Karolinska Institutet is recruiting a fully funded PhD student to join a cutting-edge research team at the intersection of artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and cancer research. The position is based in the Unit of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, under the supervision of Professor Annika Bergquist. The research group specializes in precision medicine for liver and biliary diseases, with a particular focus on primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and biliary tract cancers (BTC).

The doctoral project aims to develop and apply AI-based models for early detection and risk stratification of BTC in PSC patients. The student will work with large-scale clinical, imaging (MRI), and multi-omics data, integrating advanced machine learning and bioinformatics approaches to identify molecular subtypes and novel biomarkers associated with cancer risk. The project leverages well-characterized national cohorts and biobank material, ensuring strong translational relevance and feasibility.

As a PhD student, you will join an interdisciplinary environment of clinicians, bioinformaticians, and computational biologists, gaining training in advanced data analysis, AI, and clinical interpretation. The position offers a creative and inspiring research environment, access to elective courses, and opportunities for international collaboration. Karolinska Institutet is recognized as one of the world's leading medical universities, providing a vibrant academic setting and comprehensive support for doctoral students.

Eligibility: Applicants must hold a master's degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, data science, or a related field, or have equivalent qualifications. Proficiency in English (equivalent to Swedish upper secondary school English B/6) is required. Candidates should have experience with R, Python, or similar tools, and a strong background in bioinformatics, machine learning, and deep learning. Desirable qualifications include experience in medical or biological sciences, hepatology, oncology, imaging data, multi-omics integration, and bioinformatics pipeline development. Personal motivation and suitability for computational medicine and translational research are highly valued.

Funding: The position is fully funded as a doctoral studentship for up to four years, with a contractual salary and additional benefits such as access to a modern gym and medical care reimbursements.

Application: Apply through the Varbi recruitment system by submitting a personal letter, CV, degree projects, publications, and documents certifying eligibility. The application deadline is December 12, 2025. For more information, visit the official job posting or contact Professor Annika Bergquist.

Keywords: AI, Cancer Research, Bioinformatics, Biliary Tract Cancers, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, Multi-omics, Machine Learning, Translational Medicine, Hepatology, Medical Imaging.