PhD Research Fellow in Human Thermal and Cardiovascular Physiology

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences (FHS), has a vacancy for PhD Research Fellow in Human Thermal and Cardiovascular Physiology A fully funded three-year PhD position in  Human Thermal and Cardiovascular Physiology is available at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL). The position is part of the research project ThermRisk: A Personalized Digital Human Model for Predictive Thermal Risk Assessment. ThermRisk is a collaborative project between three faculties at HVL: the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences (FHS), the Faculty of Education, Arts and Sports (FLKI) and the Faculty of Technology, Environmental and Social Sciences (FTMS). The Research Fellow will be affiliated with the Department of Health and Function under FHS. The candidate will also be part of the research group Sport, Health and Function and will work in the Human Health and Performance Laboratory. The PhD Research Fellowship is a three-year fixed-term position. The Research Fellow will follow the PhD programme Health, Function and Participation and must apply for admission to the programme within three months of commencement.  Deductions may be made in the appointment period for any previous recruitment periods. The PhD Research Fellowship is a recruitment position intended to contribute to an active research environment at HVL. The intended start date is 01.05.2027. The place of work is Campus Kronstad in Bergen. About the project The overarching research project ThermRisk: A Personalized Digital Human Model for Predictive Thermal Risk Assessment focuses on developing a computationally efficient digital twin for individuals exposed to extreme temperatures, enabling real-time prediction of thermal profiles and associated health risks.  Together with supervisors, the PhD Research Fellow, will contribute to the finalization of the test protocol and will be responsible for collecting physiological data that provide information on changes in core temperature and the influence of relevant physiological variables during exposure to varying thermal environments. The Research Fellow will collaborate closely with a parallel PhD Research Fellow ( see separate announcement ) with a background in computational thermal physics, who will use the experimental data to develop a computational model / digital twin of the human body. Relevance and Innovation The project addresses a central knowledge gap in human thermoregulation under extreme thermal exposure and will lay the foundation for the development of personalized predictive tools for thermal health risk assessment. As a PhD Research Fellow, you will have a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge interdisciplinary research through close collaboration with the Sport, Health and Function research group and the Human Health and Performance Laboratory. Principal Investigator (PI): Professor Boris Balakin (FTMS). For questions about the position at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences: supervisor Merete Salveson Engeset, email: Merete.Salveson.Engeset@hvl.no supervisor Ann-Katrin Grotle, email: Ann-Katrin.Grotle@hvl.no More information about appointment in PhD Research Fellow positions can be found on HVL's website: Appointment to a research fellowship Responsibilities The main supervisor and candidate will together prepare a detailed plan for the research training, which will be linked to admission to the PhD programme in Health, Function and Participation. • Recruitment of study participants and data collection • Planning and execution of physiological testing in the Human Health and Performance Laboratory, including measurements such as VO2max, blood pressure, core and skin temperature, sweat measurements, and respiratory parameters. • Analysis of biological markers (in collaboration with bioengineering personnel where relevant). • Statistical analysis of quantitative physiological data • Close collaboration with a parallel PhD Research Fellow who will use physiological test data to develop a computational digital twin. Dissemination of research results through scientific publications and conferences. • A minimum of three first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals is required to be eligible to submit the PhD thesis. Qualifications: Required Qualifications Criteria for employment in a Research Fellow position are set out in the Act relating to universities and university colleges https://lovdata.no/dokument/NLE/lov/2024-03-08-9 • Completed Master's degree (120 ECTS credits) in human physiology, exercise physiology, sport science, or other fields directly relevant to the project, with a strong academic record (minimum grade B or better) in both the Master's degree overall and the Master's thesis. In cases of particularly relevant competence, an individual assessment may be provided as long as the requirements for admission to the PhD program are met • Master's students who expect to submit their Master's thesis by spring 2027 and who have achieved grade B or higher in previous courses are also welcome to apply. The Master's thesis must be assessed and approved no later than four weeks before commencement of the position • The successful candidate must meet the admission requirements for the PhD programme Health, Function and Participation. For more information, see: PhD Programme in Health, Function and Participation - Western Norway University of Applied Sciences • Solid background in physiology and demonstrated experience leading physiological testing, including responsibility for protocol execution, participant handling, and data quality in a laboratory setting • Good written and spoken proficiency in English is required • Good IT skills • Experience with quantitative research projects and physiological measurements in humans   Desired Qualifications • Knowledge of thermophysiology and human thermoregulation will be considered a strong advantage. • Experience leading or coordinating previous research projects • Relevant subject knowledge in cardiovascular physiology and related measurement and analysis techniques • Experience with processing quantitative data and conducting statistical analyses • Familiarity with measurement of core body temperature using established methods (e.g., ingestible telemetric capsules, rectal probes) • A record of scientific publications is considered beneficial • Good written and spoken proficiency in Norwegian or other Scandinavian languages, as participant recruitment, testing, and laboratory work will be conducted with Norwegian-speaking participants   Personal Qualities • Strong communication and collaboration skills, particularly across disciplinary boundaries (physiology ↔ computational modelling) • Responsible, structured, proactive, and flexible • Ability to work systematically and efficiently • Capacity for innovative thinking and follow-through • Ability to communicate and interpret research findings • Ability to work independently while contributing actively to the research group and broader academic environment • High ethical awareness in research work • Motivation to defend the doctoral thesis within three years   The following documentation should be uploaded: • A letter of application describing relevant experience and competence • CV with a complete list of academic publications • A scientific literature summary (maximum 3 pages) on the regulation and measurement of core temperature, factors influencing temperature regulation, as well as consequences of poor regulation • A reflection letter (up to 2 pages) on your motivation to undertake a PhD, including thoughts and perspectives on the project related to its thematic and methodological approach • Complete Master's thesis (if not yet finalized, a substantive excerpt suitable for assessment must be attached) • Diplomas and certificates   How to apply for the position: Submit your application and CV by clicking on the button marked "s