PhD fellowship/Postdoc/Assistant Professor within the Complexity and Big Data Group

Updated: almost 2 years ago
Deadline: 19 Jun 2022

We are looking for two highly motivated, open-minded, and dynamic researchers for a 3-year PhD-fellowship and/or a 3-year fixed-term Postdoc/Assistant Professor to commence on 1 September 2022, or as soon as possible thereafter.

You will be part of an interdisciplinary research group in Complexity and Big Data Epidemiology , which aims at understanding and acting upon complex public health issues by exploring large national and international datasets, including nationwide registers.

Our research
We offer a creative and stimulating working environment in an international and interdisciplinary research group. Health is a complex phenomenon, and we study the social, environmental, and biological factors determining health and disease. We also aim to elucidate the underlying biological and social mechanisms that might explain these effects. To embrace complexity in health, we actively explore new sources (e.g. smartphones) of ‘big data’, incorporate complexity theory and system methods, leverage insights across disciplines, and explore the opportunities in citizen science aimed at a direct societal engagement and impact.

Your job
You will be involved in one or more large epidemiological research projects. One of these is a large-scale registry-based study on health trajectories, childhood adversities and labor market marginalization, with specific focus on the transition from childhood to early adulthood. It will also cover intergenerational health effects, and later life health outcomes based on data from the globally unique DANLIFE cohort . Another project involves multi-level analyses of the complex interactions between chronic disease and labor market attachment in the large longitudinal Well-being in Hospital Employee Study . The projects will aim at integrating newer methods from precision medicine and complexity science to investigate the complex interplay between social, environmental and health factors. Applying these methods will allow us to look at dynamic interactions between several of these dimensions simultaneously. The work tasks include data management of large studies, statistical analyses of large complex data materials, writing scientific papers, teaching and outreach. Please visit theComplexity and Big Data Epidemiology website for more details on our work. The work tasks associated with the different positions differ to some extent, and they key tasks for each position are outlined below.

Your key tasks as a PhD student:

  • Carrying through an independent research project under supervision.
  • Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
  • Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
  • Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
  • Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
  • Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project.

Your key tasks as Postdoc/Assistant Professor:

  • statistical analyses of large complex data materials
  • research, including publication/academic dissemination duties
  • research-based teaching
  • sharing knowledge with society
  • participation in formal pedagogical training program (only Assistant Professors).


Profile
We are looking for open-minded, creative and enthusiastic scientists with the following competencies and experience:

  • You have a Master degree (or PhD-degree if you apply for the postdoc/Assistant professorship) in epidemiology, data science, complexity science, computational methods, medicine, social science, or related sciences.
  • You are highly experienced in working with large and complex dataset, preferable also register-based studies
  • You have an active interest in public health and epidemiology, preferable also complexity science
  • Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
  • Excellent English skills written and spoken.

If you are applying for an Assistant Professor position, please be aware of the six overall criteria apply for assistant professor appointments at the University of Copenhagen. The six criteria (research, teaching, societal impact, organisational contribution, external funding, and leadership) are considered a framework for the overall assessment of candidates. Find information about each criterion here: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/criteria-for-recognising-merit .

Place of employment
The place of employment is at Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen. Information on the Section of Epidemiology can be found at: https://publichealth.ku.dk/about-the-department/section-epidemiology/

Terms of employment
The employment as Postdoc/Assistant Professor is a full time and fixed-term position for 3 years. Starting date is 1 September 2022 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations). Currently, the monthly salary starts at 35,500 DKK/approx. 4,770 EUR (April 2022 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Non-Danish and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.


The employment as a PhD-student is full time and fixed-term position for 3 years. The employment is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.
The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.
General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 28,300 DKK/Roughly 3,800 EUR (April 2022 level) plus pension.

Questions
For further information please contact Head of Section, Professor Naja Hulvej Rod, [email protected]

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. two pages). Please clearly indicate what position you are applying for (PhD-fellow/Postdoc/Assistant Professor)

2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.

3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate (for Postdoc/Assistant professor) and/or b) Master of Science certificate. If you apply for a postdoc position and the PhD is not yet completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.

For the PhD position: Certified copy of original Master of Science diploma and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in other language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted. As a prerequisite for a PhD fellowship employment, your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree. We encourage you to read more in the assessment database: https://ufm.dk/en/education/recognition-and-transparency/find-assessments/assessment-database. Please note that we might ask you to obtain an assessment of your education performed by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science.

4. List of publications.


Application deadline: 19 June 2022, 23.59pm CET
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.


Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.



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