Two PhD Research Fellowship positions in the PsychGen Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and Mental Health

We are offering two separate three-year PhD positions at the PsychGen Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and Mental Health: one focused on neurodevelopmental conditions, and one on links between asthma and mental health. The centre is a cross-institutional research environment based at Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo, Norway.

We are seeking talented graduates (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a relevant discipline (e.g., genetics, psychology, biology, statistics, epidemiology) wishing to develop strong interdisciplinary skills at the interface of mental health research, epidemiology, and genetics. The successful candidates will be employed at Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, with academic enrolment at the University of Oslo. As a PhD student at the PsychGen Centre, you will be embedded within a diverse team of international, interdisciplinary researchers, using cutting-edge methods and large cohort data to better understand early neuropsychiatric development and its long-term consequences.

PhD position #1: Project Description
Neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and autism are common in childhood and adolescence. Recent years have seen marked increases in diagnosis rates, particularly among young people, with especially notable rises among girls and in specific sociodemographic groups. These trends highlight an urgent need to better understand the interplay between genetic predispositions to neurodevelopmental traits, cultural factors, and diagnostic practice. Furthermore, with more people receiving diagnoses, it is crucial to identify factors that shape functional trajectories and outcomes for individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions over time.

This project will investigate how early signs and symptoms of neurodevelopmental conditions cluster into clinically meaningful profiles, and how these profiles predict later diagnostic and functional outcomes. The central data source for the project will be the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and linked national health registry data. MoBa is the world's largest genotyped cohort of parents and children, including more than 100,000 children and their families with long-term follow-up through questionnaires and national registers from before birth to adulthood. The candidate will also explore how genetic predispositions contribute to variation in these developmental profiles, and how environmental and social factors influence these relationships.

The project will use advanced statistical and genetic epidemiological methods to integrate information across multiple levels, from early behavioural patterns to genetic liability and broader contextual influences.

PhD position #2: Project Description
Over half a million children and young people in Norway live with asthma, a chronic respiratory condition increasingly linked to higher risk of mental health challenges and suicidality. Despite systematic national efforts in Norway to promote mental health and minimise suicide rates, no nationwide information exists on the prevalence, risk factors, and causal pathways to mental health challenges and suicidality in this large population group. As a result, their potentially unique needs are likely to be uncharted and unmet. This PhD fellowship project, co-designed with the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association (NAAF), will fill this critical gap by providing the first nationwide evidence and revealing how asthma’s lived experience, psychosocial factors, and biological underpinnings drive risk. Using Norwegian health registries and the MoBa birth cohort, the PhD candidate will apply cutting-edge epidemiological methods (including polygenic risk scores, Mendelian randomization, and counterfactual mediation) to reveal risk factors and map causal pathways. The PhD will work alongside epidemiologists, clinicians, and users, and will provide the evidence base needed to drive targeted prevention, early intervention, and integrated care. Ultimately, findings of the project will pave the way for a more comprehensive and responsive healthcare framework that acknowledges the complex, interconnected needs of people living with asthma in Norway.

The Research Team
The PhD candidates will join the PsychGen Centre led by Alexandra Havdahl, Helga Ask, and Laurie Hannigan based across Lovisenberg Hospital and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The candidates will receive supervision from an interdisciplinary team of experts in psychiatric epidemiology, psychology, and genetic methods. Both positions include the possibility for international research stays, where the candidates can receive advanced training in epidemiological and statistical methods and collaborate closely with international partners. The funder encourages applications for exchange fellowships to cover travel and accommodation expenses.

The working language of the PsychGen Centre is English.

Qualifications and personal skills
Essential

• A master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as psychology, genetics, bioinformatics, medicine, statistics, epidemiology, or similar, with grades satisfying the criteria for enrolment in the PhD programme at the University of Oslo
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• Experience with statistical analysis or programming (R, Stata, SPSS or similar)
• Strong statistical and quantitative skills, with willingness to learn new analytic methods
• Strong interest in working collaboratively and in accordance with the practices and principles of open and reproducible science

Desirable

• Experience with user involvement or public engagement activities, especially around neurodiversity
• Experience in mental health or developmental research
• Experience analysing large longitudinal datasets
• Experience analysing genetic data
• Competence with written and spoken Norwegian (not essential as the working language of the group is English, but it is desirable that candidates without Norwegian language are willing to learn).

Expectations
Over 3 years, the PhD candidates will be expected to:

• Study relevant literature in the project domain (neurodevelopmental conditions and asthma and mental health)
• Complete mandatory courses in the PhD programme at the University of Oslo
• Complete training in advanced statistical and genetic epidemiological methods
• Plan and conduct the project in line with participatory research principles, actively involving people with lived experience throughout the research process
• Prepare analysis plans and conduct analyses of large-scale longitudinal cohort data
• Write 3 or more scientific papers for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Write and submit the PhD dissertation within the project period
• Attend and present their work at international conferences
• Work in accordance with the practices and principles of open and reproducible science

What we offer

• 3-year, full-time position with salary NOK 550 000 to NOK 600 000 per annum, depending on qualifications
• Funding for conference attendance and training
• An inspiring working environment with supportive and dedicated supervision, a friendly and collaborative research team, and highly qualified national and international collaborators
• Use of unique data sources such as the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study and national registries
• Flexible working conditions
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous salary pension scheme through KLP
• A wide range of company sports teams and Oslo’s rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply
The application must include:

• Cover letter of max. 2 pages (statement of motivation, summarising scientific work and research interests) in English
• CV in English (including summary of education, employment, research experience, teaching experience, administrative experience and other relevant activity)
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only) in English if available
• List of reference persons: 2–3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)
• Applicants should indicate in their cover letter which position they are applying for, or whether they wish to be considered for both.

International applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system, and – if necessary – seek approval of grades and qualifications by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills.

Please note that all submitted documents should be in English.

Assessment criteria
In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on academic qualifications, the candidate’s motivation, and personal suitability. Interviews will be performed as part of the selection process.

Start date: 1 September 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.