Postdoctor in Machine learning and prediction models for fracture

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, at the Institute of Medicine, conducts research in several different areas, such as endocrinology, hematology, gastroenterology, hypertension, respiratory medicine and allergology, and clinical nutrition focusing on body composition and energy metabolism. The research is conducted in close collaboration with the clinical health care at both Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Mölndal Hospital.

The advertised postdoctoral position will be placed within the Sahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre (SOC),  where research is conducted in osteoporosis, fracture epidemiology, fracture risk prediction, innovative assessments of bone strength and the importance of gut microbiota for bone health. The research group has recently developed a Swedish model for predicting fractures that does not require patient interaction but is based solely on registry data. The postdoctoral position will be part of and funded by a Scandinavian project CHOICE.

The post-doc supervisor Professor Mattias Lorentzon is a leading scientist within the field of clinical osteoporosis research:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9P8M8IEAAAAJ&hl=sv

https://www.gu.se/en/about/find-staff/mattiaslorentzon

Subject area

Machine learning and prediction models for fracture

Specific subject description

Hip fractures are associated with significant morbidity, disability, mortality and high societal costs. It is therefore crucial to identify individuals with an elevated fracture risk early on to enable effective preventive interventions, including treatment of osteoporosis and fall prevention. The purpose of the postdoctoral position is to use machine learning methods to develop and validate improved prediction models for fracture. By identifying at-risk individuals and initiating osteoporosis treatment at an early stage, fractures can be prevented and thereby reduced suffering, disability and costs for both the individual and society.

Job assignments

The candidate will work with clinical osteoporosis research within the Sahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre at the University of Gothenburg. More specifically, the candidate will handle large data sets, millions of individuals, hundreds of thousands of variables with potential risk factors, from different registries and different cohorts. The candidate will be responsible for further developing prediction models for fracture and fall injury in Sweden, Denmark and England. The duties also include responsibility for data collection, performing statistical analyses, compiling results, writing manuscripts and participating in publishing results. In addition, the candidate will collaborate closely with the other Scandinavian researchers.

Eligibility 

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree in a relevant subject, or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made.

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area. 

Assessment

We are looking for a person with experience in clinical research in osteoporosis and fracture risk. It is a requirement to have worked previously with analyzing large clinical data sets, programmed in R, and used advanced machine learning methods such as XGBoost and DeepSurv. It is advantageous to have specific experience with the patient registry, the prescribed drug registry, Statistics Sweden, and the cause of death registry. High scientific level with publications in reputable scientific journals is an advantage. As we operate in an international environment, the applicant is expected to have good skills in communicating in spoken and written English. Great importance is placed on personal qualities, not least the ability to work independently and organizational skills.

Employment 

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, 36 months
Extent: 100 %
Location: Institute of Medicine, Gothenburg
First day of employment: According to agreement

Contact information 

Mattias Lorentzon
Professor
+46 (0)733-388185
mattias.lorentzon@medic.gu.se

Marie Lagerquist
Assistant Head of Department 
marie.lagerquist@medic.gu.se

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande 

Information for International Applicants

Visit the webpage Join us - jobs and career for more information on the Institute of Medicine and what opportunities we have for you. Discover our world-class research and research infrastructure, as well as what the benefits are for you and your family: https://www.gu.se/en/medicine/about-us/join-us-jobs-and-career. 

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit: 

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services 
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/ 

Application

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.  

Please attach PhD certificate with the application, if the PhD certificate has not yet been issued, it needs to be attached latest at the time when the employment decision is to be made.

Applications must be received by: 2025-10-22

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.