PhD Fellowship in Nutrition and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The National Center of Excellence for the Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PREDICT), based at Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University (AAU) in Copenhagen, is looking to recruit a highly skilled and motivated PhD student in nutrition and inflammatory bowel disease to join our international and interdisciplinary group of dedicated researchers.The 3-year stipend (full-time, 37 hours per week) is available within the doctoral program Clinical Science, Laboratory and Translational Medicine, and is open for appointment from 1st of March 2027 or soon thereafter.

Your work tasks
We are seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join our Nutrition Research Group and contribute to research exploring the role of diet in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The project aims to improve our understanding of diet-disease relationships and generate evidence that can support future dietary recommendations for individuals living with IBD.

The PhD student will work with large population-based cohorts to investigate associations between dietary patterns, nutritional exposures, and disease outcomes. As part of an interdisciplinary research environment, you will collaborate closely with epidemiologists, nutrition scientists, clinicians, and biostatisticians engaged in internationally recognized research.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Conducting systematic literature reviews and evidence syntheses
• Developing research protocols and statistical analysis plans
• Managing and analyzing large-scale epidemiological data
• Conducting statistical analyses using R and other relevant software
• Writing and publishing scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals
• Presenting research findings at national and international conferences
• Contributing to collaborative research activities within the Center and with external partners

You will receive supervision and training from experienced researchers and become an integral part of a dynamic and supportive research environment.

Your competencies 
We are looking for an ambitious and self-driven candidate with a strong interest in nutrition, epidemiology, and inflammatory bowel disease research. Previous experience in nutrition-related research, preferably in the field of inflammatory bowel disease, is an advantage.

The ideal candidate has:

• A Master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, Human Nutrition, Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Sciences, or another relevant discipline
• Knowledge of nutritional epidemiology and inflammatory bowel disease
• Experience writing scientific reports, theses, or manuscripts
• Familiarity with statistical programming, preferably in R
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills
• Excellent written and spoken English proficiency
• The ability to work independently while contributing to a multidisciplinary research team

Qualification requirements
PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master's degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1124 of September 19, 2025 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions.  

According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time. As part of the PhD study, you are among other things required to complete PhD courses corresponding to 30 ECTS, gain experience with teaching or other forms of knowledge dissemination and complete an external research stay outside of Aalborg University, preferably 3-6 months at a foreign research institution.

Please visit the website of the doctoral school for further information on admission requirements.

Who we are    
PREDICT is at the forefront of international research to unravel the cause and prognosis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which are chronic and disabling conditions affecting millions of people worldwide. The Center is composed of biologists, clinicians, epidemiologists, and data scientists working with collaborators nationally and internationally to push the boundaries of precision medicine research and create real-world impact in IBD. We have state-of-the-art facilities within the center and this means through PREDICT you will be part of a well-funded research environment equipped with the latest technologies, unique data, and a world-leading network of collaborators.

We offer an exciting PhD program in a dynamic, high-performing, international environment with dedicated, friendly colleagues. We also offer superb opportunities for personal and professional development and unique access to state-of-the-art data resources, including linkable Danish nationwide health registries, Danish National Biobank data and individual level clinical data from the largest Danish IBD inception cohort; the NorDIBD Cohort.

You can read more about PREDICT here. 

About the Department of Clinical Medicine
The Department of Clinical Medicine provides research-based teaching across all disciplines of the medical degree programme and conducts research within the clinical specialties. 

Read more about the Department of Clinical Medicine here. 

How to apply
Your application must include the following:

• Application, stating reasons for applying and qualifications in relation to the position
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (bachelor's and master's degree diploma, including grades) 
• Other relevant documents

The application must be submitted via Aalborg University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aalborg University's website. 

Aalborg University wants to reflect the surrounding society and has diversity as a core value. Therefore, everyone, regardless of personal background and orientation, is encouraged to apply for the position. 

Do you have any questions?     
If you have any questions about the position, you are more than welcome to contact us. You will find contact persons at the bottom of the jobpost.

Further information  
Read more about our recruitment process here.

The assessment of candidates for the position will be carried out by qualified experts.
Shortlisting will be applied. This means that after the application deadline, the head of the department, with the assistance of the hiring committee, will select the applicants to be assessed. All applicants will be informed whether they have been shortlisted for assessment or not.

The hiring process at Aalborg University may include a risk assessment as a tool to identify potential risks associated with new hires, ensuring the safety, compliance, and integrity of the workplace.
Read more about The Doctoral School in Medicine, Biomedical Science and Technology 

Salary and terms of employment
The employment is in accordance with the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities and the Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities. Furthermore, your terms of employment and salary are in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement). 

You can find information about the salary and salary structure for the position in the Salary Overview for Recruitment - Scientific positions (VIP). Please refer to the introductory section of the page and the section entitled “PhD Fellow”.

There is a mutual probationary period of 3 months for the position.