PhD student in cancer epidemiology

Description of the workplace
The research group Register-based epidemiology at the Department of translational medicine, the faculty of medicine, conducts research on overweight, obesity, and related disease and lifestyle factors, in relation to the risk of disease and death, especially cancer. The research group is led by Associate Professor Tanja Stocks and currently includes three additional researchers at various academic levels. The group has a strong focus on epidemiological studies that involve large datasets and often require advanced study design and analysis.

The research group leads the Obesity and Disease Development Sweden (ODDS) study, which is a large-scale national project and will be the group's primary research focus in the coming years. More information about the research group and its work can be found here. The position is based at the Clinical Research Centre in Malmö.

The Department of Translational Medicine (ITM) is now announcing a vacancy for a position at the doctoral program and employment as a doctoral student within cancer epidemiology, with a focus on obesity and cancer risk.

We care about creating a positive, respectful, and stimulating environment. We value communication and collaboration and a workplace that promotes learning and development for all employees. We are also committed to building a safe and positive environment for all employees through mutual respect and tolerance.

Doctoral program subject
Medical science

Description of the project
Several types of cancer have been confirmed to be related to overweight and obesity. We are now seeking a PhD student to further investigate these associations. The aim of the project is to examine various measures of body size, the interaction between body mass index (BMI) and different medications, as well as the interaction between BMI and weight changes, in relation to cancer risk. The project is conducted within the Swedish ODDS study.

Work duties and responsibilities
The main tasks of a doctoral student are to devote themselves to their doctoral education and therefore you will be both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University.

Your main responsibility will be to complete doctoral courses and to work within the described studies. The studies will be deeply rooted in statistical and epidemiological methods applied to the large-scale data of the ODDS study. The work primarily involves planning and conducting statistical analyses and writing scientific articles within the framework of the doctoral education, but other tasks within the research group may also be included, such as assisting in the supervision of students and participating in other research projects. You will present your research findings 1–3 times per year at local meetings and/or national or international conferences.

Qualifications
Basic eligibility for doctoral education is someone who has:

• completed a degree at advanced level
• completed course requirements of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits at advanced level or in some other way within or outside the country acquired essentially equivalent knowledge.

The requirements for special eligibility are met by someone who has:

• at least 60 credits in the subject area of ​​medical science applicants must have knowledge equivalent to at least 3 years of upper secondary education in English.

Special requirements for the employment are:

• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in public health, statistics, or another epidemiologically or medically relevant field
• Strong communication, presentation, and writing skills
• Good organizational and analytical abilities
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and strong collaborative skills

Meritorious for the position are:

• Strong proficiency in spoken and written English
• Completed courses in statistics or epidemiology
• Experience with statistical software, particularly Stata
• Experience working with epidemiological studies, databases from population-based studies, and/or Swedish national registers

Great importance will be placed on how the applicant, through their experience and competence, is assessed to have the ability needed to complete the doctoral program.

We offer
Lund University is a governmental authority, which means you get special benefits, generous holidays and a favorable occupational pension.

As a doctoral student at Lund University, you are both admitted as a student and an employee, which gives you several benefits. Read more about being admitted and employed at on the university's website. Read more about being employed with us on the university's website.

About the employment
The position is a fixed-term position for a total of four years, 100% with a start date of 1 September 2025 or as agreed. The main rule is that employment at Lund University is conducted in Sweden, so you are expected to be able to perform your work on site in Malmö.

Provisions regarding employment as a doctoral student are found in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), Chapter 5, Sections 1-7. Provisions regarding admission to doctoral studies are found in Chapter 6, Section 3, Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). More information is available on the university's website.

Additional information
Interviews are expected to take place in early to mid-June. For doctoral students, there is a specific salary scale linked to each faculty and salary is set according to the current salary scale.

How to apply
The position is sought via the university’s recruitment system. Applications must include a personal motivation letter, in which you describe how you meet the qualification requirements and why you are interested in the position. The application must also contain a diploma, CV or equivalent and anything else you wish to refer to (copies of grades, information for references, letters of recommendation, etc.).