Call for applications for a fully financed PhD fellowship

Project description

Each year, approximately 800 neonates are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Aarhus University Hospital—a highly specialized unit for the care of critically ill and preterm newborns. Nearly all of these patients receive one or more medications during their stay. Nationally, around 6,000 neonates are admitted annually to one of the 17 NICUs across Denmark. Neonates differ markedly from older children and adults in various physiological aspects, including organ development, receptor expression, and body composition. These differences significantly influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of medications—affecting absorption, distribution, metabolism, efficacy, and elimination. Moreover, factors such as the degree of prematurity and postnatal age may further impact drug response and the risk of adverse effects. Despite widespread drug use in this population, few medications have been formally tested in neonates. The overarching aim of this project is to strengthen the evidence base for neonatal pharmacotherapy by addressing critical knowledge gaps in drug efficacy and safety. Specifically, the project seeks to evaluate and compare the effectiveness and safety profiles of selected medications using structured patient registry data from the NICU at Aarhus University Hospital and other Danish NICUs.This approach will help reduce the time between the introduction of new treatments for neonatal conditions and the establishment of their actual clinical value—whether beneficial or harmful. An additional key objective is the identification of drugs with suboptimal efficacy. These findings may inform researcher-initiated non-inferiority trials comparing standard treatment to no treatment, ultimately guiding more evidence-based care for neonates. 

Qualifications

We are seeking a highly qualified Medical Doctor with a strong background in clinical and pediatric pharmacology to join our team. This position is tailored for an individual with both academic and clinical expertise in the field, particularly with a focus on pediatric pharmacological research.

Required Qualifications:

• A degree in Medicine (MD).
• Documented professional interest in clinical pharmacology and research experience in pediatrics and pharmacology.
• In-depth knowledge of clinical pharmacology, including:
  • Drug testing methodologies
  • Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
  • Age-related pharmacological variations from the neonatal stage through adolescence

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in teaching clinical pharmacology, with particular emphasis on pediatric applications.
• A minimum of two publications in subjects related to pediatrics and/or clinical pharmacology.

How to apply

Please submit your application via this link. Application deadline is 9 June 2025 23:59 CET. Preferred starting date is 1 July 2025.

For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide.  

Further information

Please contact Professor, Chair consultant, Deputy Head of Research Tine Brink Henriksen, tine.brink.henriksen@clin.au.dk, for more information.

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.