Doctoral student position with a doctoral grant in
epidemiology
Karolinska Institutet, Institutionen för folkhälsovetenskap
At the Department of Public Sciences we conduct research, teaching and consultancy on the basis of the
concept of public health.
We are now looking for a Doctoral (PhD) student in epidemiology who will focus on “the
association between obesity status and health-related quality of life, and the cost-effectiveness of a
childhood obesity prevention trial”
Division
The Child and Adolescent Public Health Epidemiology Group focuses on research related to social,
behavioral, environmental and genetic determinants of obesity. The research is interdisciplinary and
based on epidemiological, statistical, psychological and other methods. Intervention research is an
important part of the research portfolio. Primrose is a randomized population-based trial aiming at
primary prevention of childhood obesity through sessions at child health centers addressing healthy
eating habits and physical activity. The new PhD student will mainly work on unique data from the
Primrose trial, but will also use data from a large cohort study.
Duties
The PhD student will investigate the following research questions:
1) What are the strengths and shapes of associations between BMI and health-related quality of life
among adult individuals?
2) How strong are the effects of the Primrose intervention on young children’s and their parents’ eating
habits, physical activity, and anthropometric measures of obesity status?
3) How large are the costs of the Primrose intervention compared with the routine health check-up
program used at control child health centers?
4) Is the Primrose intervention cost-effective compared with traditional health check-ups and advice-giving?
We are looking for a highly motivated person, with an interest in epidemiology and statistics with the
ability to learn how to apply statistical methods used in clinical trials and health economics. The
successful candidate will be expected to analyze data and publish papers in international scientific
journals.
Knowledge and skills in epidemiological and statistical methods is thus qualifying. Knowledge and skills
in the fields of nutrition, obesity research and health economics are considered additional qualifications,
although not as important as knowledge in epidemiological and statistical methods. Good team working
skills are required, as well as the ability to work independently. Fluency in spoken and written English is
also required.
Entry requirements
To meet the general entry requirements for third-cycle studies, an applicant must have
1. taken a second-cycle qualification
2. completed course requirements for at least 240 higher education credits, including at least 60 secondcycle
higher education credits, or
3. otherwise acquired essentially the same knowledge in or outside Sweden.
An applicant who met the general entry requirements for third-cycle studies before 1 July 2007 is
regarded as having met the current requirements, though no longer than until the end of June 2015.
A selection will be made among qualified applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from third-cycle
studies. Karolinska Institutet uses the following bases of assessment:
– Documented subject knowledge of relevance to the area of research
– Analytical skill corroborated by an academic paper or the like
– Other documented knowledge or experience that may be relevant to third-cycle studies in the subject
The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis.
A decision concerning the doctoral student position will be made after admission to third-cycle
studies. For additional information about third-cycle studies at Karolinska Institutet, see http://www.ki.
se/doctoral.
Application process
An application must contain the following documents in Swedish or English:
• A personal letter and curriculum vitae
• A copy of a degree certificate and associated certificates
• A copy of a degree project and any previous publications
The application is to be submitted on the NetRecruiter system.
Karolinska Institutet is one of the world´s leading medical
universities. Its mission is to contribute to the improvement of human health through research and
education. Karolinska Institutet accounts for over 40 per cent of the medical academic research conducted
in Sweden and offers the country´s broadest range of education in medicine and health sciences. Since
1901 the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has selected the Nobel laureates in Physiology or
Medicine.
Pursuant to the regulations of the Swedish National Archives, applications are kept on file for two years
after the appointment has gained legal force. The regulations do not apply to attachments that have been
printed or otherwise published.
Karolinska Institutet strives to provide a workplace that has approximately the same number of women
and men, is free of discrimination and offers equal opportunity to everyone.
For temp agencies and recruiters, and to salespersons: We politely, yet firmly, decline direct contact with
temp agencies and recruiters, as well as those selling additional job announcements.
Type of employment Temporary position longer than 6 months
Working hours Full time
Number of positions 1
Working hours 100 %
Reference 6091/2012-225
Access Enligt överenskommelse
Published 2012-10-02
City Stockholm
Last application date 2012-10-30
County Stockholms län
Country Sweden
Contact Finn Rasmussen, Professor 08-524 801 81
Union representative Sarah Thomsen, SACO 08-524 833 64
Anna Aleman, OFR-S 08-524 866 07
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