PhD Research Fellow in Data Science for Public Health Nutrition

About the position

A 100 % position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences as a PhD Research Fellow in Data Science for Public Health Nutrition affiliated to the Department of Nutrition and Public health, for a period of three years. The position is located at Campus Kristiansand. The starting date is August 2025. 

The Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences has four departments: Department of Health and Nursing Science, Department of Nutrition and Public Health, Department of Sports Science and Physical Education and Department of Psychosocial Health.

The successful candidate will be welcomed into the Priority Research Centre on Lifecourse Nutrition. The main advisor for the PhD fellowship will be Professor Andrew K. Wills.

The Research Topic

Public Health Nutrition is concerned with the promotion and maintenance of nutrition related health and wellbeing in populations. Conventional approaches to expanding the knowledgebase for action in this field include population surveys, cohort studies, and randomised controlled trials. The quality and hence utility of the evidence produced from these approaches has been subject to scientific debate. Two issues are (i) inadequate recruitment and retention, which harms validity, and (ii) cost and time of new data collections, which delay information and action, critical in a landscape such as nutrition that evolves quickly. 

The aim of this project is to identify and exploit existing data sources, such as those from registries and national surveys, and via secondary use, enhance the evidence base in Public Health Nutrition. At least two outcomes are expected:

1. Develop data pipelines and code that will process, link and transform these data into analytical insights and contribute to a dynamic nutritional map of Norway.
2. Highlight (a) information gaps, and (b) novel opportunities for the secondary use of these data to run quasi-experimental studies that can efficiently and effectively evaluate population-based nutritional interventions and policy. 

Depending on the appointee’s background and interests, the project will either orientate towards the development of tools and approaches for data processing and insights of such data, or towards its utility for conducting population-based nutritional research using novel study designs for better scientific inference, perhaps culminating with a genuine application of a quasi-experimental study.

The work will be conducted in line with developments in open and reproducible science, for example, using open access software, versioning systems and shareable code. 

Required qualifications

• A Master’s degree in a subject with a substantial component of computer science, data science or statistics, or any other numerate subject. 
• An ability to explain complex technical information to partners from other non-computing, statistical or data-centric disciplines.
• Excellent English communication skills both orally and in writing. 

Further provisions relating to the positions as PhD Research Fellows can be found in the Regulations Concerning Terms and Conditions of Employment for the post of Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Research Assistant and Resident.

Desired qualifications

• Experience of manipulating and processing large datasets using a high-level programming language such as R or Python
• An awareness of epidemiological study design
• A basic understanding of descriptive and inferential statistics
• Experience of scientific writing

Where there are gaps in the technical and methodological skills needed to conduct this project, the appointee will be encouraged to attend relevant training courses, either internally or externally.

Personal qualities

• A creative and systematic approach to problem-solving
• High levels of motivation and a capacity to work independently but also recognising when to seek advice.
• Enjoy working in a team and collaborating with researchers from other disciplines/ skillsets
• Ability and confidence to critically engage with both advisors and the research literature.

Personal qualities and suitability for the position will be emphasized.

We offer

• Professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation
• A positive, inclusive and diverse working environment
• Modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers 
• Membership of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 

More about working at UiA.

The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.515, code 1017 PhD Research Fellow, NOK 536 200 gross salary per year. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions.

General information

UiA is an open and inclusive university. We believe that diversity enriches the workplace and makes us better. We, therefore, encourage qualified candidates to apply for the position independent of gender, age, cultural background, disability or an incomplete CV.

The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organizational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning the acts relating to Control of Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology.Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview. With the applicant’s permission, UiA will also conduct a reference check before appointment. Read more about the employment process.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right

Application

The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for the job".

The following documentation must be uploaded electronically:

• Academic CV
• Motivational letter including why you apply for the position, how your background matches the call, and some reflections around such a project (max 750 words)
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's-, and master's- degrees. If you have not yet completed your master, provide a transcript of courses completed and your estimated date for the master´s degree completion.
• A copy of the master thesis. 
• Academic works - published or under review - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to five items)

The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation before the closing date. All documentation must be available in a Scandinavian language or English.

Application deadline: 13 March 2025.

Contact information

For questions about the position and the research theme to be pursued in this fellowship can be directed to:

• Professor Andrew Wills e-mail: andrew.k.wills@uia.no  
• Professor and Head of Department Elisabet R. Hillesund, tel. 47 38141285, e-mail: elisabet.r.hillesund@uia.no
• Professor Nina C. Øverby, tel.+47 38141324, e-mail nina.c.overby@uia.no 

For questions about the application process: 

• Turid Ervik, e-mail turid.a.ervik@uia.no, tel. +47 3723 3771

For questions about the PhD program 

• Eli Andås, e-mail: eli.m.andaas@uia.no, tel. +47 3814 1866

Creating knowledge together

When people who are committed come together to further knowledge, anything is possible.

The University of Agder combines the unique warmth and charm of Southern Norway with first-class scientific, technological and artistic expertise.

Would you like to work with us to create better solutions to our shared challenges?

. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMM-5UKuldA