Website Karolinska Medical School
Job description
Being a PhD student means being fully engaged in a research project under the supervision of an experienced researcher and following an individual study plan. Obtaining a PhD requires the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral education.
Björn Högberg’s research group at the Biomedicum in Solna, Stockholm, which is part of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the Karolinska Institutet of Medicine, is currently looking for Ph.D. students interested in developing the next generation of biological decryption technologies. We utilize DNA nanostructures and DNA reaction networks to build future tools for bioengineering, biophysics and cell biology. Our team of physicists, biologists, chemists, and computational biologists is a leader in DNA nanotechnology, specializing in creating molecular tools for the life sciences. We provide a stimulating scientific environment and first-class research infrastructure at the local, departmental and institutional level.
Björn Högberg has received a senior grant from the European Research Council (ERC) for a project aimed at generating images of RNA distribution in tissues using DNA Microcsopy methods. The principle is that by allowing barcoded DNA strands (e.g. cDNA) to interact and join in situ, it is possible to generate neighboring information from the sequence alone, independent of optical microscopy. This neighboring or proximity information can be used to generate images in a computer. Today, one can routinely read millions of sequences per week. In the near future, we will be able to read billions of sequences per day in small laboratories. This prospect, coupled with future increases in the power of computational methods, will allow us and others to learn the inner secrets of biological systems at a much faster rate.
PhD students will need to actively contribute to and innovate in the development of this technology and use it to study tissue samples to elucidate spatial heterogeneity and genetic or epigenetic mosaics in biology, such as stem cell niches and germinal centers. We believe in letting people follow their passions, so PhD students will have considerable flexibility in driving their own projects.
offer requirements
No later than the application deadline, you must meet the following general (A) and specific (B) eligibility requirements to be selected for a PhD position.
It is your responsibility to qualify as described on the PhD Admission Requirements (Eligibility) webpage.
A) GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS You meet the general eligibility requirements for a PhD/third cycle/doctoral education if you
– Have earned a Stage II/Advanced Stage/Master’s Degree (i.e., a Master’s Degree), or
– have fulfilled the requirements of a program of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits have been earned at the advanced/second stage/master’s level, or
– has otherwise acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in Sweden or abroad.
Please follow the instructions on the webpage for admission requirements (qualifications) for doctoral education.
*If you claim to have equivalent knowledge, please follow the instructions on the webpage Evaluation of equivalent knowledge for general eligibility for doctoral education.
B) Specific Eligibility Requirements
You meet the specific eligibility requirements for doctoral/third cycle/doctoral education if you meet the following conditions
– A level of English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary English grade B/English 6.
Please follow the instructions on the webpage on English language requirements for doctoral education.
Karolinska Institutet checks the authenticity of the documents. Karolinska Institutet reserves the right to cancel an offer of admission if the supporting documents are found to be false. Submission of false documents is a violation of Swedish law and is punishable by law.
(A) and (B) can only be proven through the documentation requirements for doctoral education.
You should ideally have a Master’s degree in a life science field, but outstanding candidates from a computer science or physics background with a strong interest in the biological sciences are also welcome to apply.
If you come from a life sciences field, you should be familiar with basic laboratory techniques such as PCR, basic enzymatic methods for nucleic acid processing (e.g. ligation, restriction digestion), gel electrophoresis techniques, etc. If you have a background in computer science or physics, you will also need to learn these skills.
The ability to carry out experimental work, to record results accurately and neatly, and to critically discuss and fully present results is required.
Knowledge and/or experience in the following areas is not required, but it would be considered advantageous if the applicant has knowledge and/or experience in the following areas:
– DNA reaction networks or DNA nanostructures
– Bioinformatics or programming
– Systems biology
– Computational biology
– Space biology techniques
offer benefits
An innovative and stimulating environment full of expertise and curiosity. Karolinska Medical School is one of the world’s leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote health for all. At Karolinska Institutet of Medicine, we conduct successful medical research and have the largest medical education organization in Sweden. As a PhD student, you will have access to an independent research program, a well-educated supervisor, a large number of elective courses and the opportunity to work in a leading research group. Karolinska Institutet’s cooperation with leading universities around the world ensures opportunities for international exchange. You will be employed as a PhD student, which means you will receive a contractual salary. Employees also have free access to our modern gym and are reimbursed for medical expenses.