Job description

A PhD position is available for 3 years at Section for Nutritional Epidemiology, Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo.

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate with a strong interest in nutritional epidemiology. The PhD position is part of the NutriFrail project, a large project studying nutrition in relation to frailty, funded by the Throne Holst Foundation.

Frailty is a multidimensional geriatric syndrome. The risk factors involved in initiation and progression of the frailty syndrome is poorly understood. Diet is one of the most important modifiable determinants of health and suggested to impact frailty outcome. NutriFrail examines nutrition and frailty through different approaches, including animal models, clinical studies and long-term population data.

The candidate for the current PhD position will work with the sub-project “Diet and anthropometry as predictors for frailty among elderly people” and study diet and anthropometry in relation to frailty among community-dwelling older adults. Several data sources will be applied, including data from the longitudinal population-based Tromsø Study, which provides data on frailty and repeated measures of dietary intake and anthropometry over several decades. The PhD candidate will e.g. investigate the impact changes in body weight over time may have on risk of becoming frail with increasing age.

More about the position

The Division of Nutritional Epidemiology, at the Department of Nutrition, conducts research within three main areas; dietary research, nutritional epidemiology and public health nutrition. The division’s research environment is active and productive and the successful candidate will be working in close collaboration with the researchers at the division, the NutriFrail team and researchers from UiT, the Arctic University of Norway. The PhD candidate will be part of the research group Dietary Research and Nutritional epidemiology, and PI of NutriFrail Anette Hjartåker, will be the main supervisor.

The fellowship period is 3 years and the research fellow must take part in the Medical Faculty’s approved PhD program and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The applicant must, in collaboration with her/his supervisors, within 2 months after employment, have worked out a complete project description to be attached to the application for admission to the doctoral program.

Qualification requirements

We seek a highly motivated, creative and energetic candidate that is expected to take active part in the research cooperation within the NutriFrail project.

• Applicants must hold a Master’s degree (120 ECTS) minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent in nutrition, epidemiology, medicine or public health. The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS.
• Strong interest in nutritional epidemiology
• Strong analytical skills
• Experience with epidemiological and statistical analyses. Expirence in handling large datasets and with scientific writing would be adventagous.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and preferably a Scandinavian language

Personal skills

• High working capacity
• Strong dedication and motivation to carry out the project
• Ability to work independently and efficiently
• Be structured and responsible
• Good communication and social skills
• Good collaboration skills

In assessing applications, particular emphasis will be placed upon the academic and personal abilities of the candidate to complete the project within the given time-frame. Experience from previous research, in particular nutritional and / or epidemiological research will be emphasized.

We offer

• Salary NOK 479 600 – 523 200 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow (position code 1017)
• Dedicated supervision on a highly relevant research project
• A friendly, professional and stimulating working environment
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• A personal cover letter, stating the motivation for this PhD position and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• A complete list of publications and academic works
• A list of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link: “Apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language). Selected applicants will be called for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

Contact information

About the position and the project:

• Professor in nutritional epidemiology Anette Hjartåker, + 47 22 85 13 30, anette.hjartaker@medisin.uio.no

About administrative aspects of the application: HR adviser Zahida Nabi, Zahida.nabi@medisin.uio.no

Apply for this job