The Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) conducts world leading research in aging, dementia, epidemiology and care sciences. This research extends from basic molecular and cell levels to clinical research and societal studies. NVS educates almost a third of KI students at basic and advanced levels. The Department has approximately 540 employees and a revenue 2023 of 530 million SEK. It comprises seven divisions, located at Campus Flemingsberg and Campus Solna.
Aging Research Center (ARC), a division within NVS, is located at KI Campus Solna, Stockholm. It is a multidisciplinary academic environment, representing medicine (e.g., neurology, epidemiology, psychiatry, geriatrics), psychology (e.g., cognition, structural, functional, and molecular brain imaging), and social gerontology (e.g., sociology, public health, social epidemiology, social work). The center has around 70 employees, it has a strong focus on research with unique research resources, such as large-scale longitudinal studies and nationwide registries.
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.
Multidimensional health in old age – Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga group. Our research aims to advance the understanding of health in older age by moving beyond the traditional focus on single diseases towards a multidimensional and longitudinal perspective on health trajectories. We study the clinical, psychosocial, and behavioural determinants of multimorbidity and functional health, and examine how these complex health states shape older people’s needs for and use of medical and social care services.
The doctoral project focuses on developing and applying AI-assisted, product-level dietary assessment methods to study nutritional quality, food processing, and food additive exposure in relation to healthy ageing in older adults. The project is embedded within the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care (SNAC) and will involve interdisciplinary collaboration in nutritional epidemiology, gerontology, and data science.
The doctoral student will contribute to study design, AI-assisted dietary data collection, harmonisation of product-level dietary exposures, statistical analyses of longitudinal cohort data, interpretation of results, and dissemination through scientific publications. The project is well suited for candidates with prior experience in nutritional or epidemiological research and strong interest in computational approaches.
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.
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:
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have been awarded a second-cycle/advanced/master qualification (i.e. master degree), or
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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
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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.
We are looking for a highly motivated and well‑qualified candidate with a strong background in nutrition science and practical experience in dietary data collection and epidemiological research in older populations. The candidate should meet most of the following criteria:
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A master’s degree in nutrition science or a closely related health‑science field, with documented training in dietary assessment and nutritional epidemiology;
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Hands‑on experience with dietary data collection, preferably including interviewer‑administered or technology‑assisted 24‑hour dietary recalls in adult or older populations;
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Previous involvement in the development, piloting, or implementation of novel dietary assessment methods, including experience with protocol development, standard operating procedures, and feasibility or usability testing;
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Demonstrated experience working with longitudinal ageing or population‑based cohort studies, including familiarity with cohort workflows, data governance, and collaboration with fieldwork or data‑collection teams;
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Experience in coordinating and supervising participant‑facing research activities, in close collaboration with study staff or field teams (e.g. oversight of recruitment procedures, follow‑up routines, and quality control of collected data);
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Experience with data cleaning, harmonisation, and linkage to food‑composition or product‑level dietary databases, and preparation of data for statistical analyses;
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Strong analytical skills and prior experience working with epidemiological datasets, with demonstrated use of statistical software such as R and/or STATA;
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Evidence of active contribution to scientific outputs, including preparation of abstracts, reports, or manuscripts in nutrition or epidemiology;
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Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, and an ability to work independently while collaborating closely with an interdisciplinary research team;
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A high level of motivation, organisational skills, and capacity to take responsibility for advancing a complex methodological work package within a larger doctoral project.
The doctoral student will be employed on a doctoral studentship maximum 4 years full-time.
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)
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.
https://ki.se/en/nvs/research/centres-at-nvs/aging-research-center-arc
https://ki.se/en/research/research-areas-centres-and-networks/research-groups/multidimensional-health-in-old-age-amaia-calderon-larranaga-group
The Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) conducts world leading research in aging, dementia, epidemiology and care sciences. This research extends from basic molecular and cell levels to clinical research and societal studies. NVS educates almost a third of KI students at basic and advanced levels. The Department has approximately 540 employees and a revenue 2023 of 530 million SEK. It comprises seven divisions, located at Campus Flemingsberg and Campus Solna.
Anställningsform: doktorandplats | Anställningens omfattning: heltid | Antal lediga befattningar: 1 | Sysselsättningsgrad: 100 | Ort: Stockholm | Län: Stockholms län | Land: Sweden | Referensnummer: STÖD 2-2355/2026 | Kontakt: Adrián Carballo Casla , | Facklig företrädare: Henry Wölling, SEKO , Carina Eklund, OFR/ST 08-58582665, Taher Darreh-Shori, SACO , | Publicerat: 2026-06-05 | Sista ansökningsdag: 2026-06-26
