Postdoc in Disease Modelling

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a 3 year-position in disease modelling to commence 15 August 2024 or after agreement.

In this position, the successful applicant will be directly involved in the PAIR project, taking charge of the development of an early warning model for the spread of infectious diseases such as avian influenza.

Information on the department can be found at: https://ivh.ku.dk/english/research/animal-welfare-and-disease-control/

Our research
The Section for Animal Welfare on Disease Control performs research in the areas of infectious diseases and animal welfare, based on the disciplines epidemiology, ethology and bioethics, and employs a large group of PhD students, Post-docs, junior and senior scientists and Professors. As a postdoc, you will join the avian influenza epidemiology subgroup in the section for Animal Welfare and Disease Control (https://ivh.ku.dk/english/research/animal-welfare-and-disease-control/avian-influenza-epidemiology/), and you will be working with a team of epidemiologists, virologists and microbiologists at UCPH and Statens Serum Institut, as well as a large team of international collaborators, centered around avian influenza epidemiology. In this project, the postdoc will develop skills in spatio-temporal modelling, to create models for early warning for future outbreaks. Methods from classical statistics, spatial statistics, machine learning and simulation modelling may be used as necessary to meet the objectives.

Your job
Since the autumn, 2020, Denmark, as well as most countries in Europe, has experienced more outbreaks of avian influenza than ever before, in wild birds, in small hobby flocks and in large poultry farms with high levels of biosecurity. In every season, we have observed changes in the epidemics, including new virus genotypes or subtypes, new target species among the wild birds, and changes in seasonal patterns. Avian influenza virus leads to high mortality in farms, challenging animal welfare as well as the economy of the farmer and of the sector, due to trade losses. A newly started EU funded project, the PAIR project, will focus on early warning modelling of virus types to facilitate rapid prevention in case of potential new pandemics. In this project, the successful applicant will work together with an international team of researchers to develop disease modelling tools for evaluating the pandemic potential of emerging viruses.

We anticipate the candidate to demonstrate strong teamwork skills by actively engaging and contributing to our research group, participating in relevant research projects, and potentially assisting with contingency tasks as needed.

Profile
We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist with the following competencies and experience:

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD within the field of epidemiological research
• You are highly experienced in a programming language such as R
• You have an active interest in research and epidemiology
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken
• Knowledge of both statistical and mathematical disease modelling.

Desirable experience and skills:

• Experience with research in avian influenza.
• Experience with conducting and disseminating research, e.g. in scientific papers, popular-scientific writing and at conferences.

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and international research environment.

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years. The starting date is 15 August 2024 or after agreement.

Salary, pension and other conditions of employment are set in accordance with the Agreement between the Ministry of Taxation and AC (Danish Confederation of Professional Associations) or other relevant organisation. Currently, the monthly salary starts at 36,400 DKK/approx. 4,880 EUR (October 2023 level). Depending on qualifications, a supplement may be negotiated. The employer will pay an additional 17.1 % to your pension fund.

Foreign and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions, if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

The position is covered by the Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities 2020.

Questions
For further information please contact Senior Researcher Carsten Kirkeby; [email protected]; www.sund.ku.dk

Foreign applicants may find this link useful: www.ism.ku.dk (International Staff Mobility).

Application procedure
Your online application must be submitted in English by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. Furthermore, your application must include the following documents/attachments – all in PDF format:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page).
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position.
3. A certified/signed copy of a) PhD certificate and b) Master of Science certificate. If the PhD is not completed, a written statement from the supervisor will do.
4. List of publications.

Deadline for applications: Sunday 28 April 2024, 23.59pm CET

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor. Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicant will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

Interviews are expected to be held in week 22-23

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.