Postdocs in Epidemiology or Statistical Genetics at The Pioneer Centre for SMARTbiomed

The Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for two or more positions as a Postdoc in the fields of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, or Statistical Genetics, as per 1 July 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for three 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.

Pioneer Centre for SMARTbiomed, National Centre for register-based Research

The Pioneer Centre for Statistical and computational Methods for Advanced Research to Transform biomedicine (SMARTbiomed) is an international collaboration between Aarhus University, University of Oxford and University of Copenhagen. SMARTbiomed aims to advance the development of methods and software for analysis and inference from massive human data, advancing applications in medicine. SMARTbiomed is led by Prof. Naomi Wray and is anchored at Aarhus University.

This SMARTbiomed postdoc position will be at the at the National Centre for register-based Research (NCRR), Department of Public Health, where you will be part of an internationally recognized research centre, which houses several internationally acknowledged research groups in psychiatric and genetic epidemiology, as well as statistical genetics.

About the research project

The postdoctoral scientists will join an interdisciplinary team of statistical geneticists, epidemiologists, statisticians, geneticists, and clinicians, based at the Pioneer Centre for SMARTbiomed at Aarhus University. The project focuses on developing statistical and computational methods to integrate health records, epidemiological data, and genetic data to study the underlying causes of diseases.

Specific postdoc projects may include:

• Implementing and applying multistate models, including recurrent event analysis with competing risks, pseudo-observations, and extended case-cohort analysis.
• Improving methods to account for selection biases in large cohort studies.
• Developing methods to leverage functional data to better partition heritability, estimate genetic correlation, and fine-map causal variants.
• Improving polygenic risk scores by leveraging thousands of correlated outcomes.
• Utilizing and refining causal inference approaches, such as Mendelian randomization or instrumental variables.
• Bridging the gap in prediction accuracy when applying polygenic scores to individuals of non-European genetic ancestry.
• Developing robust integrative risk prediction models that account for family history, socioeconomic position, and medical records.
• Developing privacy-preserving benchmarks for polygenic scores.

You will have the opportunity to contribute to multiple research themes, including genetic risk prediction, causal inference, survival analysis, and machine learning applied to large-scale biomedical data as well as the chance to collaborate with both clinicians and computational researchers within the Pioneer Centre and internationally, including research visits at Oxford University and University of Copenhagen.

Your job responsibilities

As a Postdoc in Statistical Genetics, 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:

• Conducting independent research of high international quality, including publication.
• Developing and applying statistical and computational methods in epidemiology and genetics.
• Collaborating with national and international partners.
• Engaging in communication, outreach, teaching and supervision activities.

You will report to the Head of Department of Public Health.

Your competences

You have academic qualifications at the PhD level in epidemiology, bioinformatics, statistics, computer science, data science, or related fields. In addition, the following competencies will be highly valued:

• Experience analyzing large genetic data sets, e.g., UK Biobank, All-of-Us, or similar data.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis using R, Python, or similar programming languages.
• Experience with machine learning methods, e.g., penalized regression, neural networks, decision trees.
• Knowledge of time-to-event analyses, Mendelian randomization methods, and polygenic risk scores.
• Strong interpersonal skills, team-oriented mindset, and ability to work in interdisciplinary groups.
• Ability to work both independently and in structured groups
• Scientifically self-motivated and creative
• Fluency in oral and written English.

Shortlisting will be used.

Questions about the position

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Gitte Bundgaard Christiansen (Scientific Coordinator, Pioneer Centre for SMARTbiomed): [email protected] 

Your place of work will be the National Centre for Register-based Research, Department of Public Health, Fuglesangs Allé 26, 8210 Aarhus V. 

We expect to conduct interviews in May.



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.


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/