Call for applications for a fully financed PhD fellowship
This PhD project aims to characterize the mechanisms behind loss of skletal muscle mass and strength in patients with chronic heart faliure (CHF). Muscle loss is common among patients with CHF and associated with reduced quality of life, while morbidity and mortality remain high. Therefore, it is relevant to identify molecular and cellular abnormalities in skeletal muscle that could serve as potential treatment targets.
The project is conducted in collaboration between the Department of Cardiology and Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Aarhus University Hospital, and Novo Nordisk A/S in Måløv. The PhD student will continue the research in an already established cohort of approximately 100 CHF patients and 50 healthy age-matched controls. The participants have undergone extensive muscle assessments at baseline and are now scheduled for a 3-4 year follow-up visit. The PhD project will include this followup, hence, obtaining longitudinal data that can shed light on the possible changes in skeletal muscles over time. The PhD student will be trained in and be responsible for muscle strength testing, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, muscle biopsies, and tissue analysis in the laboratory at Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus. A research stay at Novo Nordisk's research center in Måløv is also planned, where proteomics and bioinformatics analyses will be performed.
Main supervisor: Senior Consultant, Professor, Henrik Wiggers, Department of Cardiology, AUH.
Co-supervisor: MD, PhD Andreas Bugge Tinggaard, Department of Cardiology, AUH.
Co-supervisor: Professor Niels Jessen, Head of Research at Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, AUH, and Department of Biomedicine, AU.
Co-supervisor: Associate Professor Jean Farup, Department of Biomedicine, AU.
Clinical experience within Cardiology and treatment of patients with chronic heart faliure is preferred. Prior exposure to clinical research and echocardiography is preferred.
Danish and English language proficiency is required. The position is suitable for a medical doctor with an interest in Cardiology.
Please submit your application via this link. Application deadline is 4 August 2025 at 23:59 CET. Preferred starting date is 1 September 2025.
For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see our application guide.
Please contact Professor Henrik Wiggers, henrikwiggers@dadlnet.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.
