Doctoral (PhD) student position cardiovascular epidemiology

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

To be a doctoral student means to devote oneself to a research project under supervision of experienced researchers and following an individual study plan. For a doctoral degree, the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral education is required.

The research group

As a doctoral student you will be based at the department of clinical science and education, Södersjukhuset (KI SÖS). You will be a part of a research group led by assistant professor Olga Titova. The research group focuses on identifying biological and lifestyle-related determinants of cardiovascular and other diseases, with a particular focus on underlying mechanisms, causal inference, risk prediction and sex-specific differences.

The research is based on large population-based cohorts and register data in combination with biomarker data. By integrating epidemiological and molecular data, the work aims to improve the understanding of complex relationships between lifestyle, socioeconomic factors, biological mechanisms and health.

You will work in close collaboration with other research groups at the department, providing access to an interdisciplinary and stimulating research environment with strong expertise in cardiovascular epidemiology, biostatistics and clinical research.

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The doctoral project aims to investigate how sleep and lifestyle factors influence the risk of cardiovascular disease, with a focus on differences between women and men, interactions between risk factors and underlying biological mechanisms. The project is based on large Swedish population-based cohorts linked to national health registers and includes both traditional epidemiological analyses (e.g., longitudinal cohort analyses) and advanced analyses of omics data, such as proteomics and metabolomics, as well as causal inference methods, including Mendelian randomization. The overall aim is to improve the understanding of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, with a particular focus on sleep, lifestyle factors and underlying biological mechanisms and to contribute to improved risk stratification and prevention strategies.

The successful candidate will work with the analysis of large-scale datasets and participate in the planning and execution of sub-studies. The work will include data harmonization and management, statistical analyses, interpretation of results, scientific writing and presentation of findings at seminars and national and international conferences. You are also expected to participate in doctoral courses and actively contribute to the research environment.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment full of expertise and curiosity. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. As a doctoral student you are offered an individual research project, a well-educated supervisor, a vast range of elective courses and the opportunity to work in a leading research group. Karolinska Institutet collaborates with prominent universities from all around the world, which ensures opportunities for international exchanges. You will be employed on a doctoral studentship which means that you receive a contractual salary. Employees also have access to our modern gym for free and receive reimbursements for medical care.

Eligibility requirements for doctoral education

In order to participate in the selection for a doctoral position, you must meet the following general (A) and specific (B) eligibility requirements at latest by the application deadline.

It is your responsibility to certify eligibility by following the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

A) General eligibility requirement You meet the general eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

1. have been awarded a second-cycle/advanced/master qualification (i.e. master degree), or
2. have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the advanced/second-cycle/master level, or
3. have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.*

Follow the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

*If you claim equivalent knowledge, follow the instructions on the web page Assessing equivalent knowledge for general eligibility for doctoral education.

B) Specific eligibility requirement

You meet the specific eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

• Show proficiency in English equivalent to the course English B/English 6 at Swedish upper secondary school.

Follow the instructions on the web page English language requirements for doctoral education.

Verification of your documents Karolinska Institutet checks the authenticity of your documents. Karolinska Institutet reserves the right to revoke admission if supporting documents are discovered to be fraudulent. Submission of false documents is a violation of Swedish law and is considered grounds for legal action.

(A) and (B) can only be certified by the documentation requirement for doctoral education.

Skills and personal qualities

In addition to the eligibility requirements, you have the following:

• Master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, biostatistics, data science or equivalent
• Good knowledge of epidemiological and/or statistical methods
• Experience with statistical programming (e.g., R, Stata, or similar)
• Experience in quantitative data analysis
• Excellent English, both written and spoken

It will be considered meritorious if you have experience in the following:

• Epidemiology, biostatistics or related fields
• Analysis of large datasets or cohort data
• Analysis of register-based data
• Omics data (e.g., proteomics or metabolomics)
• Sleep research and analysis of sleep-related factors
• Cardiovascular epidemiology or cardiometabolic diseases
• Scientific writing and/or publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience working or studying in an international research environment

As a person, you are analytical, structured and detail-oriented, with a strong commitment to high-quality research. You have a strong interest in epidemiology and cardiometabolic diseases and are motivated to learn new methods and analytical tools. You are self-driven and able to work independently, while benefiting from supervision and guidance, and you also enjoy collaboration in an interdisciplinary environment. You work in a structured manner, take initiative and contribute actively to moving projects forward, while remaining adaptable and solution-oriented when challenges arise. In the assessment of applicants, we will place particular emphasis on personal suitability.

Terms and conditions

The doctoral student will be employed on a doctoral studentship maximum 4 years full-time.

Application process

Welcome to apply latest 29, May 2026.

Submit your application and supporting documents through the Varbi recruitment system. Use the button in the top right corner and follow the instructions. We prefer that your application is written in English, but you can also apply in Swedish.

Your application must contain the following documents:

• A personal letter and a curriculum vitae
• Degree projects and previous publications, if any
• Any other documentation showing the desirable skills and personal qualities described above
• Documents certifying your general eligibility (see A above)
• Documents certifying your specific eligibility (see B above)

Selection

A selection will be made among eligible applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from doctoral education. The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis.

Karolinska Institutet uses the following bases of assessment:

• Documented subject knowledge of relevance to the area of research
• Analytical skill
• Other documented knowledge or experience that may be relevant to doctoral studies in the subject.

All applicants will be informed when the recruitment is completed.

Type of employment: PhD placement
Contract type: Full time
First day of employment: According to agreement
Salary: Monthly salary
Number of positions: 1
Full-time equivalent: 100
City: Stockholm
County: Stockholms län
Country: Sweden
Reference number: STÖD 2-1933/2026