Doctoral student in Medical Science - Stroke prevention

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Doctoral position in Medical Science

Project title: Optimizing Stroke Prevention: The Impact of Pharmacological and Lifestyle Interventions.

The Department of Clinical Neuroscience is located at the Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. The Department conducts research in neurology, neurosurgery, clinical neurophysiology, ophthalmology, rehabilitation medicine and experimental neuroscience in close collaboration with the Sahlgrenska University Hospital. The Department is responsible for courses in the educational programs for prospective physicians, biomedical analysts, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech therapists. We also carry out commissioned educational programs in collaboration with the Department of Neurology at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital. There are around twenty research groups at the Department.

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university's doctoral student pages Doctoral studies | University of Gothenburg (gu.se)    

Duties   

The PhD 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: Stroke, the second leading cause of death and third cause of disability, accounted for 5.7% of global Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in 2019 and caused 6.55 million deaths. Despite decreasing incidence and mortality rates, the absolute number of stroke cases has risen. Diabetes significantly increases stroke risk, with diabetic individuals facing twice the risk compared to non-diabetics. Stroke is responsible for about 20% of deaths in the diabetic population. The global prevalence of diabetes has nearly doubled since 1990 and is expected to increase further, necessitating targeted efforts to reduce stroke risk in this high-risk group. Research on diabetes medications like SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists, and DPP-4 inhibitors shows mixed results regarding their impact on stroke risk. Meta-analyses indicate that while these medications can influence cardiovascular events, their specific effects on stroke are unclear. Lifestyle changes, particularly physical activity, are critical in reducing stroke risk for both the general population and diabetics, as high BMI is a major diabetes risk factor. Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs) significantly heighten stroke risk, serving as crucial checkpoints for prevention. This research aims to explore the effects of pharmacological and lifestyle factors on stroke risk, post-TIA outcomes, and overall mortality, particularly in diabetic and heart failure populations.

Study I will examine changes in physical activity among diabetics following a TIA and their impact on mortality, using data from Swedish health registries.
Study II will compare the effects of different diabetes medications on subsequent stroke risk post-TIA, aiming to optimize secondary prevention.
Study III will assess how SGLT-2 inhibitors influence stroke risk in diabetics and heart failure patients, comparing hazard ratios between groups.
Study IV will analyze pre-stroke medication patterns in stroke patients versus controls to identify potential preventive measures.

The overall goal is to enhance stroke prevention strategies and improve outcomes for high-risk populations by informing clinical practices and guiding future research.

Education at third-cycle level 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. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.    

Eligibility   

Education at third-cycle level requires general eligibility and specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.  

The general eligibility requirements for education at third-cycle level 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 completed the English B/6 course or is considered to have acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies. 

Assessment criteria   

The selection of applicants who are considered to have the ability required to benefit from the study programme and who meet the general and specific eligibility requirements are assessed based on the following documented qualifications:
- 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 thesis, degree project, scientific journals or the like. 

Documented experience of registry research, the statistical program R, and machine-learning is desirable.

Employment   

Once you have been admitted for education at third-cycle level, 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 third-cycle level for four years.   

Location: Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience. Extent: 100%. First day of employment: as agreed.

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

Contact information 

For more information about the project please contact principal supervisor,
Katharina Stibrant Sunnerhagen, Professor, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology,
e-mail: ks.sunnerhagen@neuro.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 for education at third-cycle level via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal. 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.   

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: 2024-07-10

 

 

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.