We currently have a vacancy at HUNT MCE for a PhD Candidate in Genetic Epidemiology. This is a 3-year temporary position within the field of genetic epidemiology. We seek a talented and enthusiastic person with experience in epidemiology, genetics or statistics. For more information about the center, see https://www.ntnu.edu/hunt/mce

At HUNT MCE we use population studies to investigate how biology, lifestyle, and environment affect health and disease development. An overarching goal is to develop better prevention and treatment strategies, by studying genetic and environmental causes of disease, disease progression and prediction, and treatment effects. The center is multidisciplinary, and we use research methods within genetic, molecular, and clinical epidemiology to study a wide range of disease and health conditions.

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

Our research is using information from large population-based cohorts available to the HUNT MCE Group for Genetic Epidemiology. This includes genotype data on more than 70,000 individuals from the HUNT Study linked with comprehensive health information from both local and national registries such as medical records at hospitals and primary care, the birth registry, the cause of death registry and the prescription registry.

The topic of the PhD project will involve studying how genetic variation at the population level influences risk of disease, in order to better understand reasons for illness and health. The specific aims for the project will be developed in collaboration with the candidate. The work will involve application and development of robust and reproducible methods for analyses of large-scale genomic data such as genome-wide analyses, polygenic prediction, Mendelian randomization, functional bioinformatical follow up and network analysis.

The project will involve international collaboration with the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol where the willing candidate will have the opportunity to apply for a research stay.

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the GWAS research group
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Teaching
• Other career-promoting work

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

• You must have an academically relevant background within epidemiology, genetics or biostatistics.
• You must have a Master’s degree in epidemiology, genetics, biostatistics or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian course, where 120 credits have been obtained at master’s level. Master’s students can apply, but the master’s degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 01.09.2025.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master’s degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty’s Doctoral Programme
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)for general criteria for the position.

• Previous relevant research experience
• Publications
• Programming skills (R or Python, Linux shell scripting).
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:

• Work independently
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback
• Work constructively under pressure or in the face of adversity
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed
• Personal motivation and proven ability to work both independently and in a team, as well as potential as a researcher.

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

Evaluate and remove/add what is relevant for the position.

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population’s collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

The employment period is 3 years. Ideally we would like our candidate to start in this position by the end of the year.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD program in Medicine and health science within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral program through out the period of employment.

The position is conditional on external funding.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control(legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in English.

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
• CV
• Copy of Master’s thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master’s thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Short letter of motivation
• Possibly publications etc. other relevant research work
• Possibly certificates
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor’s and Master’s education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions,and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU’s social mission).

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate professor Ben Brumpton, email ben.brumpton@ntnu.no

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Rebecca Hembre Storli, email rebecca.h.storli@ntnu.no

Application deadline: 31.08.2025