Karolinska Institutet, Department of NVS

The Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) conducts world leading research in aging, dementia, epidemiology and care sciences. This research extends from basic molecular and cell levels to clinical research and societal studies. NVS educates almost a third of KI students at basic and advanced levels. The Department has approximately 540 employees and a revenue 2023 of 530 million SEK. It comprises seven divisions, located at Campus Flemingsberg and Campus Solna.

A doctoral student is admitted to third-cycle/doctoral education. A doctoral education consists of supervised research, combined with courses and other educational activities. An individual study plan is established for each doctoral student. For a doctoral degree, the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral education is required.

Research group
Nordberg Translational Molecular Imaging Lab has a strong translational approach using in vitro and in vivo molecular brain imaging techniques, and our aim is to characterize the complex pathophysiological features of neurodegenerative diseases, with a strong focus on AD but also other proteinopathies, in order to develop new early diagnostic markers and new drug targets for early intervention in disease process.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student
Applicants are invited to apply for a PhD research training to work on characterization of new PET tracer’s candidates for Alzheimer disease hallmarks as well as other dementias. The project will involve working primarily on postmortem brain tissue as well as in a less extent in vivo PET data analysis. Duties in the lab involve binding assay studies on brain homogenate, autoradiography on large frozen brain section and paraffin section, as well as statistical analyses using graphpad prism software. The PhD candidate will also have to participate and present progress updates in internal group meetings, as well as contributing to writing manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and presenting at international conferences when required.

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
The candidate should have basic educational background in pharmacology or biomedicine, including coursework in chemistry, neuroscience, pharmacokinetics and statistics. Previous experience in Alzheimer disease research as well as  knowledge and/or practical experience in binding assay and autoradiography would be considered as meritorious. Knowledge of working with tritiated radioactive compounds would be an advantage. Previous knowledge of graphpad prism software as well as experience in PET imaging and PET images analysis would be an advantage.
The candidate should be self-motivated, with a strong interest in research, and able to work both independently as well as being a good team player with excellent communication skills in English (written and verbal) and if possible communication skills in Swedish. The work requires also to be detail-oriented.

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.

KI 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.

Type of employment PhD placement
Contract type Full time
First day of employment According to agreement
Salary Monthly Salary
Reference number 2-2152/2019
Contact
  • Laetitia Lemoine, Assistant professor, laetitia.lemoine@ki.se
  • Maria Axelsson, HR officer, 08-524 882 96
Union representative
  • Carina Eklund, OFR, 08-585 826 65
  • Biborka Bereczky Veress, SACO, 46 70-173 85 75
  • Henry Wölling, SEKO, 08-524 840 80
Published 26.Mar.2019
Last application date 26.Apr.2019 11:59 PM CEST

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