PhD Research Fellow in Placental Biology, Neurodevelopment and Psychosis Prediction

A fully funded, full-time, 3-year PhD Research Fellow position is available within the project PlacLANG: Linking placental function and language development for early prediction of schizophrenia.

The position is funded by the Division for Mental Health and Substance Abuse at Diakonhjemmet Hospital, through the Research Council of Norway (NFR). The PhD candidate will be enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Oslo (UiO) and affiliated with our research group in the Department of Adult psychatry Vinderen, an interdisciplinary research environment spanning psychiatry, developmental neuroscience, epidemiology, and molecular biology.

About the project: PlacLANG

PlacLANG is an ambitious and interdisciplinary research project investigating how early-life factors may confer resilience, or increase vulnerability, for severe mental illness, with a particular focus on schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD).

The project will especially focus on how placental molecular mechanisms and obstetric complications influence brain and language development, and how these processes relate to later brain function and language disturbances in adolescents with SSD.

PlacLANG integrates unique data sources, including:

• The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), a population-based pregnancy cohort of over 90,000 pregnancies
  
• The Thematically Organized Psychosis Study for Youth (Youth-TOP), a deeply phenotyped cohort of adolescents with early-onset psychosis
  
• National birth and patient registry data
  
• Blood-derived omics data, including genomics and transcriptomics
  
• Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  
• Detailed assessments of language development and disturbances

Using advanced analytic approaches—including bioinformatics, causal inference, artificial intelligence, sequencing-based analyses, and registry linkage, the project aims to uncover biological pathways linking placental function to neurodevelopment and later psychosis risk.

PhD project and responsibilities

The PhD candidate will contribute to several interrelated work packages examining how placental biology shapes neurodevelopmental trajectories and risk for psychotic disorders.

Key research topics include:

• How placental genomic risk and obstetric complications influence early brain growth and language development
  
• Whether early-life biological factors predict altered neurodevelopmental trajectories in individuals who later develop SSD
  
• How placental risk signatures relate to brain functional organization, such as lateralization and connectivity, assessed using MRI
  
• Associations between brain function and language disturbances, including impairments in verbal fluency and memory
  

The candidate will work with large-scale longitudinal cohort data and clinical datasets, and will be expected to:

• Conduct statistical and computational analyses of multimodal data
  
• Integrate omics, imaging, and clinical data
  
• Publish impactful scientific articles in international journals
  
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary research teams
  
• Complete the doctoral training required by the UiO PhD program
  
• Participation in international conferences and dissemination

 

About our research group

Our research group in the Department of Adult psychiatry Vinderen investigates how early-life biological and environmental factors influence mental health across the lifespan.

The group focuses on:

• Obstetric complications and maternal health
  
• Early neurodevelopment and risk for psychiatric disorders
  
• Integration of genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic data
  
• Mechanisms underlying severe mental disorders, including SSD
  

The research group provides a stimulating, collaborative, and internationally connected research environment with access to unique longitudinal datasets and strong methodological expertise.

Qualifications

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree,120 ECTs or equivalent, in neuroscience, psychology, medicine, bioinformatics, biology, or a related field. The master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS or equivalent work.
  
• Experience with quantitative data analysis in R, Python, or equivalent statistical programming environments
  
• Excellent written and oral English skills

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with omics data, including genomics, transcriptomics, or epigenetics
  
• Experience with neuroimaging data such as MRI
  
• Experience with large-scale and/or longitudinal datasets
  
• Background in biological psychiatry, neurodevelopment, psycholinguistics, epidemiology, or related disciplines
  
• Experience with advanced analytical approaches, such as causal inference or machine learning
  
• Experience with registry-based research

Personal qualities

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Is able to work independently and in a structured manner
  
• Is highly motivated for interdisciplinary research
  
• Has strong collaboration and communication skills
  
• Shows curiosity, initiative, and the ability to engage with complex datasets and research questions

We offer

• An exciting and ambitious research project with high societal relevance
  
• A strong interdisciplinary research environment at the interface of research and clinical psychiatry
  
• Access to world-class datasets and research infrastructure
  
• Excellent opportunities for scientific development and international collaboration
  
• Pleasant and academically rich work environment
  
• Competitive salary according to Norwegian PhD scale
  
• Safe work environment and great pension and insurance conditions

Application

The application should include:

• A cover letter (max. 2 pages) describing motivation, research interests, and relevant qualifications
• CV
  
• Academic transcripts and diplomas
  
• Contact information for two to three references

Applications must be submitted through the recruitment system.

The Diakonhjemmet Hospital and the University of Oslo are inclusive workplaces committed to diversity and equality. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnic background, or career stage.

Kontaktinformasjon

Laura Anna Wortinger, Associate Professor and Project Leader, +47 92282220, LauraAnneWortinger.Bakke@diakonsyk.no
Ragne Gunnarsdatter Hole Gjengedal, Enhetsleder, +4792663532

Arbeidssted

Diakonveien 12
0370 Oslo

Nøkkelinformasjon:

Arbeidsgiver: Diakonhjemmet sykehus AS

Referansenr.: 5102734267
Stillingsprosent: 100%
Stipendiat
Søknadsfrist: 31.05.2026