Postdoc in genetics of puberty

Institut for Folkesundhed - Epidemiology, Environment and Biostatistics - Fakultet: Health Sciences

Postdoc in genetics of puberty

The Department of Public Health at Faculty of Health at Aarhus University invites applications for a position as Postdoc in the field of reproductive and molecular epidemiology as per 1 February 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is a full-time position for 2 years and 6 months.

As a Postdoc 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 .

About the research project

Supervisors: The postdoc will be jointly supervised by Professor Cecilia Høst Ramlau-Hansen (Department of Public Health), MD, PhD Nis Brix (Department of Clinical Genetics), and Professor Doug Speed (Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University). The project also involves collaborators from the University of Copenhagen (Professors Ruth Loos) and Statens Serum Institut (Bjarke Feenstra).

SMARTbiomed: This position will be funded by the Pioneer Centre for Statistical and computational Methods for Advanced Research to Transform Biomedicine (SMARTbiomed). 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. You can read more about SMARTbiomed here .

Project description: The postdoc’s research will include a mix of methodological development and applications. The former will involve developing ways to more efficiently perform GWAS of ordinal data (e.g., the Tanner Scale), incorporating information from genetically correlated traits (e.g., age of menarche and voice breaking), and derive a polyproteomic score for pubertal development. The latter will include Mendelian Randomization studies to understand the relationship with pubertal development and disease susceptibility.

Your job responsibilities

As Postdoc in the Department of Public Health your position is primarily research-based but may also involve teaching assignments. You will contribute to the development of the department through research of high international quality. In your daily work, you will work closely with colleagues on your project, where you will receive supervision and guidance.

As your supervisors are based at the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University and the Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Aarhus University, you are expected to stay approximately half of your time at each place. Both departments are located near each other within the main campus. We expect you to participate in various SMARTbiomed meetings and activities including our annual symposium. Furthermore, we expect that you will spend some time at another SMARTbiomed site .

Your main tasks will consist of i ndependent research of high international quality, including publication.

You will report to the Head of Department Michael Baggesen Klitgaard.

Your competences

• Background in data science, statistical genetics, quantitative genetics, bioinformatics, statistics, computer science, or related fields, with a relevant PhD degree (required).
• Computational expertise analysing large health datasets, electronic health records, e.g. UK Biobank, All-of-Us, or similar sources.
• Experience performing GWAS analyses, e.g. using programs like PLINK, GCTA, LDAK or similar.
• Experience with register-based research.
• As a person, you have good interpersonal skills, are inclusive and team-oriented and able to contribute to a good work environment. We expect you to be fluent in oral and written English.

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