PhD Student in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Clinical Trials – U-CARE, Uppsala Trial Forge Centre

Uppsala University’s Department of Women's and Children's Health, through the CIRCLE research group and the U-CARE programme, invites applications for a fully funded PhD position focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion in clinical trial research. The successful candidate will join a vibrant, multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving mental wellbeing for those affected by ill health, developing evidence-based behavioural interventions, and enhancing the design and conduct of clinical studies. U-CARE is internationally recognized for its methodological expertise and maintains active collaborations across Europe. The PhD project will investigate how insufficient attention to equity, diversity, and inclusion in clinical trials impacts health outcomes among underserved populations. The student will develop strategies to make clinical trials more inclusive and responsive to diverse patient needs. Collaboration is expected with the Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Clinical Trials (EDICT) Doctoral Network, funded by the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions-Doctoral Network programme (MSCA DN) under Horizon Europe 2020. U-CARE is an associated partner in EDICT, providing access to a broad international network. Key duties include quantitative analysis of clinical trial and population register datasets (primarily Swedish), developing evaluation approaches for diverse recruitment and retention, data management, synthesis of evidence, and potentially qualitative data collection. The student will disseminate findings through publications and presentations and participate actively in research meetings. Up to 20% of the role may involve educational or administrative tasks within the department, with corresponding extension of employment. Applicants must have a master’s degree in a relevant discipline (healthcare, behavioural or public health sciences, health economics, or similar), at least 240 higher education credits (including 60 at Master’s level and an independent project), and excellent English communication skills. Experience with quantitative research methods and software (NVivo, R, SPSS, Stata, MS Office) is required. Meritorious skills include research experience (data collection, management, applications to funders/ethics), scientific publication, proficiency in Swedish, and hands-on experience with population registries, qualitative methods, RCTs, and systematic reviews. The position is full-time, temporary, and based in Uppsala, Sweden, with a starting date of April 2026 or as agreed. Funding is provided through the MSCA DN programme, with a competitive salary. The application should be submitted in English via Uppsala University's recruitment system by 29 December 2025 and must include a CV, motivation letter, master’s thesis, degree diploma, and contact details for at least two references. For further information, contact Assistant Senior Lecturer, Docent Sophie Nadia Gaber ([email protected]) or Professor Louise von Essen ([email protected]). Uppsala University is committed to sustainable employment, safe working conditions, and a supportive international environment. The university is a leading research institution with over 7,600 employees and 53,000 students. Security vetting may apply. For more information about working and living in Sweden, visit the university’s website.