The Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC) operates mainly at the Huddinge Campus in connection to Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge. The Department
also operates at Karolinska University Hospital in Solna and Solna Campus. There are 14 Divisions at CLINTEC. The activities include clinical research, education and development.
We work in an international and multicultural environment with undergraduates, graduate students, exchange students in the ERASMUS program, postdoctoral researchers, educators and
scientists at Karolinska Institutet and organizations with a common vision of excellence in research, education and development. CLINTEC has about 180 employees, about 200 graduate students and 400 affiliated scientists and educators.
Research Group
The project will be carried out with Assc prof. Pauliina Damdimopoulou as the main supervisor and Prof. Outi Hovatta as co-supervisor. The work will be carried out at the
Swedish toxicology sciences research center (Swetox) in Södertälje, and at the Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology at (CLINTEC) in Huddinge. The project will require research visits to Karlstad University.
Swetox is a new academic research collaboration between 11 Swedish universities focusing on chemicals, environment and health, and its hub is located in Södertälje. Research and
education at the Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology are focused on the many aspects of women’s reproductive health as well as fetal physiology and stem cell biology.
The doctoral education project and the duties of the student
This project combines epidemiology to experimental biology. The successful candidate will work within a project focused on environmental endocrine disruptive chemicals and
their effects on female reproductive health. In the first part of the project, the student will work on large patient based datasets to unravel associations between chemical exposure and fertility. The aim is to identify specific chemicals or their mixtures
that may have adverse effects on reproductive health in women. In the second part of the project the candidate will test the effect of these chemicals and their mixtures on ovarian follicle development using human and bovine tissue culture models.
The duties of the student will include statistical analysis of epidemiological cohort data, and assessment of endocrine disruptive and toxic effects of chemicals in experimental
tissue culture models.
Entry requirements for doctoral education at KI
To be eligible for doctoral education following requirements has to be met:
General entry requirements
A person meets the general entry requirements for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education (according to Higher Education Ordinance Chapt 7, section 39) if he/she:
Specific entry requirements
Proficiency in English equivalent to the course English B/English 6 at Swedish upper secondary school:
Proficiency in the English language can be documented by an internationally recognized test such as TOEFL or IELTS, see web-link below for more information.
Applicants who meet the general entry requirements (1 or 2 above) from a university in one of the Nordic countries fulfill the requirements in English.
For more information regarding general and specific entry requirements:
http://ki.se/en/education/entry-requirements-eligibility-for-doctoral-education
Skills and personal qualities
The successful candidate must have a background education in a relevant life science, such as biology, molecular biology, molecular toxicology, or biomedicine. Experience
of basic molecular biology methods (isolation and analysis of nucleic acids and proteins, immunostainings, fluorescence microscopy) and cell culture are a necessity. Statistical skills and experience of epidemiology are considered as merits. Knowledge in endocrinology,
endocrine disruption and/or female reproductive biology is advantageous, too.
The research environment is international and the doctoral education project involves tight collaboration with several other research groups. Fluent spoken and written English are
therefore a necessity, as well as good social skills.
Finally, the successful candidate is self-driven and motivated, can work independently and in a team, and is capable of coordinating work between different laboratories.
Assessment criteria
A selection will be made among qualified applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from doctoral education. 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
The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis.
Terms and conditions
Financial support for doctoral students at KI is regularly a doctoral studentship (doctoral employment) from year 1 to 4. During the time between recruitment and admission
a short-term employment can be offered for up to 6 months.
Application process
An application must contain the following documents in Swedish or English:
The application is to be submitted through the MyNetwork recruitment system
at https://ki.mynetworkglobal.com/en/what:job/jobID:100861/