PhD -position at Department of Clinical Medicine

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PhD position

About the positioThe Faculty of Medicine, Department of  Clinical Medicine, is offering a full-time PhD-position for a duration of The position is available for a period of four (4) years with 25% career-promoting work or a maximum of up to 4 months post-PhD completion, if the degree is achieved in less than four years. The position includes 25% career-promoting workduties such as teaching, exam work, or supervision, depending on departmental needs. 

The position is part of the project “NorHEAD”, funded by the University of Bergen.

About the project

Headache is a major global health challenge. More than one billion people worldwide suffer from primary headache disorders such as migraine, tension-type headache, and cluster headache. These conditions rank among the most prevalent and disabling neurological disorders globally and impose a significant burden on individuals, healthcare systems, and society.

In this project, we have established comprehensive databases combining nationwide Norwegian health and socioeconomic registry data, biobanks and patient-reported data. Using advanced epidemiological methods, causal inference and machine learning techniques, we aim to:

• Improve understanding of risk factors for primary headaches
• Predict diagnosis and disease progression
• Identify the most effective and safe treatments

Do you want to take part in a groundbreaking interdisciplinary research project at the intersection of computational science, epidemiology, and neurology?

The Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Bergen invites applications for a full-time (100%) position as PhD student. The position is part of the project Understanding Headache Thorugh Registry Data A NorHEAD – MiHEAD project, under the umbrella of the Norwegian Centre for Headache Research (NorHEAD). The position is funded by the University of Bergen.
Learn more at www.norhead.org.

About the project/work tasks:

• We are seeking a committed and motivated PhD candidate to join an interdisciplinary research project that utilises large national health and socioeconomic registries, databases, and biobanks. The aim of the project is to investigate which treatments are most effective and safest for patients with headache disorders, which medical, congenital, and environmental factors are associated with the development of headache, and how headache impacts the Norwegian economy.
• The project applies advanced methods in epidemiology, causal inference, genetic epidemiology, and machine learning.
• As a PhD candidate in the project, you will:
• Actively participate in group meetings, design statistical analysis plans in collaboration with other researchers, perform data analyses, write scientific articles, supervise master's students, and contribute to the dissemination of research findings.
• Work closely with computer scientists, statisticians, and neurologists to ensure both clinical relevance and methodological robustness in the analyses.
• Collaborate with international partners to enhance methodological quality and promote knowledge exchange and academic development.
• Contribute to ongoing research activities at the department, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific dissemination, high-quality publications, and opportunities for future external funding.
•  Present your research at national and international conferences.
• Engage with the public and people living with headache, including through communication of research via media and social media platforms.

You will become part of an engaged and academically strong research environment with excellent opportunities for professional development and networking 

Qualifications and personal qualities

• The applicant must possess a Master`s degree or an equivalent in medicine, pharmacology/pharmacy, public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, machine learning/artificial intelligence, social economics, or a related field.
• Applicants whose Master's degree is not in a health-related discipline must document additional experience in medical or health data research.
• Experience from relevant research projects, particularly involving health data, will be considered an advantage.
• The candidate must be able to work independently and in a structured manner, while also demonstrating strong collaborative skills.
• The applicant must demonstrate both the ability and motivation to successfully complete a PhD project.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency in a Nordic language, both written and spoken, will be considered an advantage. Please refer to the documentation requirements.
• Experience in epidemiology and statistical analyses, including the use of statistical software such as STATA, R, or SAS, will be considered an advantage.
• Documented experience in independently working with register data or other large datasets will be considered an advantage.
• Experience with, or knowledge of, Nordic health registries and databases and/or pharmacoepidemiology is desirable.
• Experience with, or documented interest in, advanced statistical methods for causal inference in observational data, model-based imputation, genetic epidemiology, or the application of machine learning methods to registry data will be highly valued.
• Clinical experience with patients suffering from headache disorders will be considered an asset.
• Demonstrated interest in headache research and/or public health will be taken into account in the assessment of applicants.
• The applicant must exhibit both the ability and motivation to undertake a PhD project.
• Fluency in both oral and written English is required, see documentation requirements for further details.
• Experience from relevant research projects will be considered as positive 
• The candidate should demonstrate the ability to work independently and in a structured manner, while also being capable of effective collaboration with others

The applicant’s personal suitability for the position is a significant factor in the evaluation.

Applicants whose educational qualifications are from countries other than Norway must provide a certified translation of the diploma and transcript of grades to English or a Scandinavian language, if the original documents are not in any of these languages. It is also required that the applicant submit a review from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) to verify whether the education in question (bachelor and master's degree) is of a scope and level that corresponds to the level of a Norwegian master’s degree. Please see https://hkdir.no/en/ for more information about HK-dir’s general recognition. The review process by HK-dir may take some time. Therefore, please submit your application to HK-dir as soon as you decide to apply for the position. If you do not receive a response within the application deadline, you must include documentation from HK-dir confirming receipt of your application. Please note that the automatic recognition offered by HK-dir insufficient and will not be accepted as basis for admission to the PhD programme. Applicants with education from a Nordic country or those with a medical degree from the EEA area and a license to practice medicine in Norway are exempt from the requirement for HK-dir assessment. For more information please refer to the Admission requirements at the Faculty of Medicine | Faculty of Medicine | UiB

Additionally, please review the documentation requirements for language qualifications: http://www.uib.no/en/med/115526/english-language-requirements-phd-admission

Organized research training (PhD program)

About the PhD position (applies to university PhD positions): The duration of the PhD position is 4 years. At least three years of work should be dedicated to the doctoral research. The remaining time is allocated to other career-promoting work that will help the employee qualify for relevant careers that require research competence.

The PhD-position

PhD-positions are fixed-term appointments. Candidates cannot be employed in a PhD position for more than one fixed-term period at the same institution, nor have held a similar position at any institution within the region. 

We can offer

• Exciting development opportunities as part of your role in a strong professional environment
• Salary NOK 600 000 (code 1017) in the state salary scale. For applicants with at least one year of employment in a position as a General Practitioner or Dentist, salary NOK 615 000 (For applicants who are licensed as medical doctors or dentists, documentation of Norwegian authorization must be submitted with the application.). Medical specialist starts on salary NOK 635 000 (For applicants with specialist training, a certificate of specialist approval from the Norwegian Directorate of Health must also be included.)
• Good welfare benefits
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

Your application must include

• A brief account of the applicant`s research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts of grades
• Applicants whose educational qualifications are from countries other than Norway must provide a certified translation of their diploma and transcript of grades into English or a Scandinavian language if the original documents are not in any of these languages. Additionally, applicants are required to submit a review from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) to verify whether their education (bachelor’s and master’s degrees) is of a scope and level that corresponds to a Norwegian master’s degree. For more information about HK-dir’s general recognition process, please see: https://hkdir.no/en/. The review process by HK-dir may take some time. Therefore, please submit your application to HK-dir as soon as you decide to apply for the position. If you do not receive a response within the application deadline, you must include documentation from HK-dir confirming receipt of your application.
• Documentation of language skills (English)
• Complete list of publications and scientific work you want to be evaluated
• Any publication in your name
• Two references (name and contact information)

General information:

For further information please contact head of NorHEAD registry research program professor Marte-Helene Bjørk, e-mail: marte.bjork@uib.no phone: +47 95 97 67 55. For more information about NorHEAD please see: https://www.ntnu.edu/norhead

Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

We encourage men to apply. If multiple applicants have approximately equivalent qualifications, the rules pertaining to moderate gender quotas shall apply.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favorable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.

Further information about our employment process can be found here.

Life as a PhD candidate at UiB

Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrtp6VxMeJ4&index=2&list=PLf8ZIYfAO0qjhROTj6SthDbSScg0lSO6G