PhD fellowship: Social and gender differences in health related consequences of caregiving for adult relatives with chronic disease

Department of Public Health, Section of Social Medicine invites applicants for a PhD fellowship investigating potential social and gender differences in health related consequences of caregiving for adult relative(s) with chronic disease.
Start date is (expected to be) 1 February 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.


The project
The PhD project has an explanatory mixed-methods approach and consists of an initial quantitative part investigating the social and gender based differences in caregiving as well as the potential inequalities in selected health related outcomes based on existing longitudinal Danish survey and register data (Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank). The major part of the PhD project is to develop and run the following qualitative study among approximately 30 caregivers (50+ years old) of relatives with chronic disease. The informants will be recruited from two hospitals in Region Zealand with a relatively large share of socially vulnerable patients and thus relatives. The project with be developed in close collaboration with clinicians. The study will gain a deeper understanding of what factors produce the inequalities in caregiver stress as well as the health related consequences hereof, and to identify potential mitigating factors. The PhD project is part of a larger research team around the project at Section of Social Medicine including another PhD student and collaborating partners from Norway and Sweden.


Who are we looking for?
We are looking for excellent candidates with a background from public health, sociology, or medicine. Experience with and knowledge about qualitative as well as quantitative methods will be needed.


Our group and research - and what do we offer?
The PhD student will be employed at the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. The PhD student will be affiliated with the Section of Social Medicine which contribute to the development of health promotion, prevention, and rehabilitation nationally and internationally with a focus on social inequality. We investigate life course social, psychosocial, psychological, physiological and behavioural determinants of health and function, as well as the socioeconomic consequences of disease and functional decline.

Principal supervisor is Professor Rikke Lund, Department Public Health, [email protected] 35327992

Co supervisors are associate professor Charlotte Juul Nilsson and Associate professor emerita Ulla Christensen.


Job description
Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme are:

1. Conduct an independent multi-methods research project under supervision.
2. Complete PhD courses totaling approximately 30 ECTS / ½ FTE.
3. Participate in collaborative and active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad.
4. Engage in teaching and knowledge dissemination activities.
5. Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals within the field of research in collaboration with colleagues.
6. Write and defend a PhD thesis based on your project.
   

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
We are looking for highly motivated applicants with the following competences and experiences:

• To be eligible for the regular PhD Programme (5+3 scheme), you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Public Health, Sociology, Medicine, or related fields with excellent results. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.
• The candidate will be self-motivated with the ability to work independently as well as competent to collaborate as part of an interdisciplinary research team
• Fluency in Danish is a requirement to conduct the qualitative study
• Excellent communication skills in both spoken and written English
• Prior experience and hands-on experience in any of the following areas is an advantage:
  • Qualitative methods (e.g. focus groups, observations, diaries, and individual interviews)
    

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 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.

Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 30,700 DKK/Roughly 4,100 EUR (April 2024 level) plus pension.



Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page) including motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another 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.
4. Publication list (if possible)
5. Reference letters (if available)

The deadline for applications is 1 October 2024 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.

The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.

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.

The first round of job interviews is expected to be held in week 43, and the second job interview is expected in the following week.

You find information about the recruitment process at: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

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



Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD Programme at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences’ website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.