Associate Professor in statistical genetics or health data science at the Pioneer Centre for SMARTbiomed

The Department of Public Health at Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as Associate Professor in the field of statistical and machine learning methods development for genetic analysis and causal inference as per 1 March 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a fixed-term full-time position for 36 months.

As an Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health, you will be part of an internationally recognised department, where we work together to promote public health through research into areas that can prevent, treat and alleviate disease. We are involved in broad collaboration both internally and externally. We share our knowledge with citizens, decision-makers, business and industry, practitioners and other researchers – in municipalities, in the regions and both nationally and internationally. The department either contributes to or is responsible for teaching in medicine, public health science, sport science, optometry and nursing. At the Department of Public Health, you will have approx. 200 colleagues, including ninety academic staff members and a corresponding number of PhD students. We work closely with one another across different fields of study and prioritise a healthy work environment. The general tone among colleagues is informal. You can read more about the department here and about the faculty here.

Your job responsibilities
As Associate Professor in statistical genetics or health data science, you will contribute to the department’s research and teaching environment and to the faculty’s overall research strategy. You will contribute to the development of the department both individually and in collaboration with others via your research of high international quality. You ensure that your teaching maintains a high academic and didactic standard. You possess professional collaborative skills and a broad academic network which you are able to bring into play in your contribution to the academic development of Aarhus University and its profile both nationally and internationally. 

Your main tasks will be:
 

• Research of high international quality, including publication in top international journals and communicating your research in national and international academic networks.
• Teaching and supervision of Bachelor’s and Master's degree students and contribution to the development of new teaching activities.
• Contribution to the funding with the help of external research funding.
• Supervision of PhD students and contributing to the development of the faculty's PhD courses.
• Involvement in assessment and committee work at Aarhus University.
• Dissemination of your research to the outside world.
• Contribute to and lead one or more major research projects focused on deciphering the causal relationship between psychiatric disorders and risk factors.

You will be part of the Pioneer Centre for Statistical and computational Methods for Advanced Research to Transform biomedicine (SMARTbiomed) and work closely with researchers at our three hub-sites. SMARTbiomed is an international collaboration between Aarhus University, University of Oxford, and University of Copenhagen that aims to advance the development of methods and software for analysis and inference from massive human data, advancing applications in medicine. SMARTbiomed is anchored at the National Centre for Register-based Research (NCRR), Department of Public Health at Aarhus University, and led by Prof. Naomi Wray. The position is based at our site in Aarhus, but you can expect some travel to our sites in Oxford and Copenhagen. You can read more about SMARTbiomed here and about NCRR here.

You will report to the Head of the National Centre for Register-based Research.

Your competences
You have established yourself as a prominent researcher within statistical genetics, health data sciences, or related research areas and you possess documented solid research and teaching qualifications at a high international level. You have broad international cooperative partnerships and experience of research partnerships with private and public-sector stakeholders, and you have potential of becoming a skilled group leader. At the same time, you have experience of attracting significant research funding from national and international funding bodies. We draw attention to a stay or employment at least one internationally recognised research institution. We expect you to have some of the following qualifications:
 

• Background in bioinformatics, statistics, computer science, data science, or related fields with a relevant PhD degree (required).
• Experience with analyzing large genetic data sets, e.g., UK Biobank, All-of-Us, or similar data.
• Experience with developing statistical and computational methods for analyzing genetic or health data.
• Experience with supervision of students or postdocs.
• Experience with writing grant applications for external funding.
• Knowledge of machine learning and epidemiological methods including causal inference and risk prediction.

As a person, you are dedicated and a skilled communicator. You are able to build relationships based on trust with students, colleagues and partners. As a lecturer you communicate the newest and relevant knowledge in a committed, clear and comprehensible manner. As a supervisor you are professional, inspiring and inclusive.

You are ready to take co-responsibility for the development of the department's research and education at the highest international level and for ensuring that we maintain a good work environment. You naturally involve yourself in interdisciplinary collaboration at departmental, faculty and university level as well as nationally and internationally.
We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English. International applicants are expected to learn Danish, and Aarhus University arranges Danish teaching.

In order to be assessed as qualified for an Associate Professor position, you must meet these academic criteria.

Shortlisting will be used.

Questions about the position
If you have any questions about the position, please contact scientific coordinator at the Pioneer Centre for SMARTbiomed, Gitte Bundgaard Christiansen: gbch.ncrr@au.dk.

Your place of work will be the National Centre for Register-based Research at the Department of Public Health, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Terms of employment

• Appointment as an associate professor requires research and teaching qualifications at the level that can be achieved through the satisfactory completion of a period of appointment as an assistant professor, but may also be obtained in other ways.
• The applicant is required to have completed a university pedagogical programme or an equivalent programme.
• Further information on the appointment procedure can be found in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.
• The appointment is in accordance with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (Akademikerne).
• Remuneration is in accordance with the above, and the Salary agreement catalogue for staff at Health.
• The yearly base salary for a fulltime associate professor is DKK 650.004,18 (including a position related supplement, a pre-agreed associate professor supplememt and pension (17.1%)). Additional supplement(s) can be negotiated dependent on experience, special qualifications and performance of special functions. Authorisation supplement(s) will be granted, if relevant for the position. Your local eligible trade union representative at Aarhus University negotiates your salary on your behalf.
• Researchers recruited from abroad are offered a special researcher tax scheme with a lower tax rate.
• Travel and moving expenses may be covered according to the employee in question and, to a limited extent, the accompanying family.
• Further information on qualification requirements and job description can be found in the Ministerial order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities.

Your application must include the following:

• Motivated application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diploma
• Template for applicant - associate professor
• A list of publications
• A teaching portfolio. We refer to Guideline on the use of teaching portfolios
• The five publications stated as the most important in the 'Template for applicant - associate professor' must be submitted
• Research plan, which is part of the 'Template to applicant - associate professor' can be uploaded separately (optional)
• Coauthor statement(s) can be uploaded (optional)
• References/recommendations can be uploaded separately in the e-recruitment system (optional)

We refer to the faculty’s Guidelines for applicants.

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.

 

International applicant?

Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including assistance with relocation and career counselling to expat partners. Please find more information about the International Staff Office and the range of services here.

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University's website.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/