About the FHSE
The University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character.
The Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) at the University of Luxembourg brings together expertise from the humanities, linguistics, cognitive sciences, social and educational sciences.
People from across 20 disciplines are working within the Faculty. Along with the disciplinary approach a very ambitious interdisciplinary research culture has been developed. The faculty's research and teaching focuses on social, economic, political and educational issues with the common goal of contributing to an inclusive, open and resourceful society.
Your role
We seek a candidate interested in increasing our knowledge on the social determinants of cognitive ageing and dementia, specifically the interplay between sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics (sex/gender, education, income), lifestyle factors, and prodromal biological risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases. Outcomes could be diagnoses of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and/or Parkinson's Disease, or markers of brain structure and functioning, depending on the dataset. To do this, knowledge or willingness to be trained in advanced statistical modelling, ideally with an interest in methods for causal inference in observational data, is strongly preferred. Using various existing large datasets with rich information for knowledge synthetisation and triangulation over the course of the PhD project is encouraged.
The successful candidate will be affiliated with the Institute for Research on Socio-Economic Inequality within the Department of Social Sciences in the team of Prof. Dr. Anja Leist, with frequent exchange and collaboration with the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine and the Luxembourg Institute of Health, notably the group of Prof. Dr. Rejko Krüger. Several national datasets such as the Luxembourg Parkinson's Study and the Healthy Brain Ageing Study are ready for analysis.
The doctoral researcher will:
- Conduct research that will compose a PhD thesis on the interplay of sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics and lifestyle in risk of neurodegenerative outcomes
- Publish findings as academic articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals
- Disseminate results in national and international conferences
- Actively contribute to the events and seminars of the institute
See https://cognitiveageing.uni.lu/ for the work of the group. For further information, please contact Prof. Anja Leist ()
Your profile
- Master degree in Neuropsychology, Epidemiology, Public Health or a related discipline
- Excellent skills in advanced statistical modeling relevant for epidemiological research, or willingness to train and apply new knowledge in modeling
- Excellent writing skills
- Ability to work autonomously within an interdisciplinary team
- Fluency in English is required
We offer
- Multilingual and international character. Modern institution with a personal atmosphere. Staff coming from 90 countries. Member of the "University of the Greater Region" (UniGR)
- A modern and dynamic university. High-quality equipment. Close ties to the business world and to the Luxembourg labour market. A unique urban site with excellent infrastructure
- A partner for society and industry. Cooperation with European institutions, innovative companies, the Financial Centre and with numerous non-academic partners such as ministries, local governments, associations, NGOs …
How to apply
Applications should include:
- A curriculum vitae
- The outline of a potential doctoral research project (max. 2 pages)
- Copies of diplomas/transcripts with grades
- The names and contact details of two academics who may be approached to provide letters of recommendation
- Any additional material that may be deemed relevant by the applicant (e.g., a manuscript, a publication, an essay)
Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. To ensure full consideration, candidates should apply by 15 May 2025 ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by Email will not be considered.
All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. In line with our values, the University of Luxembourg promotes an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are dedicated to upholding equality and respect for our employees and students.
General information:
- Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract 36 Month
- Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Hours per Week
- Location: Campus Belval
- Internal Title: Doctoral Researcher
- Job Reference: UOL07301
The yearly gross salary for every PhD at the UL is EUR 40952 (full time).
