.e. in the first four years of his/her research career and not have a doctoral degree).

Additionally, the candidate should have a great understanding of molecular and cellular biology and be highly motivated and passionate towards his/her projects and also have demonstrated ability to;

1) understand and process new information
2) apply the scientific method, and
3) have an excellent command of the English language, both written and spoken.

The ability to generate experimental hypotheses is an advantage, although not required.

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

For more information regarding doctoral (PhD) education, see:
https://education.ki.se/about-doctoral-education-at-ki

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: Flemingsberg, KI South Campus

For further information:
https://staff.ki.se/people/mikalt?_ga=2.91725917.676631192.1581348347-1497608805.1567501202

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. The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet selects the Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine.

Karolinska Institutet strives to provide a workplace that has approximately the same number of women and men, is free of discrimination and offers equal opportunity to everyone.

Pursuant to the regulations of the Swedish National Archives, applications are kept on file for two years after the appointment has gained legal force. The regulations do not apply to attachments that have been printed or otherwise published.

Type of employment PhD placement
Contract type Full time
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Huddinge
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number 2-746/2020
Contact
  • Mikael Altun,, mikael.altun@ki.se
Union representative
  • Carina Eklund, OFR, 08-585 826 65
  • Emilie Hultin, Annica Lindkvist, SACO, 08-524 832 86, 08-524 837 46
  • Henry Wölling, SEKO, 08-524 840 80
Published 18.Feb.2020
Last application date 15.Mar.2020 11:59 PM CET

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