PhD Candidate in Physical Activity Epidemiology

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NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

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 project and the job

About the project

Current evidence supports the notion that physical activity provides significant physical and mental health benefits. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) per week for adults and 60 minutes per day for children and adolescents. However, there is no consensus on how this physical activity should be distributed throughout the week – whether through several short bouts of vigorous activity spread evenly or through accumulated bouts, for maximum health benefit.

The successful candidate will investigate the health benefits of different patterns of physical activity. This research will utilize 24/7 sensor-based movement data collected over a one-week period to analyse its impact on various health outcomes. The data, collected within the large population-based HUNT study, includes measurements for adults and adolescents aged 13-19 years. By linking the HUNT data with Norwegian health registries, different health outcomes will be investigated.

About the job

For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree. You will be hosted at the Department of Public Health and Nursing, in the Musculoskeletal Research Group. NTNU offers an inspiring and professional environment in which developing one`s talents and skills is encouraged. We offer ample opportunity for development, deepening and broadening, additional training, and a place to grow!

This is a PhD scholarship linked to the Onsager Fellowship Programme at NTNU. PhD project is expected to start in April 2025 and employment will be for 48 months.

Your immediate leader is the leader for the Public Health and Community Medicine section at Department of Public Health and Nursing.

Duties of the position

Based on the available 24/7 sensor-based dataset collected over a one-week period, the primary aims of the PhD project is to 1) explore different metrics for assessing physical activity patterns (e.g., duration, intensity, and frequency of bouts with physical activity), and 2) examine if these metrics are associated with health outcomes.

The research group has several international partners, and it is expected that the PhD Candidate has at least one longer research visit at one of the partner sites during the PhD period. 

Required selection criteria

• You must have a professionally relevant background in human movement science, epidemiology, data science or a closely related discipline
• Must not already hold a doctoral degree
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master's level
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master's degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• Master's students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented prior to the commencement of the PhD position. 
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's doctoral program https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phmedhv 
• Good written and oral English

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant 

Preferred selection criteria

• Previous experience in analysing accelerometer data or research on physical activity
• Experience with at least one programming language (e.g. Python, R, Stata, MATLAB)
• Preference to work in an interdisciplinary environment

Personal characteristics

• Ability to work independently as well as in cross-disciplinary teams
• Ability to thrive and contribute to the work environment
• Be self-motivated, focused, and goal-oriented, be committed and keep deadlines
• Be flexible, reliable, and solution-orientated, be innovation-driven, enthusiastic and ambitious
• Be scientifically curious and open to new research challenges, demonstrate persistence in addressing technical problems
• Good communication and collaboration skills

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 532 200 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 4 years, with 25% required duties. 

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Medicine and Health Sciences,  https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phmedhv  within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The position is subject to external funding. 

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must be attached to the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

The application must include: 

• A short description of the motivation for a PhD study (about 1/2 page).
• How the applicant sees his/her background suitable for the position (about 1/2 page).
• CV and certificates
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not completed the master's degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master's thesis has been submitted.
• A copy of the master's thesis. If you recently have 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.
• Name and contact information of three referees
• If you have publications or other relevant research work

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. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, please attach this as well.

We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your efforts in the joint work, you must enclose a short description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is our strength. We want to recruit people with different competencies, educational backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to solving our social responsibilities within education and research. We will facilitate for our employees’ needs.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation 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.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself 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 reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact associate professor Julia Debik, telephone +4741617861, email: julia.b.debik@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Anita Finserås Bretun, e-mail: anita.f.bretun@ntnu.no 

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.  

Application deadline: 11.11.24

DIVERSE INFO

Kilde: NAV stillingsannonser
https://arbeidsplassen.nav.no/stillinger/stilling/67ad5513-9926-4213-9b92-769f9018a3e7
IMPORTAPI
https://www.jobbnorge.no/ledige-stillinger/stilling/269209