PhD position - Late-onset psychosis - risk factors and comorbidities

PhD Position
- Late-Onset Psychosis
- Risk Factors and Comorbidities

The Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics conducts research across a broad range of areas within biomedical science. The department is among the largest of its type in Europe and has especially strong research profiles in psychiatric, cancer, reproductive, pediatric, pharmacological, genetic, and geriatric epidemiology, precision medicine, and biostatistics.

Part of the success of our department is due to our collaborative spirit where one factor is that researchers at the Department share and co-finance common resources (e.g., IT and an applied biostatistics group). The department is situated at campus Solna.

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 Psychiatric Epidemiology group in our department has a long history of strong research in this field. The incoming doctoral student is invited to join our dynamic and collaborative research team dedicated to unraveling the genetic and environmental causes of psychiatric disorders and their relationships to comorbid disorders.

We offer an opportunity for a highly motivated and skilled PhD student to significantly contribute to cutting-edge research in understanding the foundations of psychosis. Most people who develop schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders receive a diagnosis in their late teens or early adulthood. However, a sizable proportion are diagnosed in mid-life or later. This doctoral project aims to identify the relationships between late onset psychosis (LOP) and sleep disorders, sex differences in comorbidities for people with LOP, as well as the associated genetic risk factors and blood-derived biomarkers related to LOP.

All of the studies will involve analyses of existing data, and no bench lab work will be conducted.

The incoming student will be part of the KI-NIH doctoral program, in which students divide their time and research efforts between Karolinska Institute and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland (USA), with the majority of time spent in Sweden. For this project, the doctoral student will be jointly supervised by Sarah Bergen at KI and Kathleen Merikangas at the NIH.

Doctoral students are expected to take a leading role in the entire research process under the supervision of their PhD supervisors. Through participating in study design, data processing and analysis, interpretation and communication of findings, taking relevant courses and participating in seminars and journal clubs, the student is expected to accomplish the doctoral thesis project and grow into an independent researcher by the end of their studies.

International staff

Career support for doctoral students

Choose to work at KI - ten reasons why

Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities and offers a creative and inspiring environment full of expertise and curiosity. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. Each doctoral student is 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 facilitates opportunities for international exchanges. The selected candidate will be employed on a doctoral studentship which means that they receive a contractual salary. Employees also have access to our modern gym for free and receive reimbursements for medical care.

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 Final date to receive applications.

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:

Follow the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

* If you claim equivalent knowledge, follow the instructions on the web…