Doctoral (PhD) student position in muscle metabolism

At the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology we teach and conduct internationally acclaimed, high-quality research in Physiology, Pharmacology, Anesthesiology and Intensive care. We have around 400 employees, 30 research groups, and 90 doctoral students. Our research fields include cellular signaling, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, neuropsychopharmacology, neuroinflammation, pharmacogenetics, regenerative medicine, Renal System, anesthesiology and intensive care, muscle physiology and pain. Our collaboration with the clinics at Karolinska University Hospital provides unique opportunities for translational research within our subjects. More information about research at http://ki.se/fyfa_english



A doctoral position is an available doctoral education project to which a PhD student is to be recruited.

After the selection process the process for admission to doctoral education will commence. An admission decision will not be taken until an individual study plan has been approved by the departmental admission board.

For more information regarding doctoral (PhD) education, see: http://www.ki.se/doctoral. 

Research group
The division of Integrative Physiology at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet is seeking a highly motivated doctoral student to join the group of Professors Anna Krook and Juleen Zierath to identify and determine the physiological role of new targets altered in Type 2 Diabetes. The candidate will have the opportunity to join our research group and work on projects focused on the identification and biological validation of key regulatory metabolic pathways and molecules that contribute to the development of insulin resistance in Type 2 Diabetes.

The doctoral education project and the duties of the student
The project will focus on identification of molecular changes in skeletal muscle contributing to altered metabolism in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Projects will examine effects of exercise as well as diet interventions, with the aim to identify key molecular events regulating metabolic adaptation /maladaptation.  The effect of candidate molecules will be further studied in cell culture and model organisms.

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:

- has been awarded advanced/second-cycle/master qualification (i.e. master degree) or
- has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle/master level, or
- has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.
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

State here any other formal entry requirements, beside the above, that an applicant must have to be considered for this project.

Skills and personal qualities
A thorough background in physiology and metabolism, in particular human metabolism, is required. Experience of work involving patient exercise interventions is an advantage, as is previous experience of molecular biology and cell culture techniques. Determination of skeletal muscle exercise adaptations and associated metabolism is also desirable.

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
All doctoral students at KI receive financial support during their doctoral education and employment on a doctoral studentship is the most common sort of support. 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:

- A personal letter and curriculum vitae
- A copy of degree certificates and associated certificates
- A copy of degree projects and any previous publications

The application is to be submitted through the MyNetwork recruitment system.

Karolinska Institutet is one of the world’s leading medical universities. Its vision is to significantly contribute to the improvement of human health. Karolinska Institutet accounts for the single largest share of all academic medical research conducted in Sweden and offers the country’s broadest range of education in medicine and health sciences. The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet selects 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.

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