Postdoc with epidemiological skills and an interest in cognition

The National Institute of Public Health at University of Southern Denmark (SDU) seeks applicants for a post doc on the ‘The Cognition Program’ for a two-year position, starting the 1^st of January 2025.

The Cognition program is based on comprehensive and continuously updated information on cognitive capacity, childhood adversities, and environmental factors from more than two million Danish children. The main objective of the Cognition program is to investigate to what extent exposure to childhood adversities and environmental pollutants can lead to poorer cognitive capacity.

The post doc will be responsible for analysing trajectories across different measures of cognitive capacity from age 10 to age 28 and furthermore for establishing a composite measure of cognition based on the nation-wide Cognition Database. Additionally, the post doc will contribute to studies of childhood adversities and environmental pollutants as potential risk factors of cognitive capacity. The Cognition Database will include different measures of cognitive capacity throughout the life-course and utilize available data from registered residents in Denmark. The post doc will be part of a research team consisting of several internationally established senior researchers and PhD students from University of Southern Denmark and University of Copenhagen as well collaborators from foreign universities. The post doc is expected to analyse data and write scientific publications and contribute substantially to other publications from the group that are based on the Cognition Database.

When evaluating applications, the following qualifications are expected:

• A PhD degree within a relevant field (public health, epidemiology, psychology or other related fields)
• In-depth experience in programming and statistical analyses, preferably in R
• Excellent communication skills in spoken and written English
• Documented experience with writing and publishing scientific papers in international peer-reviewed journals

It will be considered an advantage to have:

• Documented research experience in the fields of environmental epidemiology and/or cognitive development
• Experience with linkage of large nationwide registers and establishment of databases

Research environment

The candidate will join the research group on Child and Adolescence Health at the National Institute of Public Health, SDU, Copenhagen, Denmark. The research group focuses on research into child and adolescent health and wellbeing, mostly with projects that link conceptual and theoretical development with qualitative and quantitative empirical evidence. We carry out research into infants, school children and young people in youth education programmes. We often focus on epidemiology and method development, but also use qualitative methods and implement intervention projects.

Suitable candidates will be invited for an informal interview after the application deadline.

Further Information and contact
For further information, please contact Professor Trine Flensborg-Madsen, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Tel.: +45 65 50 9361, E-mail: [email protected].

Application deadline

October 17th, 2024, at 23.59 hrs. CEST

Appointment
Appointment to the position requires a PhD or equivalent and will be in accordance with the salary agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

Application

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply now".

The application must include (as PDF files) (please note that the application (the motivation letter) and CV must not exceed 10 MB in total):

• A detailed CV
• A cover letter mentioning how your profile would fit the project (max. 2 pages)
• A PhD degree diploma
• A complete list of publications, indicating which publications are most relevant for the position
• Up to 3 of the most relevant publications (including unpublished work). Please upload a pdf for each publication.

If you experience technical problems, you must contact [email protected]

Incomplete applications will neither be considered nor evaluated.

Shortlisting will be used in the recruitment process.

Living and working in Denmark

Foreign applicants will be offered Danish language training as part of the employment.

The International Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a variety of services for new employees, guests and people who consider applying for a job at the University of Southern Denmark. Among other things, the staff answers questions concerning salary, taxation, housing and accompanying family.

The University of Southern Denmark wishes to reflect the surrounding community and therefore encourages everyone, regardless of personal background, to apply for the position.