Postdoc in Public Mental Health at Department of Public Health

We are looking for a highly motivated and dynamic postdoc for a 2-year position, starting September 1st 2024.

The position is focused on evaluations of mental health promotion and prevention interventions with populations in vulnerable positions in six European countries.

Information on the department can be found at: https://publichealth.ku.dk/



Our research
The postdoctoral position is based at the Section for Global Health: https://publichealth.ku.dk/about-the-department/global/. The Section for Global Health holds a broad research portfolio with a strong focus on health equity concerns across low-, middle- and high-income countries. Our current research areas include cardiometabolic diseases, infectious and neglected tropical diseases, global mental health, environmental and planetary health, climate change, resilience and disasters, sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as health care delivery.

The Section for Global Health has a strong focus on research-based education and outreach and is active in research and capacity strengthening projects. The section hosts two educational programs - a Master of Science in Global Health and a professional Master in Disaster Management. In addition, we offer several elective courses at Masters and PhD level. The programs and courses are taught in English to an internal student body. The section also supports teaching and other educational activities across the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences in Danish and English.

The Section for Global Health is an interdisciplinary section and we place great attention to collegiality, teamwork, diversity and mutual support in our everyday activities.



Your job
The postdoctoral position is part of the ADVANCE project: https://advancementalhealth.ku.dk/. The ADVANCE project is a 5-year project funded by Horizon Europe. Coordinated by the University of Copenhagen, ADVANCE aims to strengthen knowledge on optimal implementation and scaling-up of mental health prevention and promotion interventions in a changing Europe.

Within the context of ADVANCE’s work packages, we will conduct qualitative process evaluations as part of mixed methods, controlled evaluation studies. These evaluation studies focus on interventions with: adolescents affected by climate change in Germany; emerging adults affected by socio-economic stressors in Lithuania; adults working in digitalized small-to-medium enterprises in the Netherlands; adults with a migration background in Italy and Denmark; and older adults at risk of cognitive decline in Switzerland. The qualitative process evaluations are aimed at understanding concerns related to equity, stigma, and potential scalability from the perspective of key stakeholders, including intervention participants, providers, and others.

Your tasks would be to help design the process evaluations and support the research teams in the six evaluation study countries in implementing the process evaluations, e.g. providing guidance on setting up studies, problem solving implementation concerns, and providing technical support with analysis. Your role would be to strengthen the cohesion of the process evaluations and ability to draw critical lessons learned for mental health promotion and prevention in Europe across the study sites.



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

Essential experience and skills:

• You have a PhD in a relevant health science field (e.g. global health, public health, social medicine) or a social science degree with a dedicated health or wellbeing focus e.g. psychology, [medical] anthropology/ sociology)
• You are highly experienced in conducting (applied) qualitative research in the context of mental health promotion and prevention interventions

• You have worked in trans-/ inter-disciplinary research teams focused on mental health
• You have experience with supporting research teams in multi-country research projects
• You have an active interest in issues of mental health equity, stigma, and structural vulnerabilities in the European context
• Proficient communication skills and ability to work in teams
• Excellent English skills written and spoken

Desirable experience and skills:

• You have conducted research with a dedicated focus on one the themes of interest in ADVANCE (i.e., climate change, socio-economic disadvantage, workplace digitalization, migration, and aging)
• You are familiar with co-creation approaches in mental health research

Place of employment

The place of employment is at the Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen (location: Centre for Health and Society). We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic, supportive, 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 2 years. The starting date is September 1st 2024.

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 35,000 DKK/approx. 4,700 EUR (October 2021 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 Joyce Quinto; [email protected]; https://publichealth.ku.dk/about-the-department/global/

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: 30 May 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 the week 24.

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