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PhD Student
Doctoral (PhD) student position in clinical epidemiology with a focus on prediction of future liver disease
Doctoral (PhD) Student Position in Clinical Epidemiology With a Focus on Prediction of Future Liver Disease
Do you want to contribute to improving human health? 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
Chronic liver disease is a rapidly growing global health problem and an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality. A central challenge in hepatology is identifying individuals at risk of developing advanced liver disease before irreversible damage occurs.
The Hagström research group at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge, conducts internationally recognized research in clinical and population-based epidemiology of liver disease, with a particular focus on steatotic liver disease and its metabolic risk factors. Our work combines clinical cohorts, large-scale epidemiological data, and advanced statistical modeling to improve prediction of disease progression and long-term outcomes.
As a doctoral student in our group, you will work in an interdisciplinary environment that includes clinicians, epidemiologists, biostatisticians and data scientists. You will be offered an individual research project within a highly productive research group with supervision by experienced researchers in clinical epidemiology and hepatology. The research uses unique data sources, including detailed clinical cohorts, nationwide Swedish health registers and large population-based studies. These data enable innovative research aimed at understanding the drivers of liver disease and improving early detection of individuals at risk. You will also be offered a wide range of doctoral courses and training opportunities as well as opportunities for international collaborations and exchanges.
The Doctoral Student Project and the Duties of the Doctoral Student
The aim of this PhD project is to improve prediction of future liver disease and its complications using large-scale clinical and population data.
The project will focus on identifying clinical and metabolic markers that can predict progression from early metabolic dysfunction to advanced liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver failure.
Key research areas include:
- Investigating whether routine clinical biomarkers can predict long-term risk of advanced liver disease in individuals with metabolic risk factors such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
- Studying the interaction between metabolic dysfunction and alcohol consumption in determining the risk of severe liver disease.
- Developing and evaluating risk prediction models for future liver-related outcomes using data from primary care cohorts, diabetes cohorts and national health registers.
Through these projects, the doctoral student will contribute to improving our understanding of who develops advanced liver disease and why, with the long-term goal of informing screening strategies and preventive interventions.
The doctoral student will primarily work with epidemiological study design, statistical modeling, and analysis of large-scale health data, and will also participate in scientific writing and presentation of research findings.
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:
- have been awarded a second-cycle/advanced/master qualification (i.e. master degree), or
- 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
- have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.*
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.
(A) and (B) can only be certified by the documentation requirement for doctoral education.
Skills and Personal Qualities
Requirements
The applicant must:
- Hold a relevant degree in medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, or a related field
- Demonstrate a strong interest in metabolic disease and clinical epidemiology
- Have experience or training in epidemiology or quantitative research methods
- Be comfortable working with large-scale datasets
- Be fluent in English, both written and spoken
- Be able to work both independently and collaboratively in an international research environment
Meritorious qualifications
The following qualifications are considered advantageous:
- Programming skills in R, SAS, Stata or similar statistical software
- Experience with register-based research, particularly using Nordic health registers
- Experience in statistical modeling or risk prediction
- Experience with scientific writing, literature review and publication of research findings
- Experience in liver disease epidemiology
- A strong interest in data-driven research and interdisciplinary collaboration
We place great emphasis on personal suitability.
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. We prefer that your application is written in English, but you can also apply in Swedish.
Your application must contain the following documents:
– 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)
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.