PhD Candidate in Nutrition

Area of work

The Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, has a vacancy for a fixed-term post as a PhD candidate in the field of nutrition. The fixed-term post has a duration of three years and the desired starting date is January 1st, 2025. 

The PhD candidate will be affiliated with the project “Long-term registration of individual blood glucose response to diet and lifestyle: an artificial intelligence approach for blood glucose prediction” and will be part of the research group in Public Health Nutrition at the faculty of Health Sciences at OsloMet. The PhD candidate will also be part of the research group in machine learning at SimulaMet and the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design at OsloMet.

An unhealthy diet is one of the most important causes of developing cardiometabolic disorders, such as cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. In order to better understand how we can prevent these cardiometabolic disorders, we need more knowledge about individual responses to diet and lifestyle. Advances in this field depend on continuous individual measurements of biological markers and artificial intelligence to translate large datasets into applicable knowledge. This can, in turn, help us to develop tailored diets for the prevention and/or treatment of lifestyle-related disorders. This project will examine individual blood sugar response by combining repeated measurements  from two groups of individuals with different risks of disease using different machine learning methods.

As a PhD candidate at OsloMet, you will have the opportunity to apply for a grant for an extended research stay abroad.

Qualification requirements and conditions

• master’s degree or equivalent corresponding to 120 credits/ECTS in nutrition, biomedicine, pharmacy or biotechnology
• expertise in statistics, biostatistics, bioinformatics or similar.
• written and verbal proficiency in Norwegian/Scandinavian language and English 
• admission to the doctoral programme in health science is a prerequisite for the post. In order to gain admission to PhD programmes at the Faculty of Health Science, applicants must have achieved a grade of B or higher in their master’s thesis/second degree level subject and an average grade corresponding to B or higher in the master’s degree. In exceptional cases, applicants with a grade of C may be considered. In such cases, relevant experience from own research projects and/or scientific publications will be emphasised. Please see information about the criteria on the admissions website
• the final plan for organised research training must be approved and agreed no later than three months after taking up the post.

The general criteria for appointment as a PhD candidate can be found in the regulations (Regulations relating to employment terms for posts such as postdoctoral fellow, PhD candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate - Lovdata).

It would be advantageous for applicants to have experience of

• programming and machine learning
• clinical trials

Personal characteristics

• motivated to conduct research within the subject area and research field
• excellent implementation skills
• ability to work independently and as part of a team
• excellent analytical skills
• excellent creative skills and the ability to

Personal suitability will be emphasised.

It is important for OsloMet to reflect the population in the region and we would like to invite all qualified applicants to apply. We are working actively to further develop as an inclusive workplace and will adapt the workplace as required. We also welcome applications from those who have had periods in which they were not in employment, education or training.

What we offer

• an exciting educational post at Norway’s third-largest university
• access to further professional development in a creative academic and research environment
• a developing workplace in downtown Oslo with multiple cultural offers
• beneficial pension arrangements with the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• beneficial welfare schemes and a wide range of sports and cultural offers 
• free Norwegian language classes to employees and their partners/spouses 

Practical information about relocation to Oslo and living in Norway

The post is remunerated in accordance with the Norwegian State Salary Scale and OsloMet’s salary policy under code 1017 as a PhD candidate, salary grade 54, which corresponds to a starting salary of NOK 532,200 per annum.

The application process

If you would like to apply for the post, you need to apply electronically using the “apply for the position” button.

You must upload the following documents before the application deadline expires:

• application, CV and copies of all pages of degree transcripts and diplomas
• education from abroad should be approved in advance and the approval letter should be enclosed. Further information can be found at: Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills | HK-dir (hkdir.no)
• second degree thesis/master’s thesis
• any scientific works or links to full articles
• list of any publications or presentations at international seminars/conferences

We only process applications submitted via our electronic recruitment system and all documents must be uploaded in order for your application to be processed. Documents must be submitted in English or a Scandinavian language. Any translations must be notarised. Original versions must be presented if you are invited to attend an interview. OsloMet will carry out document control to ensure that candidates are subject to a proper evaluation and fair competition. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

An appointment will be made based on the principles set out in the Norwegian Civil Servants Act (lovdata.no), as well as legislation governing the export of knowledge, technology and services. Background checks may be carried out in order to verify information provided in the CV and submitted documents. Background checks will not be carried out without the applicant’s consent and relevant applicants will receive further information about the process.

OsloMet has endorsed the principles set out in the DORA Declaration and the institution is committed to adhering to the recommendations therein.

Further information

If you would like further information about the position, please contact:

• Associate Professor Vibeke Telle-Hansen, +47 930 48 873, vibeke.telle-hansen@oslomet.no
• Associate Professor Mari Charlotte Wik Myhrstad, +47 913 92 176, mari.myhrstad@oslomet.no
• about administrative questions: HR Adviser Sana Jafri, sana.jafri@oslomet.no

Application deadline:      11/08/2024
Ref:                                  24/19766