PhD student in Medical Science

Published: 2023-03-24

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has over 54,000 students, more than 7,500 employees and a turnover of around SEK 8 billion.

The Department of Women's and Children's Health is an international and multidisciplinary institution with a focus on women's, parents' and children's health and welfare. The global health perspective is always present, and we collaborate across professions and clinical areas, both in education and in research. The advertised position is linked to the research group International  Maternal & Reproductive Health and migration (IMHm). More information about the department and its activities can be found at https://www.kbh.uu.se/ .

The research group is host for MigraMed, an interdisciplinary research project that studies sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) from a migration perspective. International comparisons show that Swede’s are more liberal, individualistic, and pro equality than other populations. A central societal challenge is how to provide culturally sensitive healthcare to migrants from countries with starkly different values. To meet this challenge, it is important to understand how migrants’ values and moral opinions change over time. The MigraMed project is currently tracking change through longitudinal survey studies. With the theoretical framework provided by Moral Argument Theory, we aim to understand the underlying social and psychological processes that drive value and opinion change.

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Duties
The research project will be carried out within the MigraMed research program. The doctoral project will mainly focus on longitudinal follow-ups on previously surveyed values and moral opinions. Cross-cultural studies on value and opinion change may also be conducted using the same theoretical framework (Moral Argument Theory). The aim is to identify the individual characteristics (education, core values, etc.) and environmental factors (employment, contact with different population groups, etc.) that most affect how an individual’s values and moral opinions change. We will also study the speed and direction of opinion change, and how this depends on the way in which different opinions connect to more fundamental values. Tasks will include collecting survey data, conducting quantitative analyses, and writing scientific articles that report the results. Concurrently with completing these research projects, the PhD student will complete both obligatory and elective coursework and is expected to take part in research meetings at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health.

Other duties at the Department of Women's and Children's Health that relate to education and administrative work may occur (maximum 20%), which in that case extends the employment by the corresponding time.

Requirements
The prospective PhD student must have:

• Completed a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in a relevant discipline, such as the behavioral sciences, public health, psychology, or sociology.
• Excellent ability to communicate in English, both orally and written.
• Previous experience with and good knowledge of quantitative research methods including using R and/or STATA.
• The ability to construct surveys.
• Previous experience studying migrant values and a demonstrable sensitivity to the subjects political, cultural, and religious dimensions.
• The ability to work independently and professionally in a group and to communicate with colleagues from different academic disciplines and professions.
• The ability to take initiative, deliver on time, meet promised “deadlines,” and to pay careful attention to details. 

The position requires that the candidate is accepted within the postgraduate doctoral program. Information regarding requirements for acceptance is found at: http://www2.medfarm.uu.se/utbildning/forskarniva/ and https://www.uu.se/utbildning/utbildningar/forskarutbildning/ .

Additional qualifications
Other desirable qualifications:

• Previous experience with interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Previous experience with social science research, including data collection, data handling, and applying for research funds.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines .

Application                                                                                                                                     Your application should be written in English and contain your Curriculum Vitae, master thesis, publications, a letter of motivation (maximum two pages) with a short description of yourself, your knowledge and research interests, and contact information for a minimum of two reference persons.

About the employment
The employment is atemporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100 %.Starting dateas agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact:Professor Birgitta Essén  +460701679123, birgitta.essen@kbh.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 21 april 2023, UFV-PA 2023/1129.

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Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Placement: Department of Women's and Children's Health

Type of employment: Full time , Temporary position

Pay: Fixed salary

Number of positions: 1

Working hours: 100 %

Town: Uppsala

County: Uppsala län

Country: Sweden

Union representative: ST/TCO tco@fackorg.uu.se
Seko Universitetsklubben seko@uadm.uu.se
Saco-rådet saco@uadm.uu.se

Number of reference: UFV-PA 2023/1129

Last application date: 2023-04-21