Postdoc in Global Health and Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology

The Department of Public Health at the Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a postdoc position in Global Health and Environmental Epidemiology as per 15 November 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term, full-time position for 2 years.

Department of Public Health

As a postdoc at the Department of Public Health, you will be part of an internationally recognised department, where we work together to promote public health through research into areas that can prevent, treat and alleviate disease. We are involved in broad collaboration both internally and externally. We share our knowledge with citizens, decision-makers, business and industry, practitioners and other researchers – in municipalities, in the regions and both nationally and internationally. The department either contributes to or is responsible for teaching in medicine, public health science, sport science, optometry and nursing. At the Department of Public Health, you will have approx. 200 colleagues, including ninety academic staff members and a corresponding number of PhD students. We work closely with one another across different fields of study and prioritise a healthy work environment. The general tone among colleagues is informal. You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here.

About the research project

The research project is a register-based study examining health outcomes and environmental exposure. It will be integrated into the interdisciplinary research centre BERTHA, fostering collaboration with a diverse group of national and international partners. The project involves various epidemiological studies utilizing health registers and environmental parameter registers in partnership with relevant entities. The applicant will analyze and interpret respiratory health data from national health registries and environmental parameter registers.

Additionally, the applicant will coordinate the ResilienceNCD project, which focuses on researching non-communicable diseases in disaster scenarios within resource-limited settings. This project aims to develop and test a tailored NCD care package for integration into disaster preparedness and response strategies.

Furthermore, the applicant will oversee the scientific program of the BERTHA project and manage global health and non-communicable disease research projects within the Research Unit for Global Health at the Department of Public Health.
The successful candidate is expected to disseminate research findings through publications in international peer-reviewed journals and presentations at both national and international conferences.

Your job responsibilities

As Postdoc in Global Health and Non-communicable Epidemiology, your position is primarily research-based but may also involve teaching assignments. You will contribute to the development of the department through research of high international quality. In your daily work, you will work closely with colleagues on your project, where you will receive supervision and guidance.

Your main tasks will consist of:

• Independent research of high international quality, including publication.
• Health registries and environmental parameters registries-based study and publication.
• Designing and conducting research in low and middle-income countries in the area of non-communicable diseases.
• Overseeing the global health and non-communicable disease research projects within the department. This will take 50% of the position.
• Communication of results – oral and in writing.
• Teaching in medicine and public health science.
• Supervising students (BA, MA, and PhD students).
• Scientific program management of the research project BERTHA on big data and environment and health. This will take 50% of the position.

You will report to the Professor Torben Sigsgaard and Professor Per Kallestrup from Department of Public Health, Aarhus University.

Your competences

You have academic qualifications at the PhD level, for example, within the following areas, preferably with a focus on one or more of the following areas: Global Health, environmental epidemiology, respiratory disease, and environmental health.  You are expected to have the following competencies.

• Expert user of statistical software (e.g., R or SAS, or Stata).
• Experience with study design and statistical analysis of epidemiological data.
• Experience with management of register data and/or big data in connection with scientific studies and publications.
• Experience with monitoring environmental exposures and epidemiological analyses of these data.
• Experience in designing and conducting research on chronic respiratory diseases and environmental health in low- and middle-income countries.
• Experience in Global NCD research and teaching.
• Experience in research project management.
• Good cooperative and communication skills.

As a person, you have good interpersonal skills, are inclusive and team-oriented and able to contribute to a good work environment. We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English.

In order to be assessed as qualified for a Postdoc position, you must meet these academic criteria.

Shortlisting will be used.

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Torben Sigsgaard tel.: (+45) 28992426 or email at ts@ph.au.dk .

Your place of work will be the Department of Public Health, Bartholins Allé 2, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

We expect to conduct interviews end September 2024.

Terms of employment

• Appointment as a postdoc requires academic qualifications at PhD level.
• Further information on the appointment procedure can be found in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
• The appointment is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• Remuneration is in accordance with the above, and the Salary agreement catalogue for staff at Health.
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime postdoc is between DKK 484.214,84 and DKK 538.720,20 depending on the years of working experience after achieved MSc degree. The base salary includes a position related supplement and pension (17.1 %). Additional supplement(s) for special qualifications can be negotiated. Authorisation supplemement(s) will be granted, if relevant for the position. Your local eligible trade union representative at Aarhus University negotiates your salary on your behalf.
• Researchers recruited from abroad are offered a special researcher tax scheme with a lower tax rate.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job description can be found in the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff

Application

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diploma
• Template for applicant - postdoc
• A list of publications
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• A maximum of five of the publications of greatest relevance to the job may be submitted (optional)
• Research plan can be uploaded (optional)
• Coauthor statement(s) can be uploaded (optional)
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the e-recruitment system (optional)

We refer to the faculty’s Guidelines for applicants.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

Letter of reference

If you want a referee to upload a letter of reference on your behalf, please state the referee’s contact information when you submit your application. We strongly recommend that you make an agreement with the person in question before you enter the referee’s contact information, and that you ensure that the referee has enough time to write the letter of reference before the application deadline.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure that letters of reference received after the application deadline will be taken into consideration.

International applicant?

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including assistance with relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about the International Staff Office and the range of services here. Aarhus University also has a Junior Researcher Association and offers career development support. You can read more about these resources here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.