Doctoral students in Systems Biology focusing on Precision Medicine

School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health at KTH

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Biotechnology

Focus on Advancing Disease Prediction and Personalized Therapeutics through Molecular Biology Tools.

The subject concerns data-driven research on proteomics-based precision medicine and developing protein-based diagnostic computational tools. The student will employ data-driven methods to integrate molecular and clinical data to facilitate translational research with an emphasis on diagnostic applications.

This research aims to enhance precision medicine through proteomics and transcriptomics, and to develop computational tools for diagnosing diseases based on protein levels. The PhD student will use data-driven techniques to combine molecular and clinical data, supporting research that can quickly move from the lab to real-world diagnostic applications.  The main job is to conduct protein-based research in data-driven life science projects at SciLifeLab. The primary goal for the PhD student is to explore protein datasets, and develop AI models or other modeling methods to improve how we measure proteins. Senior researchers from the Division of Systems Biology, Department of Protein Science, will mentor the PhD student. The position also includes teaching and other duties in the department.

Supervision: Fredrik Edfors is proposed to supervise the doctoral student. Decisions are made on admission

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world.Read more
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Work and study in Stockholm, close to nature and the water.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master’s degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

It is important that you have solid programming skills for handling biological big data analysis. You should:

• be familiar with R/python packages for differential expression analyses, machine learning and pathway enrichment analyses.
• have experience in using object-oriented programming in biological data analysis.
• have experience in interpretable methods in AI and AI applications in healthcare.
• have experience in using version control systems like Git and public repositories like GitHub or GitLab.
• have knowledge of biological data management and data repositories.
• have worked with molecular biology technologies, such as genomics, and proteomics, particularly in the context of human diseases.
• have documented experience in analyzing either transcriptomics or proteomics datasets.
• be familiar with the Human Protein Atlas or similar large-scale biological data projects.
• have experience in designing, conducting, and analyzing experimental research.
• show ability to formulate research questions and hypotheses in the field of precision medicine and diagnostics.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master’s degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6, read more here

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyse and work with complex issues.
• be able to work within interdisciplinary teams and with external collaborators.
• be willing to stay updated with the latest machine learning, AI, and bioinformatics methodologies advancements.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal competency. 

Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ‘ time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. 

Union representatives

You will find contact information for union representatives on KTH’s website.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

You will find contact information for doctoral section on the section’s website.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH’s recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages.Copies of originals must be certified.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.

Other information

The service may include security-sensitive activities. To become authorized, you therefore need to pass a security check.

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process please read here.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

About KTH

KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm has grown to become one of Europe’s leading technical and engineering universities, as well as a key centre of intellectual talent and innovation. We are Sweden’s largest technical research and learning institution and home to students, researchers and faculty from around the world. Our research and education covers a wide area including natural sciences and all branches of engineering, as well as architecture, industrial management, urban planning, history and philosophy. Read more here