PhD Candidate in Women’s Health and Epidemiology

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At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

About the position

The Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) invites applications for a three-year PhD fellowship in the fields of women’s health and epidemiology.

This PhD project is a follow-up study of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who have participated in different clinical studies based at NTNU/St. Olavs hospital since the early 2000s. Data from the HUNT4 Survey (the fourth survey of the Trøndelag Health Study) will be used as a reference population.

About the project

Background 

When the original studies were conducted 25 years ago, PCOS was primarily understood as a reproductive disorder with particular relevance for fertility. Since then, research has substantially advanced, and PCOS is now recognized as a complex, lifelong condition. Despite this progress, significant knowledge gaps remain—especially regarding women’s health in peri‑ and postmenopausal stages related to cardiovascular, respiratory, and pain-related comorbidities. Research on PCOS in these life phases is limited, and the long-term health consequences of PCOS after menopause are not fully understood. 

This PhD project aims to address these gaps by conducting a comprehensive follow-up of approximately 750 women with PCOS, including questionnaires, blood sampling, andphysical examinations.

The primary objective is to collect new longitudinal clinical data from well-defined PCOS cohorts, with particular focus on:

• Cardiovascular health
• Respiratory function
• Chronic pain and musculoskeletal health

This project will contribute essential knowledge to help improve patient pathways, early prevention strategies, and long-term care for women with PCOS.

The position is affiliated with the PCOS and Women’s Health Research Group, a collaborative initiative between St. Olavs hospital and NTNU. The PhD candidate will join a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment with researchers from gynecology, midwifery, epidemiology, and biostatistics. The group has decades of experience with clinical and epidemiological research in PCOS and women’s health.

The fellowship provides opportunities for close clinical collaboration, access to unique long-term datasets, and engagement in an internationally relevant research field with substantial public health impact.

The position is funded by the Liaison Committee between the Central Norway Regional Health Authority (RHA) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The PhD candidate will be part of the research group “PCOS and women´s health” led by Professor and consultant/gynecologist Eszter Vanky. Vanky will be the main supervisor for the PhD candidate.

The position is intended to be a three-year, full-time position, but there may also be an opportunity for a part-time position combined with clinical work. The position is affiliated with the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine (IKOM), with the workplace located at IKOM, Trondheim. The desired start date is  1st of September 2026. An earlier start date ca be discussed.

Duties of the position

• Develop statistical analysis plans for the three papers to be included in the doctoral thesis, in collaboration with the research team
• Perform data processing and statistical analyses for the three studies, supervised by the research team
• Prepare manuscripts for academic publications and popular science dissemination, in collaboration with the research team
• Write a doctoral thesis and publicly defend it
• Complete the mandatory PhD program in Medicine and Health Sciences at NTNU

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required selection criteria

• The applicant must have an educational background in medicine or have completed a master's degree in medical and health sciences, psychology, public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, or another relevant degree (equivalent to 120 credits).
• The applicant must have a strong academic background from his or her previous studies, with an average grade from the master's program, or equivalent education, that is equivalent to a B or better according to NTNU's grading scale. If the applicant does not have letter grades from previous studies, he or she must have an equally good academic foundation. If the applicant has a weaker grade background, he or she may be considered if he or she can document that he or she is particularly suited for PhD education.
• The applicant must meet the requirements for admission to the Medical Faculty's PhD program.

Excellent written and oral English skills.

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.

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience in quantitative statistical analysis and epidemiology
• Familiarity with statistical software such as SPSS, STATA, SAS, or R 
• Publications as first author or co-author 
• Experience with academic writing in English
• Speaking a Scandinavian language is desirable but not mandatory
• Experience in clinical work within gynecology, pain medicine, general practice, physiotherapy, and psychology 

Personal characteristics

To complete a PhD, it is important that you are able to:

• Work independently
• Work in a structured manner, set goals, and create plans to achieve them
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals
• Engage and contribute constructively with feedback
• Work constructively under pressure or adversity
• Demonstrate curiosity and strong motivation for the subject
• Analyze data, consider different perspectives, and draw well-founded conclusions
• Be flexible and open to adjusting the project plan as needed

Personal and interpersonal qualities will be emphasized. 

We offer

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

• An exciting job with an important societal mission
• Developmental tasks in a strong professional environment
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
• An open and inclusive work environment with engaged colleagues
• Favorable conditions in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Access to employee benefits and advantages

Diversity

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.

Salary and conditions

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.

For employment in the PhD fellowship position, it is a prerequisite that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Medicine and Health Sciences within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral study program during the employment period. 

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 be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

The application and attachments must accompany the application as these form the basis for the assessment. The documents must be in a Scandinavian language or English. 

Please note that the application will only be evaluated based on the information we have by the application deadline. Therefore, ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experiences meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be submitted electronically via Jobbnorge.no.

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees
• CV
• Short motivation letter
• Any publications or other relevant research work
• Any certificates
• Names and contact information of three relevant references

If all or part of your education was completed abroad, please also include documentation of the scope and quality of your entire educational background, including both bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as any other higher education. If your institution offers a "diploma supplement" (common for most European institutions), please include this. A description of other necessary documentation can be found here. If you have a statement from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well. 

We take into account work you have done with others. If it is difficult to identify your contribution in collaborative work, you must include a brief explanation of your involvement.

In assessing the most qualified candidate, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience, and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also be considered in the evaluation of 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).

General information

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 Professor Eszter Vanky, telephone +4772573819, email eszter.vanky@ntnu.no. 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Advisor Vebjørn F. Andreassen, e-mail: vebjorn.andreassen@ntnu.no.

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For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.