Karolinska Institutet, Institutionen för klinisk neurovetenskap

The Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS) conducts research and education in the field of neuroscience from the molecular level to the society level. The clinical research and education is conducted in collaboration with Region Stockholm as well as other research groups from Karolinska Institutet and other universities.
Please visit our website for more information: ki.se/en/cns

Division
The Neuro division of CNS has a group of multiple sclerosis (MS) researchers with a research focus of understanding the pathogenesis, severity and progression of MS by integrating large-scale clinical information with molecular genetics, environmental/lifestyle data and registry data. This work relies on intensive local, national and international collaborations. The position is within Ingrid Kockums research group: https://ki.se/en/cns/ingrid-kockums-research-group

A project aiming to study the relationship between air pollution and risk of MS will be started soon and the post doc will mainly work with this project. The overall aim of the project is to study if there is any influence from exposure to air pollution, mainly related to traffic and other local sources, on MS risk. In particular, the interaction with MS risk genes will be studied.

Data from a population-based case-control study involving ~17,000 cases of MS together with ~85,000 randomly selected controls will be utilised. Residential histories of cases and controls are obtained via the Swedish Tax authority and SCB. Exposure data on air pollution (NO2, NOx, CO, SO2 and PM10) coupled to the place of residence is obtained back to 1961. We have detailed information on environmental/lifestyle factors and genetics in about 10,000 cases and 13,000 controls enabling interaction analysis.

Traffic and heating generated air pollution are very common exposures and therefore of great public health importance. MS may serve as a prototype disease enabling a deeper understanding of how lung irritation with subsequent inflammation generally can trigger organ specific inflammatory diseases. The proposed study uses Sweden's unique opportunities for public health research to answer problems that cannot easily be answered in other countries and where such answers can provide a basis for the prevention of MS and potentially other major debilitating inflammatory diseases.

Duties
The successful candidate is expected to develop a strong research profile in epidemiology/genetic epidemiology and to generate knowledge of direct importance for the understanding and prevention of inflammatory diseases, with particular focus on multiple sclerosis.

The work involves studying the influence from environmental factors, especially air pollution, including its interaction with genetics, on the risk and course of multiple sclerosis. The duties are to conduct research in MS-epidemiology. The selected post doc will be involved in all parts of the research process, ranging from generating research ideas, supervision of students, to day-to-day data management and statistical analysis. Production of publications for submission to peer-reviewed journals and other forms of dissemination will be central activities. The duties also include seeking research grants as well as collaboration with other researchers.

Entry requirements
Qualified to be employed as a postdoctor is one who has obtained a doctorate or has equivalent scientific competence. Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the intended start of the employment. This must be substantiated by the applicant´s mail supervisor, study director or equivalent.

Applicants must be well trained in epidemiology and biostatistics and preferably (but not necessary) have some experience from working with MS-epidemiology. Experience from genetic epidemiology or from working with “omics” data is an advantage. It is a requirement that the applicant has good IT skills as well as good skills in SAS or equivalent program. Applicants must be able to work independently, take own initiatives, have good collaboration skills, be fluent in written and spoken English and be skilled regarding writing scientific articles. Experience from working with register data is not required but meritorious. Experience of supervising students is not required but meritorious.

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

  • A complete curriculum vitae, 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)

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

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Stockholm
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number 2-4704/2019
Contact
  • Lars Alfredsson, Senior Professor, lars.Alfredsson@ki.se
  • Ingrid Skelton Kockum, Professor, ingrid.kockum@ki.se
  • Elin Hammergård, HR-administrator, elin.hammergard@ki.se
Union representative
  • Henry Wölling, SEKO, 08-524 840 80
  • Venus Azhary, OFR, 0707-124 127
  • Arsalan Amir, SACO, 08 - 517 733 37
Published 24.Sep.2019
Last application date 24.Oct.2019 11:59 PM CEST

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