211-2132/25-2H PhD Fellowship in Pharmaceutical Data Science Education

PhD Fellowship in Pharmaceutical Data Science Education
Department of Science Education
Faculty of Science
University of Copenhagen

The Department of Science Education and the newly established Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education (CPDSE) seek an excellent PhD fellow in pharmaceutical data science education, working with Assistant Professor Hendra Y. Agustian and Associate Professor Adrienne Traxler. The position involves research in student learning and competence development within an emerging interdisciplinary field that synthesizes expertise in pharmaceutical science and data science. The position will also include collaboration in curriculum development within the Center, aligning with strategic initiatives across the partner institutions, involving seven departments at the University of Copenhagen and University of Southern Denmark. The position is open from 1 September 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
An emerging field, pharmaceutical data science is a synthesis between data science and pharmaceutical sciences, in which (1) data science is applied to drug discovery, development, and safety, (2) algorithms and databases are developed and tailored to pharmaceutical data, and (3) data drives pharmaceutical experiments. As such, educational research contextualized in pharmaceutical data science education practice draws on (inter)disciplinary knowledge of the field in light of relevant educational theories and methodologies.

The PhD candidate will be conducting discipline-based educational research aimed at mapping key competencies that CPDSE students develop over three years (2025-2028). The study can be framed in relevant educational theories, such as competence-based higher education, computational thinking and statistical literacy, multidimensional learning progression, and threshold concepts. These theories have been used to understand a complex and holistic view of how university students learn and apply their knowledge in new contexts. While the study lends itself to various methodological approaches, we strive to mirror the project focus on data science in this research program. Therefore, network analysis, learning analytics, and competence assessments at multiple points could be considered.

Who are we looking for?
We seek a candidate with a pharmaceutical science-related background, including chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy, and pharmacology. Demonstrated competence in data science and some experience with educational research and/or development are desirable. This may include systematic data collection on student learning and experiences, learning analytics, and quantitative data analysis. Candidates with other research specialisms in teaching and learning in higher science education will also be considered. The candidate should have documented experience with using data science in research, preferably in an educational context. Experience collaborating with a range of disciplines pertaining to pharmaceutical science, data science, and educational science will be considered an advantage. Likewise, relevant publications will be considered an advantage. Good language and communication skills are required.

Formal requirements
Applicants should hold an MSc degree in pharmaceutical science-related background, including chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy, and pharmacology with good results and good English skills. As criteria for the assessment of your qualifications, emphasis will also be laid on previous publications (if any) and relevant work experience.

The PhD programme
A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Duties and responsibilities

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis based on your project

The Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education
The Center for Pharmaceutical Data Science Education is a close collaboration between the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). For further information on the Center, see www.cpdse.ku.dk. The goal of the center is to advance Danish education within pharmaceutical sciences through integration of data science. The center is anchored at the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, UCPH.

The Center’s vision is to make pharmaceutical data science a catalyst for life science and healthcare strongholds. To achieve this, the Center will develop and deliver research-based education for the future workforce – spanning bachelor, master, PhD, and life-long learning. The Center is based upon grant funding of DKK 123 million from three Danish private foundations; the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation, and the LEO Foundation.

The research environment
The Department of Science Education is an interdisciplinary department, and the successful applicant is expected to engage in interdisciplinary activities in relation to teaching and development work. It is a hallmark of our research to unite strong fundamental and applied research with a high impact on society, including themes that are of particular interest to the University of Copenhagen in general as well as to the Faculty of Science in particular. The Centre for Digital Education is affiliated with both Department of Science Education and Department of Computer Science. It is not a requirement to be able to teach in Danish. UCPH has an International Staff Mobility office that assists international scholars with their relocation to Copenhagen; see https://ism.ku.dk/. Information on life in Denmark is available on the official website https://lifeindenmark.borger.dk/. Similarly, information on life in Copenhagen can be found here: https://international.kk.dk/artikel/everyday-life-copenhagen.

Principal supervisor is Associate Professor Adrienne Traxler, Department of Science Education, atraxler@ind.ku.dk, direct phone: +45 35 33 70 86. Co-supervisor is Tenure-track Assistant Professor Hendra Agustian, Department of Science Education, hendra.agustian@ind.ku.dk, direct phone: +4535334470.

Further information about the Department can be found at https://www.ind.ku.dk/english/. Inquiries about the position and the department can be made to either Adrienne Traxler or Hendra Agustian. 

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.

The application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Motivation letter (max. one page).
• Research plan that aligns with the project description (1-2 pages).
• Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills, and other skills relevant to the position.
  • Please describe and document international network and activities
  • Positions held at universities/research institutions
  • Outreach activities, i.e. popular lectures or other activities in the media (where available)
  • Scholarships or career development grants (where available)
• Diplomas (Master’s degree or equivalent) and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.

• Publication list (where available).

The deadline for applications is 27 April 2025, 23:59 GMT +2

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.
The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements.

The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/