Research Specialist in Public Health Science

The Department of Global Public Health is a multidisciplinary department with the aim to advance knowledge about challenges and opportunities for public health in a local, national, and global setting. Research at the department is focused on how different societal and individual factors affect population health, and to develop and evaluate structural and individual-oriented interventions. Many researchers at the department are scientific advisors to authorities and other decision makers at regional, national, and international levels. The department has 12 research groups, about 110 PhD students and about 140 employees.

The position is placed in the PRIME health research group (Prevention, Intervention and Mechanisms in Public Health). The group collaborates broadly with international experts in public health, with a particular focus on epidemiology. Our research themes include mental health, parental health and support, reproductive health, cardiovascular health, physical activity and health impacts of climate extremes.

The escalating threats posed by various extreme events, such as pandemics and climate extremes, are raising concerns regarding the health of the most vulnerable populations, including pregnant women. Our group is developing a research team dedicated to examining the effects of these extremes on maternal and infant health. This project centers on qualitative research aimed at evaluating the perception of risk, vulnerability, and preparedness within the realm of maternal health during extreme events, such as pandemics.

As a Research Specialist you will be responsible for planning and conducting semi-structured interviews with women and stakeholders. The overall aim of the project is to investigate how pregnant women prepare and perceive risk from such events, and what strategies stakeholders plan to implement to mitigate the impacts.

The employment as Research Specialist is time limited, 70% full-time equivalent up to 31st of December 2024.

To be eligible for employment as a Research Specialist, in addition to holding a Degree of Doctor, PhD, or having equivalent scientific expertise, the applicant must have demonstrated research expertise as well as have documented research experience after defending their doctoral dissertation.

The applicant should have a solid background in social sciences, including a PhD-thesis with a relevant topic. Furthermore, the applicant must have experience in interdisciplinary research relevant to the position.

Applicants should, in recent years, have conducted research of high quality, and demonstrate the ability to continue to conduct research of high quality using qualitative methods (e.g. qualitative data collection through semi-structured interviews, focus groups).

It is meritorious that the applicant has shown pedagogical experience and leadership qualities.

Applicants should be able to work independently but also have a strong aptitude for cooperation and teamwork. Personal qualities will be considered when appointing. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential.

After an overall assessment of the expertise and merits of the applicants in relation to the subject area, Karolinska Institutet will determine which of them has the best potential to contribute to a positive development of the activities at KI.

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Here, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several benefits through our collective agreement.

Location: Solna

We prefer that Your application is written in English, but You can also apply in Swedish. An application must contain the following documents: Resumé, qualifications and description of planned research, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet's qualifications portfolio.

Welcome to apply at the latest 11 March, 2024.

The application must be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system.