The Department of Public Health at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), invites applications for a fully funded PhD entitled “AI to strengthen transparency and reproducibility in real-world evidence (RWE) generation”. The position is to be filled from 01 May 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position is anchored at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine (CPPEM).
The Academic Position
The PhD project will focus on how artificial intelligence and data science can be used to strengthen transparency and reproducibility in real-world evidence (RWE) generation. This will involve methodological development across the full RWE workflow, including protocol development, data harmonization, analysis, and validation. Specifically, the student will work with structured and machine-readable protocol specifications, AI-assisted support for pharmacoepidemiological study design, and approaches for AI-supported analytic code validation.
Improving transparency and reproducibility has been a long-standing methodological focus of the research group, and the project builds directly on sustained contributions to protocol standardization, open science practices, and large-scale pharmacoepidemiological infrastructure.
The PhD student will be embedded in a strong pharmacoepidemiology research environment and will be supervised by senior researchers at SDU in close collaboration with world-leading international experts, who will join the project as co-supervisors. The position offers excellent opportunities for advanced methodological training, international collaboration, and publication of high-impact methodological research contributing to transparent and reproducible RWE.
Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education (CPDSE)
The project is funded via the Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education (CPDSE), a new center focused on making pharmaceutical data science a catalyst for strong life science and healthcare ecosystems. To achieve this, CPDSE develops and delivers research-based education for the future workforce across bachelor, master, PhD, and lifelong learning levels.
CPDSE is funded by a DKK 123 million grant from three Danish private foundations: the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation, and the LEO Foundation. The Center is a strategic collaboration between the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and encompasses seven departments across the two universities.
Further information is available at www.cpdse.ku.dk.
Our Department
The PhD candidate will be part of the pharmacoepidemiology group within the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine (CPPEM). The group is led by Professors Jesper Hallas and Anton Pottegård and comprises approximately 45 researchers.
The group conducts large-scale registry-based research covering all aspects of drug utilization, effectiveness, and safety, using Danish nationwide health registries as well as international data sources. It has a strong international profile and extensive collaborations with clinical pharmacology, basic pharmacology, and environmental medicine researchers.
CPPEM as a whole spans research from pharmacoepidemiology and clinical studies to translational pharmacology, analytical chemistry, and environmental medicine. The department offers a stimulating research environment with dedicated colleagues and a formalized teaching and training program focusing on methodological as well as transferable skills, including dissemination, collaboration, and work planning.
Qualifications
• Applicants must hold a relevant Master’s degree within health science, epidemiology, data science or a related field
• Applicants must be fluent in spoken and written English
Some experience with programming and with data science or AI-based methods will be considered an advantage. International applicants are encouraged to apply for the position. The successful candidate is expected to contribute actively to a positive, collaborative working environment and to engage in interdisciplinary research activities across the department and its collaborators.
Contact Information
For further information about the position, please contact:
• Professor Anton Pottegård (apottegaard@health.sdu.dk)
• Head of Research Unit, Professor Tore Bjerregaard Stage (tstage@health.sdu.dk)
Applications must include:
• At letter stating the interest, motivation and qualifications for the project (max. 2 pages) - upload under “Application form”.
• Detailed CV, including personal contact information and
• Certified copy of diploma (Master’s degree in a relevant field)
Shortlisting may be used in the assessment process.
Interviews can be performed online if needed but physical interviews are preferred.
Further information about the PhD-study can be found at the homepage of the University.
Applications must be submitted electronically using the link "Apply now". Attached files must be in Adobe PDF format. We strongly recommend that you read How to apply for a position at SDU before you apply.
Incomplete applications and applications received after the deadline will neither be considered nor evaluated. This also applies to reference letters.
Closing date 1 April 2026
Successful candidates will be asked to send an application to the PhD Secretariat, Faculty of Health Sciences, to be enrolled as PhD students.
The PhD programme will be carried out in accordance with Faculty regulations and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities (PhD order)
The terms of employment as a salaried PhD Research Fellow are stated in the Agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).
The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.
