Vacant job

The Department of Clinical Sciences is advertising a doctoral position in medical science within the research area of Neurosurgery. The employment period is four years, full-time, starting September 1, 2026, or as agreed.

Those admitted to doctoral studies are part of the faculty-wide doctoral education program at the Faculty of Medicine. The program comprises 25 ECTS credits and is offered in two study paces: 25 ECTS over 8 terms (total 4 years) or over 12 terms (total 6 years), with program start every autumn and spring semester. More information about the program can be found on the faculty's website for doctoral education.

Project Description and Duties

The research project is clinically focused on studying long-term outcomes after deep brain stimulation (DBS) for dystonia. DBS is an established treatment for severe and therapy-resistant dystonia, but important knowledge gaps remain regarding individual treatment courses over time, the relationship between clinical outcomes and stimulation parameters, cognitive long-term effects, and the significance of neuroanatomical networks and stimulated structures. The project is based on a retrospective cohort of patients treated with DBS at Norrlands University Hospital, combined with in-depth long-term follow-up of clinical, cognitive, and imaging data.

Duties include literature reviews, drafting and developing the research plan, chart review, structuring of clinical long-term data, compilation of neuropsychological and radiological data, database management, statistical analyses, and authoring scientific manuscripts. The doctoral student will work in close collaboration with the supervisory group and external partners with expertise in DBS, neurology, neurosurgery, neuroimaging, neuropsychology, and treatment outcome analysis.

The appointment aims at a doctoral degree, and the doctoral student's main task is to engage in their own doctoral education, which includes participation in research projects as well as doctoral courses, journal clubs, seminars, etc.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to doctoral studies, the applicant must have basic eligibility and specific eligibility as described below, and be assessed as having the ability otherwise required to complete the education.

Basic Eligibility

Basic eligibility for doctoral studies is held by those who have completed an advanced level degree, fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits (HEC), of which at least 60 HEC at advanced level, or have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other order within or outside the country (Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 7, Section 39).

Specific Eligibility

To be admitted to doctoral studies, the applicant must have necessary knowledge from higher education or equivalent education and/or professional experience assessed in relation to the doctoral education area, as well as necessary language skills in English. Both written and oral skills are required.

Other Qualifications

A completed course in neurology during medical school or equivalent higher education is considered necessary to benefit from the doctoral education and the project's clinical questions. Very good skills in Swedish and English, both spoken and written, are required. Since the project relies on reviewing and structuring Swedish-language clinical documentation, good ability to understand medical terminology and clinical care pathways within neurology and neurosurgery is essential.

Documented experience of clinical or translational research work within neurology, neurosurgery, movement disorders, or related neuroscience areas is particularly meritorious. Previous experience of research work concerning deep brain stimulation (DBS), especially in dystonia or other movement disorders, is highly meritorious.

The project involves analysis of clinical long-term data, imaging data, and stimulation-related variables. Therefore, experience with structured chart review, work with clinical research databases, extraction of radiological data, processing of DBS-related imaging data, and handling of stimulation parameters from DBS systems is meritorious. Experience with software for electrode reconstruction, image-based analysis, VTA modeling, or similar analysis of DBS treatment is particularly valuable.

Experience with statistical analysis of clinical research data, especially in R or similar statistical software, is meritorious. Experience with literature reviews, scientific writing, and participation in manuscript work is also meritorious.

Application

The application should be written in English and include:

• A personal cover letter explaining why you are applying and why you are suited for the doctoral position
• A CV
• Certified copies of degree certificates, transcripts, and certificates
• Copies of thesis and any publications
• Contact information for at least two reference persons

Applications must be submitted via our e-recruitment system Varbi and received no later than July 6, 2026.

Terms

Salary according to the established salary scale for doctoral positions.

If a residence permit is required for your stay in Sweden, the university reserves the right to withdraw the admission if you are not granted a residence permit, or – if the start date of studies is set – if you cannot present a valid residence permit before the start date of studies. The latest start date for studies is December 31, 2026.

Contact

Principal Supervisor: Amar Awad, [email protected]

We look forward to receiving your application!

Open to all. We focus on your competence, not your other prerequisites. We are open to adapting the role or workplace to your needs.