Postdoc positions: Pharmacoepidemiology and reproductive epidemiology

Two full-time postdoc positions are available from 1 November 2026 at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). One position is a 2-year postdoc within the pharmacoepidemiology group at Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine (CPPEM), Department of Public Health. The other is a 2.5-year postdoc within reproductive epidemiology based at the Department of Clinical Research. The two groups work in close daily collaboration and share research infrastructure, methodological expertise, and a commitment to high-quality population-based epidemiology using Danish and Nordic register data.

Candidates may apply for one or both positions. Please state clearly in your application which position you are applying for or if you are applying for both

Pharmacoepidemiology - long-term safety and benefits of ADHD medication in children and youth

Department of Public Health, SDU | 2 years

Research tasks

The postdoc will be embedded in a large Danish-Norwegian research project investigating the long-term safety and effects of ADHD medication in children, adolescents, and young adults. The project also examines geographical variation in access to support and diagnostic pathways. Core tasks include planning, conducting, and publishing epidemiological studies using large-scale observational data, primarily register-based, with a focus on the effects of ADHD medication in children and young adults. The studies will address clinically important questions about the use, safety, and benefits of ADHD medication, including long-term outcomes in cardiovascular, psychiatric, educational, and social domains.

Depending on the candidate’s profile and interests, the position may also involve primary data collection, including extraction of medical chart data using natural language models and surveys of stakeholders within child and adolescent mental health services. The postdoc will work closely with the project team and will contribute to the supervision of PhD students employed in the project.

Reproductive epidemiology — the FEMME project

Department of Clinical Research, SDU | 2½ years

Research tasks

The postdoc will be affiliated with the FEMME project (FErtility and Medically assisted reproduction: Mapping women’s short- and long-term health Effects) and will work closely with the PI and the PhD students covering cardiovascular disease and cancer risk following medically assisted reproduction (work packages 1-2). Core tasks include planning, conducting, and publishing epidemiological studies using large-scale observational data from Danish and Norwegian nationwide registers, with follow-up of up to 30 years.

Work package 1 examines cardiovascular outcomes, including myocardial infarction, stroke, atrial fibrillation, and specific cardiomyopathies, by number of treatment cycles and treatment success. Work package 2 assesses the risk of invasive cancers and precursor lesions, stratified by treatment characteristics, infertility indication, and pregnancy outcome. The postdoc will work closely with the project team and will contribute to the supervision of PhD students employed in the project.

Research environment

Both positions sit within a broad collaborative research environment at SDU spanning pharmacoepidemiology, reproductive epidemiology, mental health, cancer, and cardiovascular research. The groups are characterised by close ties between epidemiologists and clinicians, strong national and international partnerships, and access to well-established research infrastructures, including the Danish nationwide registers and Nordic population data. The groups are active in NorPEN, ISPE, and the Danish Society for Pharmacoepidemiology.

The pharmacoepidemiology group at CPPEM is interdisciplinary, combining clinical perspectives with advanced population-based research. Research areas span pharmacoepidemiology, clinical studies, and environmental medicine. 

The FEMME research group brings together expertise in reproductive epidemiology, mental health, cancer epidemiology, cardiovascular epidemiology, and register-based research, with strong national and international collaborators. Both groups maintain an open and informal atmosphere and take pride in supporting the development of young researchers.

The postdoc in position 1 will work under the daily supervision of Assistant Professor Helene Kildegaard and Professor Anton Pottegård., The postdoc in position 2 will work within the FEMME group under the supervision of Associate Professor Mette Bliddal. Both postdocs are expected to contribute to the broader activities of the respective units within the departmental needs.

Qualifications

For both positions, the applicant must hold a PhD degree in epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, biostatistics, or a related discipline, or have obtained one by the expected start date. The applicant must be fluent in English (written and spoken) and have documented experience with large-scale health data and advanced epidemiological and statistical methods, including programming skills. Experience with the Nordic nationwide registers is an advantage but is not required.

Candidates are expected to contribute to a positive and constructive working environment through active participation and openness to interdisciplinary collaboration.

Further information 

ADHD position: Assistant Professor Helene Kildegaard, [email protected], or Professor Anton Pottegård, [email protected]

FEMME position: Associate Professor Mette Bliddal, [email protected], or Head of Department Rikke Leth-Larsen, [email protected]

Application deadline

September 15, 2026, at 23.59 hrs. (CET).

Salary and terms of employment

The applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations).

Application

Applications must be submitted electronically using the link “Apply now” - see below.

We strongly recommend that you read How to apply for a position at SDU before you apply.

Only applications written in English will be accepted for evaluation.

The application must include (as PDF files) (please note that the application (the motivation letter) and CV must not exceed 10 MB in total):

• a motivation letter
• a detailed CV
• degree certificates (inclusive of Ph.D.-diploma)
• a complete and numbered list of publications
• 3 scientific peer-reviewed publications considered by the candidate as most important for this position. Please note that a copy of each publication must be attached as a pdf file.
  • It is permitted to merge copies of the selected publications into a single PDF file.
• a teaching portfolio detailing the candidate’s prior teaching experience, teaching skills, and teaching philosophy
• a detailed description of research experience
• an explanation of other qualifications relevant to the position

For technical issues, please contact: [email protected] 

Please note that all the above-mentioned information must be included in the application.   

Applications received after the deadline and/or incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Assessment 

Shortlisting will be used as part of the initial selection process.  

Assessment of shortlisted applications will be done under the existing Appointment Order for universities. Shortlisted applications will be assessed by an assessment committee. The committee may request additional information, and, if so, it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the necessary material.  

References will be obtained for the preferred candidate from their current and previous employers. 

Living and working in Denmark

Foreign applicants will be offered Danish language training as part of the employment.

The International Staff Office (ISO) at SDU provides a range of services for new employees and prospective applicants.

The University welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.