PhD Position in Medical Science

Project Title: Epilepsy and Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Epidemiology, Treatment, and Prognosis

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General information about what it means to be a PhD student at Gothenburg University can be found on the university's PhD pages here (https://www.gu.se/utbildning-till-att-bli-forskare).

Job Responsibilities

Education in medical science consists of conducting a scientific project and participating in doctoral courses of at least 30 higher education credits. The education concludes with the PhD student writing a scientific thesis or a monograph corresponding to at least 120 higher education credits. For more information about doctoral education at Sahlgrenska Academy, see here (https://www.gu.se/sahlgrenska-akademin/var-forskarutbildning).

Project: There are bidirectional relationships between epilepsy and cerebrovascular disease. Intracerebral hemorrhage is the stroke form most likely to cause epilepsy, with cortical localization, size, and seizures at stroke onset appearing to be prominent risk factors. We have previously studied epilepsy after brain hemorrhage using Swedish registry data and found that the cumulative risk of post-stroke epilepsy after brain hemorrhage is about 13 percent. Conversely, the risk of brain hemorrhage seems to increase after an epilepsy diagnosis.

This PhD project will study the relationship between epilepsy and brain hemorrhage, from epidemiological associations to molecular markers for vascular risk. The project will be based on registry data from two ongoing projects; one on rehabilitation after stroke and one on long-term prognosis of epilepsy. In brief, registry data from the National Board of Health and Welfare and Riksstroke will be used to identify individuals with epilepsy after stroke who will then be followed prospectively regarding the risk of epilepsy, treatment-resistant epilepsy, rehabilitation, and death. The high resolution of Swedish registry data allows for very detailed follow-up with minimal loss to follow-up. Additionally, we will use proteomics on plasma from individuals with epilepsy to study whether markers for vascular risk can be detected early and vary with epilepsy treatment.

It is desirable that applicants have experience in epilepsy research and have worked or studied in close collaboration with healthcare in neurology or neurorehabilitation. Documented experience in statistical analysis including programming in e.g. Matlab, R, SPSS, Stata, or equivalent is meritorious.

Eligibility

To be admitted to doctoral education at the doctoral level, basic and, where applicable, the specific eligibility established in the general study plan for the doctoral subject is required.

Basic eligibility for doctoral education at the doctoral level is met by those who:

1. have obtained a master's degree, or
2. have completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the master's level, or
3. have acquired equivalent knowledge in other ways, within or outside the country.

Specific eligibility for doctoral education in medical science is met by those who: have completed the course English B/6 with a passing grade or are assessed to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies.

Admission and Employment

After being admitted to doctoral education, you will receive a PhD position at Gothenburg University. Regulations for employment as a PhD student can be found in the regulation SFS 1993:100. The initial employment as a PhD student may last for a maximum of one year and may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. A PhD student may be employed as a PhD student for a maximum of eight years, but the total employment period may not exceed what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years.

Placement: Sahlgrenska Academy, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, Section for Clinical Neuroscience. Scope 100%. Start date according to agreement.

The university applies a local agreement on salary setting for PhD students.

The doctoral education at the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology requires physical presence to conduct studies. If the admitted candidate needs a residence permit to study in Sweden, the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology has the right to revoke the admission decision if the admitted candidate cannot present a valid residence permit by the start date of the studies.

Contact Information for the PhD Position

If you have questions about the project, please contact the main supervisor, Johan Zelano, Professor, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, email: johan.zelano@neuro.gu.se (mailto:johan.zelano@neuro.gu.se).

Application

For further information and to apply for the position, see the full advertisement here (https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-anstallningar).

The application must be submitted by: 2025-04-08

The university actively works for a work environment with equal conditions and values the qualities that diversity brings to the organization.

The university applies individual salary setting.

According to the National Archives' regulations, the university is obliged to store application documents for two years after the appointment decision. If you, as an applicant for a position, specifically request the return of your documents, they will be returned after the two years have elapsed; otherwise, they will be disposed of.

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