Postdoctor in epilepsy epidemiology

Ref PAR 2023/10

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

At the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, at the Sahlgrenska Academy, we conduct research and education covering a wide range of knowledge areas. The institute comprises five different departments: Clinical neuroscience, Health and rehabilitation, Pharmacology, Physiology as well as Psychiatry and neurochemistry.

The Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology is looking for a postdoctor to our research group, which focuses on clinical and epidemiological research on acquired epilepsy.

The research group belongs to the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology and is a part of the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, (www.wcmtm.gu.se), which means many excellent opportunities for career development. The research group is run by Johan Zelano and consists of PhD-students and clinical study coordinators. We do epidemiological research based on national registers. In addition, we do several clinical biobank studies. The group has multiple national and international collaborations.

Subject area

Epilepsy

Subject area description

Acquired epilepsy arises mid-life, typically after some sort of brain injury, like stroke, brain infection, or trauma. The aim of the research is to improve health care of persons with acquired epilepsy, find biomarkers of value in epilepsy, and optimize treatment. Because epilepsy is a heterogeneous condition, patients are difficult to follow over time in traditional clinical studies. We use national register data to determine risk factors, prognosis, and study treatment and clinical studies to identify biomarkers of value for epilepsy care.

Job assignments

The selected applicant will work with our register-based epidemiology and biomarker studies. The initial phase will be to compile new databases with multinational register data for pharmacoepidemiological studies .In addition, the postdoc will work with our ongoing biobank study PREDICT, attempting to identify biomarkers of relevance for epilepsy care. The job requires experience in handling big amounts of data and programming experience in for instance R, Python, or equivalent. There are also ample opportunities to develop the postdoc's own research interests in epilepsy. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the academic environment of the research group, and there are many opportunities for supervision of PhD-students and undergraduate students.

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts at the University of Gothenburg.  

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree, a doctoral degree in art or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made. 

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.  

To qualify as a postdoctoral researcher for this position, the applicant should hold a PhD in computer science/statistics, or the biomedical area including epidemiology, biomedicine, bioinformatics.

Assessment

Qualifications: relevant PhD in computer science/statistics, or the biomedical area including epidemiology, biomedicine, bioinformatics. Good knowledge of English.

The following merits are particularly sought: Experience in handling big amounts of data. Experience in epidemiology or blood biomarkers. Knowledge of epilepsy. Experience in research based on data from national health registers.

The applicant should be autonomous in his/her work, have good interpersonal skills and enjoy working in a research organization. We appreciate that you are accurate and have good communication, administrative and strategic skills.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

Employment

The employment is limited (temporary) for 2 years, 100% of full-time, and is placed at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology. Starting date: as soon as possible or as agreed. 

Contact information 

If you have questions regarding the employment please contact Adjunct Senior Lecturer Johan Zelano, phone: +46 31 342 90 62, e-mail: johan.zelano@neuro.gu.se

Manager in charge is Professor/Head of Department Katharina Stibrant Sunnerhagen, phone: + 46 709 52 00 23, e-mail: ks.sunnerhagen@neuro.gu.se

Application documents are not to be submitted through the contact persons.

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply

Application

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.  

Please enclose PhD certificate with the application.

Applications must be received by: 2023-03-31

Information for International Applicants 

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit: 

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services 
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/ 

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.