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.

Division 
The division of Clinical Geriatrics conducts education and multifaceted research in close collaboration with leading institutions and clinics worldwide. The division works in close collaboration with the KI Aging Research Center, and both divisions are part of the KI Center for Alzheimer Research, which conducts translational research on neurodegenerative diseases, especially those underlying cognitive impairment and dementia. The division of Clinical Geriatric is now posting a four year full time position as Assistant professor with specialization in geriatric epidemiology and clinical geriatrics.

Research group
Prof. Kivipelto is leading the multidisciplinary research team known as ‘Nordic Brain Network’ (NBN) collaborating with the University of Eastern Finland, National Institut of Health and Welfare in Helsinki, Finland and others. The NBN team is involved in several large international projects, EU projects and the Word-Wide FINGERS (www.wwfingers.com). The NBN team is also carrying out prevention trials testing multidomain interventions to prevent AD, as well as phase I-III drug trials for AD, at the Clinical Trials Unit, Karolinska University Hospital. We are looking for an Associate professor for a four year fulltime employment. 

Duties
 The Associate professor will work to develop effective and sustainable multimodal preventative interventions for cognitive decline and AD, targeting people with different risk profiles. Main duties involve the development of strategies for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of age-related cognitive decline, dementia and AD. This implies working with large databases from population-based and clinical-based projects, and with data gathered from observational and intervention studies. Additionally, the candidate is expected to conduct research aiming to gain better understanding of novel lifestyle risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia.
The role involves working with a rich array of data, including neuropsychological, clinical, and medical data, such as a wide array of biomarkers (blood-based and salivary biomarkers and neuroimaging data. The post-holder will be involved in the design and conduction of non-pharmacological RCTs in older adults, conducted at the Clinical Trials Unit, Memory Clinic. Finally, the post holder should be willing to supervise Master and PhD students, and provide support for early career researchers.

Eligibility requirements
Those eligible for employment as an Assistant Professor are individuals who have been awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence. Preference should be given to those who were awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence no more than five years prior to the expiry of the application period for the position of assistant professor. Those who have been awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence earlier may however be considered if special grounds exist. Special grounds refer to illness or parental leave.
We are seeking a scientist with a background in epidemiology or human neuroscience, with experience and expertise in geriatric epidemiological studies and in the field of dementia/AD biological markers, as well as documented experience of dealing with large databases. Excellent speaking and writing skills in English are mandatory. Functional communication skills in Swedish are required. Applicants with previous experience with EU projects and international projects will be given a higher rank. The candidate is expected to be independent in the areas of experimental design, data gathering and analysis as well as manuscript and grant preparation. 

Skills and personal qualities The applicant will be part of a dynamic international research team, composed of members with different backgrounds, educationally as well as culturally. The candidate should be driven and motivated, able to think open-minded, have a high level of responsibility, good communication skills, and the ability to work independently at a multidisciplinary level, as well as show team-working abilities and interpersonal skills.

Bases of assessment
We stress scientific expertise when assessing applicants.

Application process
An application must contain the following documents in Swedish/ English: curriculum vitae, qualifications and description of planned research, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet’s qualifications portfolio (http://ki.se/qualificationsportfolio).

The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system. The applications will be reviewed by an external reviewer.

Promotion of Assistant Professor to Senior Lecturer

See the instructions regarding the Appointment Procedure for Teachers at Karolinska Institutet chapter 3.3

An Assistant Professor can apply for promotion to Senior Lecturer. An application is submitted to the Recruitment Committee. In order to be promoted to Senior Lecturer after an assessment by the Recruitment Committee, the applicant must meet the criteria below. The Assistant Professor can choose between two different promotion tracks; promotion to Senior Lecturer with focus on Research or promotion to Senior Lecturer with focus on Education and research.

Promotion of Assistant Professor to Senior Lecturer with focus on Research

Assessment criteria

  1. Senior Lecturer expertise according to the eligibility requirements and assessment criteria for “Senior lecturer with focus on research”.
  2. Grants obtained as principal applicant in national or international competition that covers the applicant’s own salary for at least two years from the final date of employment as an Assistant Professor. Project funding obtained in national or international competition (i.e. excellence grants obtained from the Swedish Research Council, European Research Council (ERC), Wallenberg Foundation (WAF) or Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) that covers costs for salaries, rent, materials and other project-related expenses for the research for at least two years from the final date of employment as an Assistant Professor.
  3. First and/or senior author of a number of peer-reviewed scientific articles published in leading international scientific journals over a number of years after dissertation, with the emphasis on the qualification period as an Assistant Professor.
  4. An independent research line deemed by independent experts and departmental management to offer excellent future potential for both the individual researcher and the department in question.
  5. A documented good ability to lead the own research group – including staff responsibility and supervision of doctoral and/or postdoctoral students. Scientific expertise is emphasized when assessing applicants including successful scientific results in a good working climate, as well as documented collaborative abilities.
  6. All experience of undertaking assignments on behalf of the scientific community – such as board membership, internal assessment committees, departmental duties, organising courses and conferences and editorships – will be considered as merits.

Promotion of Assistant Professor to Senior Lecturer with focus on Education and research

Assessment criteria

  1. Senior Lecturer expertise according to the eligibility requirements and assessment criteria for “Senior Lecturer with focus on Education and research”.
  2. Higher education training of 10 weeks or equivalent competence in accordance with the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions (SUHF).
  3. Independent responsibility for planning, implementation and evaluation of teaching and examination at all levels, first (basic undergraduate), second (advanced undergraduate) and third (graduate) -cycle study programmes and courses – to a significant extent and over a period of at least three years with documented high level of quality.
  4. Pedagogical management assignments as course director at first (basic undergraduate), second (advanced undergraduate) and third (graduate) cycle level.
  5. Extensive pedagogical experience of various forms of teaching and for various groups at first (basic undergraduate), second (advanced undergraduate) and third (graduate) cycle levels.
  6. Completed, nationally and internationally presented pedagogical development work resulting in improved study programmes and/or courses.
  7. A clear plan for the own pedagogical activities (including pedagogical development work) that demonstrates a high level of quality and great potential.

If the applicant is deemed to fulfil all of the above criteria, they will be assessed by two experts in their field and must meet the eligibility requirements that apply to appointments as a Senior Lecturer at Karolinska Institutet.

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment According to agreement
Salary Monthly salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent Full time
City Solna
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Reference number 2-6477/2018
Contact
  • Miia Kivipelto, Professor, miia.kivipelto@ki.se
  • Maria Axelsson, HR officer, maria.axelsson.1@ki.se 08-524 88296
Union representative
  • Carina Eklund, OFR, 08-585 826 65, carina.eklund@ki.se
  • Henry Wölling, SEKO, henry.wolling@ki.se
  • Biborka Bereczky Veress, SACO, 46 70-173 85 75
Published 21.Mar.2019
Last application date 12.Apr.2019 11:59 PM CEST

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