Website Karolinska Institutet (Karolinska Institutet), KIND Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Job description
Do you want to contribute to top-quality research?
Becoming a doctoral student means working under the guidance of experienced researchers and devoting yourself to a research project while following an individual study plan. Obtaining a doctoral degree requires an investment equivalent to four years of full-time doctoral education.
Do you want to provide better care, support, and well-being for individuals with autism?
We are looking for a psychologist or related professional (such as speech therapist, occupational therapist) with work experience with children/adolescents with autism and/or other neurodevelopmental disorders, and who is enthusiastic about conducting research to improve individualized support, quality of life, and well-being for people with autism.
For the past 20 years, KIND (Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Karolinska Institutet) has been developing, adapting, and evaluating standardized social skills group training programs for children and adolescents with autism, including KONTAKT in clinical settings and SKOLKONTAKT in educational settings, implemented in Sweden and other countries. This doctoral project aims to develop and evaluate a digital version of KONTAKT (iKONTAKT) to achieve the goal of providing effective online support for adolescents with autism.
The main objectives of the doctoral project are to examine the feasibility and acceptability of the multimodal online social skills group training program iKONTAKT through an open feasibility study. We will quantify program completion rates, attendance at various components, and any potential adverse effects. Through qualitative interviews with adolescents and caregivers, we will capture their real experiences with the program. Secondary objectives are to preliminarily examine the effects of iKONTAKT on improvement in social skills, personal growth, achievement of social goals, daily functioning, and symptoms of anxiety/depression. The third objective is to explore and improve the content and delivery methods of iKONTAKT. The overall goal is to determine whether iKONTAKT is feasible, safe, can be further optimized, and shows sufficient within-group effects to support conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial (using specific quantitative primary outcome measures).
Under the leadership of KIND, the doctoral student will be responsible for operating and advancing the iKONTAKT project and its feasibility study, including completing iKONTAKT materials, co-implementing the study with the team, serving as an iKONTAKT trainer (requiring direct contact with participants), data collection, and analysis.
offer requirements
**Doctoral Education Eligibility Requirements**
By the application deadline, you must meet the following general (A) and specific (B) eligibility requirements.
A) General Eligibility Requirements
You meet the general eligibility requirements for doctoral/third-cycle education if you have:
– Obtained a second-cycle/advanced/master’s degree; or
– Completed at least 240 credits of coursework, of which at least 60 credits are at the advanced/second-cycle level; or
– In some other way acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in Sweden or abroad.
B) Specific Eligibility Requirements
– English proficiency equivalent to Swedish upper secondary English B/English 6 course.
**Skills and Personal Qualities**
The position requires **fluent Swedish (spoken and written)**, as close contact with Swedish research participants is necessary. At the same time, it requires **fluent academic English**, as well as basic knowledge of scientific and statistical methods. Merit points: clinical experience, knowledge of neurodevelopmental disorders, work experience with young individuals with autism and their families. Excellent scientific writing, administrative and coordination skills are required. We are looking for responsible, dedicated individuals who can work independently as well as collaborate in a team under pressure; who actively contribute to the development of the KIND center, share the vision, and possess good teamwork spirit.
offer benefits
We offer a creative and inspiring environment filled with professional knowledge and curiosity. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world’s leading medical universities, dedicated to advancing knowledge of life and promoting the health of all people. We conduct successful medical research and offer Sweden’s broadest medical education. As a doctoral student, you will have your own research project, excellent supervisors, a wide range of elective courses, and the opportunity to work in leading research groups. The university collaborates with top global universities, providing opportunities for international exchange. You will receive a doctoral student contract salary, as well as free access to modern fitness facilities and reimbursement of medical expenses.