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 successful candidate will perform research in the cancer epidemiology group at the Clinical Epidemiology Division (KEP), Department of Medicine Solna, under the supervision of Dr Sandra Eloranta. The research group is one of six groups at KEP and currently includes 15 researchers, of which several post-docs and doctoral students work part-time in the hematology clinic at the Karolinska Hospital. The group is also home to four full-time biostatisticians. The research performed by the group is heavily focused on register-based clinical cancer epidemiology with an emphasis on lymphoma survival and survivorship research. The group has a large national and international network within this field, and the new doctoral student is expected to also become a research partner in these collaborations.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student
This PhD project addresses lymphoma survivorship after modern-day intensive chemotherapy treatment in a Nordic population-based health register data setting. Malignant lymphomas are the fourth most common cancer among young (≤ 40 years) individuals and improvements in survival emphasize the importance of advancing the understanding of several survivorship issues, including post treatment childbearing potential and late effects of treatment.

The specific objective of this project is to investigate a number of research questions related to childbearing potential after lymphoma treatment. Specifically, we aim to use advanced survival analysis models to characterize childbearing patterns by lymphoma subtype, sex, standard of care treatment as well as regimens used in the relapse setting. We also aim to investigate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and quantify healthcare use in children born to parents with a history of aggressive lymphoma. The project will be performed within a Nordic collaboration using quality of care lymphoma register data from three countries. The project is unprecedented in size and availability of detailed clinical data, which makes it highly clinically relevant and internationally competitive. The results are important for future developments of more specific national care programs and guidelines for clinical follow-up interventions in lymphoma care. The main site for the project will be KEP at Karolinska Institutet, although short-term research visits to the participating Nordic sites may occur.

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
Specific requirements
Proficiency in written and spoken English, since the research will be performed within an international collaboration.

Documented experience in using population-based health register data for research (i.e., leading to a scientific report, master thesis, scientific publication or similar).

Excellent knowledge in biostatistics and experience with regression modelling of survival data, since the project involves applying state-of-the-art statistical methodology, including flexible parametric models, multi-state models, and survival models for recurrent events and competing risks.

Strong programming skills in relevant statistical software (the group primarily uses Stata but proficiency in R and/or SAS is also acceptable).

Additional requirements
Excellent communication skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and the ability to collaborate in teams.

Independence with respect to ability to plan and perform tasks, identify and solve problems.

Motivation to pursue a PhD, independence and ability to collaborate and engage in the scientific activities in the research group and at the Clinical Epidemiology division.

Other documented knowledge or experience that may be relevant to doctoral studies within this research field.

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

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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
The position is located within the Department of Medicine, Solna. The department consists of twelve divisions and each division consists of several research groups. The position is located within the research group in the cancer epidemiology (Karin Ekström-Smedby).

More information about the group can be found on our group web-page: https://ki.se/en/meds/kep-cancer-epidemiology-group

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

Type of employment PhD placement
Contract type Full time
Reference number 2-2040/2020
Contact
  • Sandra Eloranta, research coordinator, +46 8 517 791 74
Union representative
  • Afsar Rahbar OFR, Afsar.Rahbar@ki.se
  • Louisa Cheung, SACO, Louisa.Cheung@ki.se
Published 05.May.2020
Last application date 25.May.2020 11:59 PM CEST

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