Postdoc in indoor climate and health in schools and residential buildings

The Department of Public Health at Aarhus University in Aarhus, Denmark, invites qualified individuals to apply for a Postdoctoral Associate position in the field of Indoor climate expected to start on 15 December 2024 or soon thereafter. The position is a fixed-term 22 months full-time position.
 
As a Postdoc at the Department of Public Health, you will be part of an ambitious and internationally recognized 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 prioritize 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 postdoc will be enrolled in two research projects. The first project, CPH Urban Lab where the postdoc will be the project leader, is a research project in collaboration between Professor Torben Sigsgaard at Aarhus University and Professor Pawel Wargocki at the Danish Technical University, DTU. The aim of the project is to maximize residents’ health in a modern urban environment by studying the impact of environmental exposures on human health. The other project is the LEARN project in collaboration between professor Torben Sigsgaard at Aarhus University and researchers at Aarhus University in Roskilde. The postdoctoral scholar appointed in this project will be working with an intervention study seeking to study the impact of an air cleaner in a class with pupils aged 9-12 years in a blinded intervention study. The main aim of the study is to investigate the impact of indoor air pollution on pupils’ cognition. The projects will collect data through field studies.

Your job responsibilities

As Postdoc in environmental health your position is primarily research-based but will 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.

The main tasks for this position will consist of:

• Extensive, detailed and thorough planning of recruitment for both projects.
• Obtain ethical approval for the CPH Urban Lab in Denmark.
• Manage the data collection in both field studies.
• Administer employee responsibilities both recruitment, scheduling, and continuous evaluation. 
• Performing sophisticated statistical analyses using advanced methods.
• Writing of scientific manuscripts for publications to disseminate research findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Contributing to international collaborations, attending scientific meetings, or conferences, and departmental seminars or presentations.
• Meeting regularly with Principal Investigators or Co-Investigators for scientific updates and progress toward the study’s aims.
• Assisting with the writing of scientific progress reports annually to provide to international collaborators.

The Postdoctoral associate will report to professor Torben Sigsgaard.

Your competences

You have academic qualifications at PhD level, preferably within one or more of the following areas: environmental epidemiology, air pollution, health outcomes, somatic diseases, vulnerable population subgroups. You have knowledge of indoor climate in residential buildings and/or schools, field studies, stakeholder collaboration, ethics and/or biostatistics. Candidates with previous experience with the research projects CPH Urban Lab and LEARN is preferred.

As a person, you are ambitious, take ownership and possess good communication and interpersonal skills. 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.

At the research unit for Environment, Occupation and Health we offer:

• An inspiring and informal research environment
• Possibilities of influencing your own work tasks
• Individual training based on interests and needs
• Possibility of participating in courses
• Participation in national and international conferences
• Local, national and international cooperation partners

Shortlisting will be used.

Questions about the position

Any questions about the position may be directed to Professor Torben Sigsgaard tel.: (+45) 2899 2426.

The place of work for the Postdoctoral Associate will be at the Department of Public Health, Bartholins Allé 2, building 1260, 3rd floor, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Interviews for the position are expected to start soon after the application deadline and will be on an ongoing basis.

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.


Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/