项目介绍

2024年12月18日

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 researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Doctoral position in Medical Science

Project title: Young people’s mental health in a turbulent time with global polycrises. A longitudinal study of neighbourhood inequality, coping strategies, and societal costs using the STARS cohort

The School of Public Health and Community Medicine is located at the Institute of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. The School of Public Health and Community Medicine conducts extensive education and research in global public health, general medicine, occupational medicine, environmental medicine, social medicine, medicine use and pharmaceutical policy. We also conduct education and research within nutritional epidemiology, insurance medicine, innovation and utilization, health economics, biostatistics and register epidemiology.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university’s doctoral student pages https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies

Duties   

Doctoral education in Medical Science comprises carrying out a scientific project and completing at least 30 credits of courses at third-cycle level. The doctoral student must also write a scientific compilation thesis or monograph corresponding to at least 120 credits. For more information about third-cycle studies at Sahlgrenska Academy, see https://www.gu.se/en/sahlgrenska-akademin/doctoral-studies

Project: The research group STARS (Study of Adolescence Resilience and Stress) conducts research primarily around risk profiles and protective factors regarding mental and physical health in young people. The cohort study follows adolescents from age 13 with follow-up examinations at ages 15, 18, and 23 years, with the latest follow-up currently under planning. The overarching goal of the STARS project is to examine how stress, perceived differently among adolescents with varying family socioeconomic status and immigrant backgrounds, and low resilience to stress during adolescence, contribute to the development of obesity, elevated blood pressure and mental ill-health later in life.

During the 10-year follow-up, data collection will be conducted through surveys, physical examinations, and focus group interviews. The primary focus is to explore the evolving health status of individuals transitioning from adolescence to young adulthood in a time marked by global polycrises. The project aims to deepen our understanding of the impact of neighborhood inequality and coping strategies on young people’s mental health, as well as the societal costs associated with mental illness.

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to join the STARS project. Documented experience of working with interview methodology,registry data (e.g., SCB), data management, and proficiency in statistical software such as Stata, SPSS, or R; 3 is a merit. It is desirable that the candidate has a background in health and medical research, particularly with a focus on children and adolescents. Furthermore, experience in health economic calculations, statistical analysis methods such as multilevel regression analysis, and longitudinal studies is an advantage. We value good communication and organizational skills, as well as the abilitiy to work independently and as a part of an interdisciplinary team. The project requires that the candidate has excellent knowledge of both Swedish and English, in speech and writing. 

Doctoral studies comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree.  As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period, and result in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.    

Eligibility   

Doctoral education requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.  

The general eligibility requirements for doctoral studies are:    

1. having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
2. the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or  
3. the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad. 

Specific entry requirements for this subject, according to the general syllabus, are:

having successfully completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies. 

Assessment criteria    

The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the doctoral studies. The assessment shall attach particular importance to documented qualifications for:

– specific knowledge and skills within the subject area and related research fields
– experience of scientific theory and relevant research methodology
– scientific analysis and presentation verified through an academic paper, degree project, scientific
journals or the like.   

Admission and employment   

Once you have been admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg. The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100. Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time. A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at doctoral level for four years.   

Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Medicine, The School of Public Health and Community Medicine. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Please note, doctoral studies at the Institute of Medicine requires physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, the Institute of Medicine has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies. 

Contact information 

For more information about the project please contact:

Principal supervisor Yun Chen, Associate Professor, Institute of Medicine,
e-mail: yun.chen@gu.se 

Assistant supervisor Peter Friberg, Professor, Institute of Medicine, 
peter.friberg@gu.se

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:   
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande    

Application   

You can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.   

You must include the following, in pdf format

• Personal letter
• CV
• Diploma and transcripts showing that you meet with the general entry requirement
• Proof of completion of English 6 course or the acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies

If your degree is from a university outside of Sweden, make sure that you attach a diploma and full transcripts that makes assessing your degree easier.  

If your degree has not been verified by a Swedish authority you need to provide contact details to the issuing university, registrar or similar, that can verify the degree at our request.

For information on what you need to submit in order to fulfill the English language requirement see https://www.universityadmissions.se/en/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/

Applications must be received by: 2025-01-08

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/