To be a doctoral student means to devote oneself to a research project under supervision of experienced researchers and following an individual study plan. For a doctoral degree, the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral education is required.

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.

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. Thomas Gustafsson. The division of clinical physiology 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.

We work in a cross-disciplinary fashion with a close interaction with clinicians. 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.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student
The aim of doctoral student project is to characterize primary sex hormone effects on sex-steroid responsive genes in different human tissues and the relation to clinical and phenotypical changes. In addition the tissue-specific sex-associated clinical and phenotypical traits will be analyzed if it is related to tissue-specific sex hormone regulation or if it’s regulated down-stream of the canonical pathways. This will be achieved by studying clinical samples from individuals undergoing a sex change which includes a withdrawal of endogenous sex-hormone levels and exposure to the sex-steroid levels of the opposite sex.

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.

As a doctoral student you are offered an individual research project, a well-educated supervisor, a vast range of elective courses and the opportunity to work in a leading research group. Karolinska Institutet collaborates with prominent universities from all around the world, which ensures opportunities for international exchanges. You will be employed on a doctoral studentship which means that you receive a contractual salary. Employees also have access to our modern gym for free and receive reimbursements for medical care.

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 seeking a highly talented and enthusiastic researcher who holds a master degree in systems biology or biotechnology. The project involves construction of genome scale metabolic models and co-expression network wherefore experience with those types of tools is a requirement. The project also involves single cell-sequencing work and experience with such experiments and data is plus.

The successful candidate should have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, organizational skills, and the ability to work productively and dynamically in a team. The latter is key. Experience from working independently is a plus. Self-motivation and the ability to stay on top of the relevant research field is an absolute requirement. Applicants must be able to integrate well into the international and multidisciplinary research environment. Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English is a requirement.

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.

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.

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

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 STÖD 2-3739/2020
Contact
  • Thomas Gustafsson, thomas.gustafsson@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 08.Sep.2020
Last application date 23.Sep.2020 11:59 PM CEST

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