PhD student in Medical Science (precision medicine)

The SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS) is a 12-yr initiative funded with a total of 3.3 billion SEK from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The program’s purpose is to train the next-generation of data-driven life scientists and to create globally leading computational and data science capabilities in Swedish life sciences.

DDLS is establishing a research school for 260 PhDs in academia and industry. The aim is to educate highly skilled and competent professionals who will make major contributions to life-science research in Sweden. The advertised PhD position, based at Lund University, is generously supported through the DDLS PhD program.

Description of the workplace
The Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Unit at the Department of Clinical Sciences conducts research primarily on data-driven solutions in precision medicine, with focus on precision prediction of disease, diagnostic subclassification, and therapeutic decision support within cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). You can read more here. The Unit is located at Lund University’s Helsingborg hospital campus.

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

Doctoral Research Subject                 
Medical Science

Description of the project:
CMDs are a major global health concern, influenced by complex interactions of genetics, environment, and socio-cultural factors. Precision medicine seeks to enhance prediction, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment by integrating diverse data types.

This project asks: how do genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors interact across different ancestry groups to influence CMD risk, and can ancestry-specific insights inform more precise prediction, prevention and treatment?

Work duties
The main duties of the doctoral student are to conduct their own research education.

Duties include: i) Data science focusing on analytical pipelines to address variability in risk factor susceptibility, treatment response, disease pathogenesis, and clinical diagnosis (biostatistics, machine/deep learning), ii) Investigating causal processes and disease mechanisms (causal inference and pathobiology). iii) Integrating knowledge of clinical implementation channels. Other tasks may also be assigned.        

Eligibility
Students with basic eligibility for third-cycle studies are those who:

• have completed a second-cycle degree.
• completed courses of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits are from second-cycle courses, or
• have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way, in Sweden or abroad.

Specific admission requirements:

• At least 60 credits within the subject area of medical science.
• Students with a first-cycle qualification obtained outside Scandinavia are to have knowledge equivalent to 3 years of studying English in upper secondary school (a pass in the exam) if they have a first language other than English.

Requirements for the postion: 

• Master’s degree in biomedicine or biostatistics.
• Doctor of medicine degree with clinical practice experience.
• Certified training in R and Python software.
• Documented experience using machine learning and large, multimodal human datasets.

Emphasis is placed on the candidate’s personal qualities, including independence, strong organizational, communication and collaboration skills, social and professional competence, and a results-oriented and proactive attitude.

Meritorious for the position are:

• Previous research related to CMDs, longitudinal data modelling, human genetics.

Assessment Criteria and Selection
In accordance with the provisions of the Higher Education Ordinance, the selection should primarily be based on an assessment of the applicants' ability to benefit from the education. During admission, it is mainly the applicant's merits from their basic education that can normally be assessed. In this regard, breadth, depth, and relevance, as well as elements of independent work, should be considered.

Terms of Employment
As a doctoral student at Lund University, you are both admitted as a student and employed.
This 4-year fixed-term, full-time appointment has a preliminary start date of June 1, 2025, or as agreed. Employment at Lund University requires work to be conducted in Sweden. Therefore, you must perform most duties on-site in Helsingborg.

Regulations regarding doctoral student employment are specified in Chapter 5, Sections 1–7 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). Regulations regarding admission to doctoral studies are found in Chapter 6, Section 3 of the same ordinance. Further information regarding the regulations for admission and employment as a doctoral student can be found on the faculty's website

What We Offer
Lund University is a public authority, which means you will benefit from special employment advantages, generous vacation entitlements, and a favorable occupational pension scheme. Learn more about working at Lund University on the university’s website.

How to apply
Applications, made via the university’s recruitment system, should be written in English and include a personal motivation letter clearly describing how you meet the qualification requirements and your interest in the position. You should also include CV, copies of grades, details for references, recommendation letters, training certificates etc.