Doctoral student in translational breast cancer research

Do you want to contribute to improving human health?

The Lindström research group offers a creative and inspiring environment characterised by expertise, curiosity, and close collaboration. Our vision is to conduct high-quality medical research that improves survival and clinical management for patients with breast cancer.

We are part of the Department of Oncology and Pathology at BioClinicum, where basic, translational, and clinical cancer research are brought together in a stimulating interdisciplinary setting. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world’s leading medical universities, and since 1901 the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has selected the Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine.

To be a doctoral student means to devote oneself to a research project under supervision of experienced researchers and following an individual study plan. For a doctoral degree, the equivalent of four years of full-time doctoral education is required.

The research group

A doctoral position is available in Linda Lindström’s research group.

We are seeking a highly motivated doctoral student to join a research team dedicated to improving the understanding of breast cancer and the factors associated with the development of metastatic disease. A central question in our work is why some patients are at particularly high risk of developing metastases.

Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease with respect to tumour biology, metastatic potential, and the timing of metastatic progression. For example, younger premenopausal women are known to have a higher and long-term risk of developing metastatic disease than postmenopausal women, yet the biological mechanisms underlying this difference are not well understood. A particular focus of the Lindström group is to better understand these differences, together with timing of metastasis. We and others have shown that patients with breast cancer have a persistent long-term risk of metastatic disease that remain 20–30 years after diagnosis. To address these questions, the group uses a range of complementary approaches, primarily by integrating tumour-related information from patient cohorts and clinical studies. The group has also recently established a cell laboratory, which will provide opportunities for involvement in experimental research for candidates with an interest in this area.

The group has a strong network both within Karolinska Institutet and internationally, with frequent collaborations with research groups in the USA, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain, all connected by a strong translational focus. Linda Lindström is Deputy Head of the Department of Oncology and Pathology, where the research group is based. Until recently, she also served as Co-Director of the Breast Cancer Theme Center (BRECT) at Karolinska Institutet and as Chair of the national translational breast cancer network SWETribe, which brings together both preclinical and clinical researchers.

For further information about our work, please consult the following selection of publications from our group:

Danielsson and Lindström et al, JNCI, 2026
Johansson and Lindström et al, JCO, 2022
Johansson and Lindström et al, JNCI 2025
Yu and Lindström et al, JAMA Oncol, 2019

The doctoral student project and the duties of the doctoral student

The doctoral studies correspond to four years of full-time study. The research programme for this doctoral position will include analytical as well as practical work, in addition to scientific writing, courses, seminars, and presentations. The overall objective of the project is to improve prediction of who will develop metastatic disease and die from breast cancer by identifying key tumour characteristics that influence this risk, using unique clinical cohorts with long-term follow-up. Ultimately, the aim is to improve clinical management already at the time of primary diagnosis by identifying patients at high and low risk of later developing metastatic disease.

We hypothesise, and have previously shown, that risk factors influencing prognosis during the first 10 years after diagnosis differ from those associated with late or long-term risk of metastatic breast cancer. In addition, younger premenopausal women have a poorer prognosis than older postmenopausal women, and their risk may also be influenced at least partly by different biological factors. We have also shown that intra-tumour heterogeneity of oestrogen receptor (ER) expression influences the risk of fatal breast cancer. As a continuation of this work, the project will investigate the importance of intra-tumour heterogeneity at single-cell resolution, which is now possible through the use of spatial proteomics together with novel image-analysis methods that we will combine and further develop.

Endocrine therapy is the standard and foundational treatment for ER-positive breast cancer. However, it is well established that approximately half of patients do not derive substantial benefit from this treatment, and the long-term benefit among those who initially respond remains unclear. In this doctoral project, we will continue our efforts to understand how menopausal status at diagnosis, tumour characteristics, and intra-tumour heterogeneity influence both the timing and pattern of benefit from endocrine treatment.

The doctoral student will play an important role across all parts of the selected projects. Responsibilities will include literature review, statistical analysis, interpretation of results, scientific writing, and presentation of data. In addition, the role will involve molecular analyses (primarily planning and coordination) and more practical aspects of the project, such as coordinating the collection of potentially missing but necessary patient information. The position therefore requires flexibility and a strong interest in interdisciplinary work across clinical oncology, pathology, biostatistics, epidemiology, and molecular biology.

Your supervisors have broad expertise in biostatistics, bioinformatics, epidemiology, oncology, and molecular biology.

What do we offer?

A creative and inspiring environment full of expertise and curiosity. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. Our vision is to pursue the development of knowledge about life and to promote a better health for all. At Karolinska Institutet, we conduct successful medical research and hold the largest range of medical education in Sweden. As a doctoral student you are offered an individual research project, a well-educated supervisor, a vast range of elective courses and the opportunity to work in a leading research group. Karolinska Institutet collaborates with prominent universities from all around the world, which ensures opportunities for international exchanges. You will be employed on a doctoral studentship which means that you receive a contractual salary. Employees also have access to our modern gym for free and receive reimbursements for medical care.

Eligibility requirements for doctoral education

In order to participate in the selection for a doctoral position, you must meet the following general (A) and specific (B) eligibility requirements at latest by the application deadline.

It is your responsibility to certify eligibility by following the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

A) General eligibility requirement

You meet the general eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

1. have been awarded a second-cycle/advanced/master qualification (i.e. master degree), or
2. have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the advanced/second-cycle/master level, or
3. have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.*

Follow the instructions on the web page Entry requirements (eligibility) for doctoral education.

*If you claim equivalent knowledge, follow the instructions on the web page Assessing equivalent knowledge for general eligibility for doctoral education.

B) Specific eligibility requirement

You meet the specific eligibility requirement for doctoral/third-cycle/PhD education if you:

- Show proficiency in English equivalent to the course English B/English 6 at Swedish upper secondary school.

Follow the instructions on the web page English language requirements for doctoral education.

Verification of your documents Karolinska Institutet checks the authenticity of your documents. Karolinska Institutet reserves the right to revoke admission if supporting documents are discovered to be fraudulent. Submission of false documents is a violation of Swedish law and is considered grounds for legal action.

(A) and (B) can only be certified by the documentation requirement for doctoral education.

Skills and personal qualities

We are seeking an enthusiastic, curious, and highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in cancer research, molecular oncology, and data analysis. As the doctoral student will work in an interdisciplinary and international research environment, excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate scientific findings effectively in English, both orally and in writing, are essential.

Applicants should have an undergraduate background in computational biology, biostatistics, bioinformatics, or a related discipline. The following qualifications will be regarded as merits:

• Documented knowledge of breast cancer research, cancer biology more broadly, or a strong demonstrated interest in the field
• Documented expertise in biostatistical and/or bioinformatics methods, including proficiency in R and/or Python
• Documented knowledge of molecular biology and molecular oncology
• Knowledge of high-throughput analytical methods, such as image analysis, spatial proteomics, gene expression profiling, or RNA/DNA sequencing
• Documented experience of applied data analysis involving multidimensional datasets, for example patient cohorts or registry-based data
• Any other documented knowledge or experience considered relevant to the project

Emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

Terms and conditions

The doctoral student will be employed on a doctoral studentship maximum 4 years full-time.

Application process

Submit your application and supporting documents through the Varbi recruitment system. Use the button in the top right corner and follow the instructions. We prefer that your application is written in English, but you can also apply in Swedish.

Your application must contain the following documents:

- A personal letter and a curriculum vitae
- Degree projects and previous publications, if any
- Any other documentation showing the desirable skills and personal qualities described above
- Documents certifying your general eligibility (see A above)
- Documents certifying your specific eligibility (see B above)

Selection

A selection will be made among eligible applicants on the basis of the ability to benefit from doctoral education. The qualifications of the applicants will be evaluated on an overall basis.

Karolinska Institutet uses the following bases of assessment:

- Documented subject knowledge of relevance to the area of research
- Analytical skill
- Other documented knowledge or experience that may be relevant to doctoral studies in the subject.

KI applies a salary scale when setting salaries for doctoral students. All applicants will be informed when the recruitment is completed.

Linda Lindström's group

Linda Lindström

Want to make a difference? Join us and contribute to better health for all

1. Linda Lindström, [email protected]

1. Helen Eriksson, OFR, [email protected]
2. Sara Jalali, OFR, [email protected]
3. Elizabeth Valenzuela, SEKO, [email protected]
4. Per Hydbring, SACO, [email protected]
5. Nick Tobin, SACO, [email protected]