Fully Funded PhD Position: Optimized Monitoring of Patients with Primary Adrenal Insufficiency (DC1) – ENDOTRAIN MSCA Doctoral Network University of Bergen in Norway

The University of Bergen, in collaboration with Haukeland University Hospital, is offering a fully funded PhD position as part of the ENDOTRAIN MSCA Doctoral Network. The project, titled 'Optimized Monitoring of Patients with Primary Adrenal Insufficiency (DC1)', is embedded in Work Package 1: Hormone Dynamics and aims to advance understanding of endocrine rhythms in patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) using real-world, continuous data streams.

This research will investigate how cortisol levels affect tissue glucose, blood pressure, and sleep, correlating these physiological measures with patient-reported outcomes. The ultimate goal is to define the optimal range of tissue cortisol in PAI and establish time-in-range metrics compared to healthy subjects. The project involves a case-control study collecting wearable-based data and hormone profiles from both healthy subjects and PAI patients at different hydrocortisone doses. Integration of wearable-derived physiological data (activity, heart rate, temperature) with 24-hour dynamic hormone profiling, proteomics, and patient-reported data will contribute to multimodal datasets supporting the development of digital diagnostic tools in endocrinology.

The PhD candidate will benefit from secondments with technical and clinical partners, including the University of Ulm (algorithm development for wearable data) and the University of Manchester (mathematical modelling of hormone rhythms). The host institution provides access to state-of-the-art biobanking, wearable technologies, hormone analytics, and extensive international collaborations. The candidate will join the Endocrine Medicine Research Group, which includes clinical researchers, molecular biologists, geneticists, and bioinformatics experts.

Applicants must hold a Master's degree in medicine (MD) and demonstrate a strong interest in translational endocrinology and digital health technologies. Basic programming or data science skills (R, Python) and experience in wearable data analysis are assets. Candidates should be able to work independently, possess good communication skills, and be motivated for interdisciplinary collaboration. Fluency in oral and written English is required. Eligibility criteria for Norwegian PhD positions apply, including mobility requirements (no more than 12 months residence/activity in Norway in the past 36 months).

The position is fully funded, with salary according to Norwegian regulations, full social security coverage, travel and secondment budget, and opportunities for international networking and career development. The PhD programme is structured and includes mandatory participation in interdisciplinary training, workshops, retreats, transferable skills courses, and cohort-wide meetings across Europe.

Applications must be submitted through the Jobbnorge portal with all mandatory attachments. The application deadline is February 15, 2026, and the latest possible start date is August 2026. For more information, visit the project page linked above.