"The causal effect of sleep traits on risk of cardiovascular disease - A Mendelian Randomization approach"

About the position

We have a vacancy for a Ph.d. candidate at the department of Public Health and Nursing. The period of employment is 3 years. The position is on the project “The causal effect of sleep traits on risk of cardiovascular disease – A Mendelian Randomization approach”.

The project:

A significant proportion of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) cannot be explained by well-known risk factors such as high blood pressure, cigarette smoking and diabetes, and high incidences of the diseases make it important to detect other risk factors such as chronotype, insomnia and short sleep duration. Roughly one third of the general population regularly suffers from insomnia symptoms and the prevalence of insomnia is increasing. This emphasizes the public health importance of any effect of sleep on the occurrence of CVD. We have previously found an association of insomnia with acute myocardial infarction and heart failure, and a growing body of literature suggests that those with insomnia are at increased risk for CVD.

The project aims to assess the causal effect of sleep on subsequent risk of CVD.  The successful candidate will use genetic variants robustly associated with chronotype, sleep duration, and insomnia symptoms to investigate whether these sleep traits have a causal effect on CVD. A Mendelian Randomization approach will be used. Genetic, measured and self-reported data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) (https://www.ntnu.no/hunt) and the UK Biobank (https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/) will be utilized in this project.

This project is collaboration between NTNU, St. Olavs Hospital, and University of Bristol. The main supervisor, Associate professor Linn Beate Strand, will be located at NTNU, Trondheim and the co-supervisor, Dr. Rebecca Richmond, will be located at the Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol. We encourage the successful PhD candidate to apply for funding to visit the Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol on a three-month research stay. 

Main duties and responsibilitihes

• The project will involve sophisticated statistical analysis of extensive genetic, measured and self-reported data from two large study cohorts
• The PhD candidate is expected to write manuscripts to three scientific publications to be included in the PhD thesis.
• Relevant and mandatory PhD courses must be completed.
• The project findings should be presented at national and/or international conferences.
• The project would suit a highly motivated and numerate student with enthusiasm for working on large datasets.

Qualification requirements

Essential qualifications:

The PhD-position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is completion of a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in relevant biomedical or health sciences discipline with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. Applicants with no letter grades from previous studies must have an equally good academic foundation. Applicants who are unable to meet these criteria may be considered only if they can document that they are particularly suitable candidates for education leading to a PhD degree.

• Good written and oral English
• Experience with analysing quantitative data

Emphasis will also be placed on: 

• Master’s degree in epidemiology, statistics or genetics
• Experience with working with large datasets
• Computational skills and prior experience with Stata or R for statistical analysis
• Willingness to learn and use statistical analysis methods
• The candidate’s motivation for the position
• Good cooperation and communication skills
• Proven ability to work independently as well as the ability to collaborate interdisciplinary

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement. NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, postdoctor and research assistant

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

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

PhD candidate:

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 479 600 before tax per year. From the salary, 2 % is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years. Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences  (PhD Education). 

As a PhD candidate, you undertake to participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period. A condition of appointment is that you are in fact qualified for admission to the PhD programme within three months.

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 criterias 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.

General information

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. Under the Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova), information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to have their name entered on the list of applicants.

Questions about the position can be directed to Associate Professor Linn Beate Strand, phone number: 73597530, e-mail linn.b.strand@ntnu.no

Further details about the application process can be directed to HR-consultant Anne-Britt Hofstad, phone number: 73567567, e-mail: annebritt.hofstad@ntnu.no

About the application:

Publications and other academic works that the applicant would like to be considered in the evaluation must accompany the application. Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify the individual applicant's contribution to joint works, the applicant must include a brief description of his or her contribution.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applicants invited for interview must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. 

Application deadline: 05.03.2020

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.

Deadline 5th March 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Trondheim, Øya