Postdoc in registry based cognitive research at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social[...]

Postdoc in registry based cognitive research at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen (UCPH).

The position is a fixed-term position for 24 months/2 years, to commence by 01. december 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Introduction

The postdoc will be part of a project entitled Exploring the basis of individual differences in face recognition funded by the Independent research Fund Denmark and the Carlsberg Foundation. The project is headed by Professor Randi Starrfelt and is a collaboration with Professor in Psychology and Epidemiology, Karen‑Inge Karstoft and Professor in Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, Birgitte Fagerlund from Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen.

The overall project investigates variability in face recognition across a large, representative sample of the Danish population, with the aim of relating this to other measures of cognition through questionnaires and data from Danish public registries. The focus of the postdoc‑position will be on contributing to the survey design, selecting appropriate registry variables that may index cognition, and planning and executing data‑analyses across the entire project.

Applicants are asked to situate and develop their research plan within the framework of the overall project, and it is a requirement that the original project proposals are requested from Professor Randi Starrfelt, randi.starrrfelt@psy.ku.dk prior to submitting the application.

Candidates with various background may be considered for the position, examples of relevant backgrounds are PhDs in public health, psychiatry (medicine), psychology or cognitive (neuro)science. Strong skills in data handling and analysis is crucial, and experience with research using data from Danish public registries a strong advantage.

The postdoc will be working in close collaboration with psychologists from different disciplines including psychological epidemiology and cognitive neuropsychology/neuropsychiatry. The position will be placed at Copenhagen Neuropsychology Lab, part of the Section for Cognition and Neuropsychology. It is expected that the successful candidate will be present, part of the team, and take part in the activities in the Lab on a daily basis.

Duties And Responsibilities

The primary focus of the postdoctoral position will be on research within the main project. However, a certain amount of teaching obligations may be required. Additional tasks beyond research and teaching may also be considered, but to a limited extent. The university will determine the final scope of the various responsibilities, and the emphasis may vary over time.

The data collection in the project is currently being planned, and will start in the beginning of 2027. The main responsibilities of the postdoc in the project will be in planning the registry based part of the project, planning and conducting statistical analyses across the project’s different work packages, and preparing this work for publication. Some supervision of a future PhD‑student in the project is also expected.

Qualification Requirements

Appointment as a postdoctoral researcher requires research qualifications at a level at least equivalent to those obtained through the satisfactory completion of a PhD programme within the relevant field.

Strong skills in data handling and analysis is crucial, and experience with research using data from Danish public registries a strong advantage. An interest in cognition and individual differences will be a clear advantage, as is curiosity about the relationship between face recognition skills and other cognitive abilities, disorders, and vulnerabilities.

You can find further information about the qualification requirements for postdoctoral positions here: Ministerial Order on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Universities (In Danish only).

You can also find further information about the postdoctoral position on our English webpage on career paths for early–career researchers at the University of Copenhagen: Career at The University of Copenhagen.

Strategy of the Faculty of the Social Sciences

The Department Of Psychology Is Part Of The Faculty Of The Social Sciences. The Faculty Is a Successful Academic Community That Strives To Put Knowledge Into Action By

• Engaging partners in the co‑creation of knowledge, learning and social change.
• Empowering our students to become reflective and responsible citizens who have the vision, the knowledge and the competences to change society for the better.
• Energising global, European and Danish communities of knowledge by innovating research methodologies and by research findings with impact.

For more on the faculty’s strategy, please see: Strategy for the Faculty of Social Science.

Assessment Criteria

Applicants will