Research assistant

The Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (MEB) is one of the largest departments in epidemiology in Europe and has a special focus on deepening our knowledge of the causes of various diseases. Our department consists of researchers, doctoral students, biostatisticians, data collectors, database administrators and administrative staff, a total of about 250 employees. The department is located on the campus area in Solna. More information is available at: ki.se/meb

The prostate cancer group at MEB conducts international cutting-edge research in prostate diagnostics and tailored treatment. Specifically, the group has for several years worked with artificial intelligence-based models to assist pathologists in their assessment of prostate biopsies.

The position provides the opportunity to work with the development of statistical methods for predicting prostate cancer and the risk for death after a prostate cancer diagnosis. The methods will be used to predict current and future risk of cancer and prognosis after diagnosis of the disease using data from population-based registries, epidemiological studies and clinical trials. All methods will be implemented in the statistical program R.

This is a temporary position for 6 months.

Entry requirements

The position requires a university degree in statistics, biostatistics, or a closely related field. The ideal applicant should be experienced in and have a strong interest in applications. Previous experience in prostate cancer research is considered a strong qualification for this position, as well as experience of working with the Swedish prostate cancer register and links between the Swedish prostate cancer registers and national registers from Statistics Sweden (SCB) and the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen). Experience of time-to-event analysis within a competing risk setting is also considered a merit. Design and analysis of clinical trials and epidemiological studies, from working with register-based data, and interpretational skills for presenting results in scientific reports are strong merits. Further, experience from applications of statistics in medicine and/or epidemiology are considered merits, together with experience from cross-disciplinary research together with database administrators and clinicians.

Experience from manipulating complex datasets and conducting research projects in the statistical programming language R is required. Written and spoken fluency in English is essential. Knowledge of additional languages is also meriting.

Personal characteristics

The applicant should be highly collegial, and be able to work well in a cross-disciplinary team as well as having the ability to work independently. Further, the applicant should possess organizational skills, know how to successfully multitask, and should be able to describe past examples of having developed structured approaches to solving unanticipated and complex problems. Oral and written communication skills in English are required, along with experience with writing scientific reports in English. The applicant should have good analytical skills, possess curiosity and creativity.

A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. 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. Karolinska Institutet is also a state university, which entitles you to several good benefits through our collective agreement. And you get to practice freely in our modern wellness facilities, where trained staff are on site.

Location: Solna

The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system. Welcome to apply at the latest October 14, 2022.