Doctoral position: behavioral medicine perspectives on cancer survival

Do you want to contribute to better health for everyone?

Being a doctoral student means being admitted to a postgraduate education (doctoral training) where one follows an individual study plan. A doctoral student engages in a research project under supervision, supplemented by courses and other learning activities. A doctoral degree requires the equivalent of four years of full-time postgraduate education.

Research group

The research group operates at the Department of General Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet (KI). This is a department of KI that focuses on education and research related to primary care; often health centers. The project is carried out in collaboration with the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery (MMK). The research group is also affiliated with Liljeholmen University Health Center in the Stockholm Region, which is Sweden’s largest health center. The project that forms the basis for the position is run by Erland Axelsson, MD, PhD, who is profiled in behavioral medicine, with a focus on psychological perspectives on health and long-term physical symptoms such as pain, fatigue, stomach problems or abnormalities around the chest and breathing. The research group values ​​open science and transparency, based on the premise that this leads to higher quality and contributes to an open democratic society. Within the group, you will have a unique opportunity to work closely with experts in behavioral medicine and related research fields.

As a doctoral student, you will belong to NVS (see above) where preclinical and clinical research is conducted in many areas. The department includes a wide range of researchers, doctoral students, teachers, and technical and administrative staff. The department conducts undergraduate education within, among others, the medical program, the nursing program, and the physiotherapy program.

The doctoral project and the doctoral student’s tasks

We are now looking for a PhD student for a research project that is about developing psychological support for long-term ill health after cancer. As a society, we are getting older, while cancer treatments have become more effective. Today, it is often possible to live many years after a cancer diagnosis, and approximately 600,000 Swedes have at some point been given a cancer diagnosis. Even in the long term, months or years after completing main treatment, many cancer survivors describe strong anxiety or fear of relapse, discomfort related to the body, intimacy, sexuality, or changes in body functions, depression and anxiety, trauma after illness or the care process, or long-term symptoms such as fatigue and pain. The research project is about developing support programs to help cancer survivors who experience such long-term problems. Primarily, during the current study, we are evaluating support that can be provided in a text-based format via the internet.

The doctoral studies correspond to 4 years of full-time studies. As a doctoral student, you act as an operational project manager for an ongoing clinical trial (study), but are constantly supervised. You carry out clinical assessments and treatments within the project, and keep in touch with participants and ensure that measurement methods work. You maintain contact with community agencies such as patient associations and healthcare clinics that are relevant to the project. In parallel with this, you participate in postgraduate training courses, seminars and conferences to learn the basics of the research profession. You also participate in literature reviews, and develop your ability to critically review and independently develop research with a focus on psychology and behavioral medicine. During the latter part of the doctoral period, you spend more time on data analysis and other forms of applied intellectual work.

What do we offer? 

A creative, international and inspiring environment filled with competence and curiosity. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world’s leading medical universities. Here we conduct successful medical research and have the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI you will meet researchers with different research areas working together. It is this cross-border collaboration that contributes to KI’s world-leading position in research. As a doctoral student, you are offered an individual research project, a well-trained supervisor, a wide range of elective courses and the opportunity to work in a successful research group. Karolinska Institutet has collaborations with prominent universities all over the world, which provides opportunities for international exchanges. As an employed doctoral student, you receive a contractual salary, you are allowed to exercise freely in our modern health care facilities and you are reimbursed for medical care.

Eligibility requirements for doctoral education

To participate in the selection for a doctoral position, you must prove both the basic (A) and the specific (B) eligibility requirements before the application period closes.

It is your responsibility as an applicant to prove your eligibility by following the instructions on the Eligibility for Doctoral Education webpage.

A) Basic eligibility requirements

You meet the basic eligibility requirements for doctoral education if you:

1. have completed an advanced level degree (Master’s or Doctoral degree), or
2. have completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at advanced level,  or
3. has otherwise acquired essentially equivalent knowledge.*

Follow the instructions on  the Eligibility for doctoral education webpage .

*If you consider yourself to have equivalent knowledge, you should follow the instructions on the website Assessment of equivalent knowledge for basic eligibility for doctoral education.

B) Special eligibility requirements

You meet the specific eligibility requirements for doctoral education if you:

– Certifies knowledge of English (equivalent to English B/English 6 at high school with a passing grade).

Follow the instructions on  the English language requirements for doctoral education webpage.

Document verification Karolinska Institutet checks documents to detect forgeries. Karolinska Institutet reserves the right to revoke admission decisions if forgeries or irregularities are detected. Submission of false documents is a violation of Swedish law and is considered grounds for legal action.

Skills and personal qualities

We are looking for a psychologist (required), preferably a licensed psychologist, who has a high level of proficiency in the Swedish language, both verbally and in writing (required), in order to be able to communicate independently with study participants and community agencies. Part of the work will involve assessing psychological functioning in Swedish study participants. Part of the work will also involve treatment in text form with elements of oral conversations, with Swedish study participants. Excellent communication skills are required to communicate with participants and our national partners.

Broad theoretical knowledge in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is necessary (requirement), and clinical experience in CBT is an advantage. The doctoral position focuses on research, but is based on the evaluation of clinical methods that are largely based on CBT. CBT is particularly relevant for behavioral medicine groups, and in healthcare contexts outside of psychiatry. For example, work with cancer or other chronic illness, support for long-term symptoms such as pain, fatigue or stomach problems, or work with symptom domains that are often relevant for somatic groups (e.g. work niched against health anxiety).

Interest in research is crucial, and previous participation in research is an advantage. The point of the research project is that we should learn more about the world, and contribute in a meaningful way to the research field. If you have had research-oriented jobs, for example as a research assistant, your application should be clear about exactly what you have done (concretely) within the framework of these jobs. We would like you to be able to substantiate these concrete contributions with references.

Analytical interest is essential, and previous work with analysis is an asset. Since the research project is evaluated using quantitative methods, it can be helpful if you have such theoretical knowledge or practical experience from before.

Collaboration skills are key. We would also like you to be able to support this with previous examples and references. Other important personal qualities are curiosity, conscientiousness, ability to socialize, ability to be flexible and empathetic. We place great importance on personal qualities when selecting candidates.

Terms

The doctoral position involves employment as a doctoral student for a maximum of 4 years full-time.

Application

You apply for the doctoral position in the recruitment tool Varbi. Use the button at the top right and follow the instructions. We prefer that your application is written in English, but it is also possible to apply in Swedish.

Your application should include these documents:

– A personal letter and curriculum vitae
– Any degree theses and publications
– Other documents that prove the skills and qualities requested above
– Documents that prove the basic eligibility requirement (see A above)
– Documents that prove the specific eligibility requirement (see B above)

Selection

Selection among eligible applicants will be made based on their ability to benefit from postgraduate education. An overall assessment of the applicants’ qualifications and suitability will be made.

The following assessment criteria are applied at Karolinska Institutet:

– Documented subject knowledge of importance to the research area
– Analytical skills
– Other documented knowledge/experience that may be of importance to the current doctoral education

All applicants will receive information when the recruitment is completed.