Doctoral (PhD) student position in Surgical treatment of gastric cancer - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research?

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 research group

The group consists of researchers, administrator, biostatisticians, PhD students, and students. We conduct clinical research in diseases and surgery of the upper gastrointestinal tract, with focus on oesophageal and gastric cancer. The research data originate mainly from large clinical data collections and health data registries. We have a strong clinical link with upper gastrointestinal surgery. We have a well organised PhD program, with supervisor meetings and progress reports, research group meetings, research seminars, journal clubs, methods clubs, and run own PhD courses. We have a structured way of initiating new research projects with detailed study protocols before analyses begin.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

We seek a PhD student for a clinically oriented research project examining how the surgical treatment of gastric cancer can be improved for better patient survival. The doctoral project is financially supported by KI-central KID funding.

The project is mainly based on a national Swedish data collection of patients who have undergone surgery for gastric cancer where data is obtained from medical records that are linked to registry data. The work with a large randomised clinical trial evaluating the follow-up after surgery for gastric cancer is also included in the doctoral project.

PhD studies correspond to 4 years’ full-time work and include scientific work, postgraduate courses, seminars and international conferences. The PhD student will conduct or contribute to data collection, be responsible for drafting detailed study protocols, literature reviews, conduct data management and statistical analyses (with support of a biostatistician), and draft scientific manuscripts. 

Supervision

The main supervisor is Jesper Lagergren, Professor and Consultant of Surgery at Karolinska Institutet and King’s College London. Co-supervisor is Sheraz Markar who is Assistant Professor at Karolinska Institutet and surgeon at Imperial College London. Informal supervisor is Fredrik Mattsson, biostatistician in our group. All supervisors have expertise knowledge within the research area.

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 looking for an enthusiastic, curious and talented person with documented interest in clinical research, preferably in the surgical treatment of gastric cancer. We value experience in clinical data collection and assessment of the information collected, as well as knowledge in epidemiological methodology. A prerequisite is a suitable medical education, ideally a medical doctor with knowledge in the Swedish healthcare. Knowledge in surgery, oncology and pathology is appreciated. Good ability to collaborate with others and arrange research projects is needed. Excellent knowledge of English and Swedish is expected, because the main language in the research group is English, and the collection and review of medical records require Swedish.

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. We prefer that your application is written in English, but you can also apply in Swedish:

- A personal letter and a curriculum vitae 
- Degree projects and previous publications, if any 
- Any other documentation showing the desirable skills and personal qualities described above 
- 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.

You can read more about us on our homepage: http://ki.se/en/mmk/upper-gi-surgery.

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