Postdoctoral fellow in health service research

6th April 2026
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English

• English

English

The Department of public health and nursing has a vacancy for a 

Postdoctoral fellow in health service research
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About the position

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at NTNU has a vacant Post Doc position in epidemiology and health services research. The position is based at the Department of Public Health and Nursing in Trondheim. The desired start date is no later than 1 June 2026, with the possibility of an earlier start by agreement. The Post Doc will report to Professor Johan Håkon Bjørngaard.

About the project 

Statins are among the most widely prescribed medications globally and are central to the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Despite their proven benefits, a substantial proportion of patients discontinue statin therapy within the first year, often due to perceived side effects such as muscle pain. Such discontinuation may reduce cardiovascular protection and could also influence work ability and long‑term health outcomes. Yet, current evidence on the consequences of statin discontinuation remains limited and prone to bias. 

This project aims to produce more robust causal evidence by leveraging nationwide registry data and applying advanced analytical methods. The work will be grounded in a target trial emulation framework, complemented by additional causal inference strategies such as instrumental variable approaches (e.g., based on general practitioners’ prescribing tendencies) and difference‑in‑differences analyses. By investigating the real‑world effects of statin discontinuation on cardiovascular outcomes and occupational functioning, the project will address critical knowledge gaps and help inform more personalized, equitable, and effective statin use in clinical practice.

We are seeking a researcher with strong quantitative interests who is motivated to work deeply with causal inference in observational data.

The project will provide opportunities for training and collaboration with experts in target trial emulation, instrumental variable methods, and other modern causal inference techniques.

Duties of the position

• Carry out research of good quality
• Academic publications and popular science disemination
• Participate in the research group Regforsk
• Apply for research funding and write applications and report on progress to funding sources 
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions 
• Mentoring students, helping them with their research projects, and advising on methodology and academic writing 

Required selection criteria

• You must hold a relevant PhD in medicine, epidemiology, or a quantitatively oriented discipline such as econometrics or statistics, or another related field.
• If you are in the final phase of your doctorate and can document that the thesis has been submitted or that the defense date has been confirmed, your application can be considered even if you have not defended. NOTE: Documentation of the obtained doctorate must be presented before you can take up the position.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

If you do not already have educational competence that meets the requirements for a position as associate professor in Norway, NTNU will arrange for you to acquire such competence during the employment period. In such cases, you will also be assigned relevant teaching as part of the career-promoting work.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations concerning the degrees of philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Prior experience with one or more causal inference methods is beneficial but not required
• Demonstrated skills in quantitative analysis, including the ability to handle and analyze large datasets
• Interest in learning and applying casual inference methods

Personal characteristics

Working as a Postdoctoral fellow requires that you

• Work independently and structured, set goals and make plans to achieve them 
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals 
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject 
• Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions  
• Are flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed
• More important is a willingness to learn, develop, and apply advanced research designs within a supportive methodological environment

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer 

• An exciting job with an important social mission
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment 
• Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program and together with you we will prepare a career plan, which containsthe skills and knowledge you will acquire
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues 
• Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits .

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful . We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 633  400,- 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 3 years, the position is conditional on external funding.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to adapt to them. 

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act , and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed

About the application 

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment.

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above.

The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request. 

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's-,Master's- and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your PhD, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or confirmation that your PhD thesis has been submitted. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• CV
• A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting, you can attach a draft of the thesis. 
• Academic works - published or unpublished
• Possible recommendation letters
• Name and contact information of three referees

 

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. Description of the documentation required can be found here . If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) , please attach this as well.
Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

If you have had leave or another break in your career, it is important that this is stated in your application so that the selection committee can take this into account and that the amount of your research may be reduced as a result.

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

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public list of applicants, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation . You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Johan Håkon Bjørngaard email: johan.h.bjorngaard@ntnu.no 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Rebecca Hembre Storli, email: rebecca.h.storli@ntnu.no.

If you find this position interesting, and in accordance 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: 06.04.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 
 

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

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NTNU
NTNU - knowledge for a better world
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.
The Department of Public Health and Nursing (ISM) is responsible for research, teaching, innovation and dissemination in community medicine, nursing, primary health care and public health. The Department’s activities in both research and education focus on the needs of the primary health service.
ISM is one of eight departments at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, and has about 360 employees in permanent and temporary positions. For more information on ISM, see:  www.ntnu.edu/ism.   
Questions about the position

Rebecca Hembre Storli

HR-rådgiver

rebecca.h.storli@ntnu.no

Apply for this job
Deadline

6th April 2026

Employer

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Municipality

Trondheim

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Duration

Engagement

Place of service
Mauritz Hansens gate 2 , 7030 Trondheim
Remote work

Hybrid

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