Doctoral student in Medical Sciences

Örebro University and the School of Medical Sciences are offering opportunities within the doctoral program in Medical Science, beginning during 2022. For the successful candidate, the program will conclude with the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Science.

Project description
Örebro University is a modern, growing university with currently around 1 500 employees and 17 000 students and is ranked among the best 400 universities globally according to the Times Higher Education ranking. The Nutrition Platform within the Food and Health Program at Örebro University is an interdisciplinary research initiative aimed at understanding the relationship between diet and health, including gut and metabolic health as well as brain function. Our vision is that, through these multi-disciplinary collaborations, we will build the tools and expertise to conduct sophisticated, well-designed dietary intervention studies that provide insight into how diet affects markers of gut, metabolic, immune, and cognitive/mental health. In order to accomplish this goal, great emphasis is placed on attracting motivated early-stage researchers with a genuine interest in highly collaborative research. 

The purpose of the interdisciplinary PhD project offered here will be to assess the effects of anti-inflammatory dietary interventions and food products on low-grade inflammation and markers of gut-, metabolic- and mental health mainly in elderly. The project has a specific focus on cognitive function as well as functional brain imaging.

The position is within the School of Medical Sciences at Örebro University. The School is responsible for the medical teaching curriculum (MD) and comprises several strong research environments mainly focused on inflammation, metabolism and nutrition. In addition to working within these research environments, the selected candidate will also have a unique opportunity to collaborate with the Center for Experimental and Biomedical Imaging (CEBIO) with its newly acquired, state-of-the art 3T MRI equipment as well as the Center for Lifespan Developmental Research (LEADER). By conducting MRI studies, the candidate will be able to investigate how diet impacts brain function. 

As the advertised position involves collaboration within several research groups, the selected candidate is expected to possess significant interpersonal communication skills and personal maturity. The candidate should also be able to demonstrate strong problem solving and critical analytical skills. Experience with MRI-related research as well as a background in human nutrition or neuroscience is given special preference.  Command of English, oral and written, is essential. 

The PhD study programme
The successful candidate is offered a place on the PhD study programme concluding with the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Sciences. The programme consists of 240 credits, which corresponds to four years of full-time study. Extensions to the study period are granted to compensate for any sick leave and parental leave. Information on program content and organization can be found in the general syllabus for the subject of Medical Sciences.

Doctorial studentships
The position offered is a full-time doctoral studentship for the duration of the study programme. Duties such as teaching, administration and research other than the student’s own thesis project may be included, however with no more than 20 per cent of a full-time post. To compensate for time spent on such duties, extensions to the programme length and funding period will be granted. More information on doctoral studentships, part-time studies and part-time doctoral studentships can be found in the Regulations Handbook. The initial salary for a doctoral studentship is 27 500 SEK per month.

Entry requirements and selection
See the full advertisement on our website.

Information
For more information about the programme and the doctoral studentship, contact prof Robert Brummer, robert.brummer@oru.se or Ashley Hutchinson, ashley.hutchinson@oru.se

Örebro University actively pursues an equal work environment and values the qualities that diversity adds to our operations.

Application to the programme and for the doctoral studentship
The application is made online. Click the button “Apply” to begin the application procedure.

For the application to be complete, the following electronic documents must be included:


• The form Application for/decision on admission to research studies
• Personal letter explaining the motivation to apply for this position
• CV
• Certificate of completed higher education courses and study programmes, and if applicable a degree certificate
• Degree project/independent project
• Copies of relevant course/degree certificates and references verifying eligibility and criteria met

As a main rule, application documents and attachments are to be written in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English. Documents in other languages must be translated by an authorised translator to Swedish or English. A list of authorised translators can be obtained from Kammarkollegiet (the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency).

When you apply for admission, you automatically also apply for a doctoral studentship.

The application deadline is 2022-04-01. We look forward to receiving your application!

We decline any contact with advertisers or recruitment agencies in the recruitment process.

As directed by the National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), we are required to deposit one file copy of the application documents, excluding publications, for a period of two years after the appointment decision has gained legal force.