Researcher on Global Maternal Health 

About the position 

Applications are invited for a three-year researcher position (80%) at the Institute of Health and Society as part of a Global Health research project, "Preventing Severe Hypertensive Adverse Events in Pregnancy and Childbirth" (PRESHA). The position is part of a new Norwegian Research Council-funded project (Research Projects for Scientific Renewal – Global Health) led by Associate Professor Andrea Solnes Miltenburg at the University of Oslo. Intended starting date for the position is Autumn 2026. 

The appointment is a part-time 80% position and is made for a period of up to three years. The researcher will work closely with Associate Professor Andrea Solnes Miltenburg.

The candidate is welcome to participate in building a long-term research program with particular emphasis on thematic areas fitting within a broader perspective on global women’s health across the life course.

More about the project

The PRESHA project is an ambitious project that aims to prevent maternal and perinatal death and disability due to pre-eclampsia in low-resource settings through improved prediction, prevention and clinical management. The project takes place in Mwanza, Tanzania. The official project period is from 2023-2028. The project partners are from Norway, Tanzania and the Netherlands. The project is unique in that it combines the introduction of biomarker PlGF/Sflt-1 for pre-eclampsia prediction with strengthening the organization of existing care processes. We will use a combination of disciplines and innovative methodological approaches to explore existing implementation challenges and co-create, implement and evaluate a package of interventions for prevention and management of pre-eclampsia that is adapted and relevant to the Tanzanian context.

For more information about the project, or further inquiries about the position please contact Associate Professor Andrea Solnes Miltenburg.

Your main tasks will be: 

The researcher will have a central role in the implementation phase of PRESHA, while also conducting analyses of cohort data. Key responsibilities include:

Research position

• Lead the day-to-day coordination of the implementation phase in close collaboration with partners in Tanzania, the Netherlands and Norway.
• Organize and support implementation of the PRESHA quality-of-care package (PRESHA-QoC), including training, supervision, co-creation workshops and audit cycles.
• Coordinate the stepped-wedge implementation of biomarker-based risk prediction (PRESHA‑TRIAL) across participating facilities.
• Oversee timelines, documentation, reporting, ethics renewals and regulatory requirements related to the implementation phase.
• Facilitate communication between clinical teams, research staff, community partners and the international study group.
• Contribute to data quality assurance, protocol adherence and monitoring of implementation processes.
• Analyze cohort data related to the social determinants of health and their impact on outcomes related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
• Lead and co-author scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to methodological innovation in implementation research.
• Work closely with the PI and team on developing and writing research grant applications (e.g. for project extension, new related studies).

Engage in dissemination, policy briefs and knowledge translation activities towards Tanzanian and international stakeholders.

Qualification requirements 

Qualification requirements

• A PhD (or equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree) in global health, public health, epidemiology, medical sciences, social sciences with strong health focus, or a closely related field. The doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Appointment is dependent on the public defense of the doctoral thesis being approved.
• Documented experience with mixed-methods research (both quantitative and qualitative).
• Strong skills in quantitative analysis, preferably including:
  • cohort or longitudinal data analysis
  • regression modelling
  • handling of routine health dataexperience with statistical software (e.g. Stata, R, or similar).
• Experience with qualitative methods (e.g. interviews, focus groups, observations) in health research.
• Demonstrated interest in or experience with implementation research, quality improvement or health systems research.
• Familiarity with maternal health, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, or related fields in global women’s health.
• Familiarity with the thematic areas of the project and the complexity of maternal health is required.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English is required.

Desired qualifications

• Knowledge of a Scandinavian language and/or Kiswahili would be an asset.
• Previous experience working East Africa/sub-Saharan Africa and in multidisciplinary and international teams will be an advantage.
• Experience with social determinants of health, food security, or equity-focused analyses in health research is particularly desirable.
• Experience in grant writing or participation in funding applications is an advantage.
• Demonstrating previous experience of working with mixed-methods research, implementation research and working in a multidisciplinary team in low-resource settings would be an advantage. 

Personal skills

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Is highly motivated to pursue an academic career.
• Can work independently and systematically, while being an engaged team player.
• Has strong organizational and project management skills and can handle complex coordination tasks across partners and countries.
• Has excellent written and verbal communication skills, and can communicate effectively with clinicians, researchers, students, community representatives and policymakers.
• Can take initiative and demonstrate strong, equitable and shared leadership skills in an international, multidisciplinary environment, fostering co‑ownership among partners 
• Is willing and able to spend longer periods in Tanzania (e.g. for fieldwork, coordination and collaboration).

Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.

We need different perspectives in our work 

UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one?

We will provide appropriate accommodations should you need them. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps, we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports. More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here. We hope you will apply for the position with us. 

We offer: 

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• An academically stimulating working environment at the University of Oslo/Helsam and connectivity to an international network in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
• Salary in position as Researcher, position code 1109 in salary range NOK from 610 000 - to 720 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

Application

Your application should include:

• Application letter outlining your motivation and how you would contribute to the PRESHA project
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Complete list of publications.
• Example of previous publications and research work of relevance for this position
• Transcripts and diplomas.
• Contact information for 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number).

Your CV must be entered in Jobbnorge’s CV form and cannot be submitted only as an attachment. This requirement is intended to ensure correct documentation and record-keeping in accordance with the Public Administration Act, Section 15.

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for this job".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

Please note that we are unable to add documentation after the application deadline. As the deadline applies equally to all applicants, this policy ensures equal treatment throughout the recruitment process. If you experience difficulties uploading documents in Jobbnorge, please contact their customer service: Phone: +47 75 54 22 20 or Email: support@grade.com 

The primary method of communication throughout the process will be e-mails and messages through the recruitment system Jobbnorge. When you receive a notification of a message in Jobbnorge, please log in to read it, as it may be important.

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.

Please refer to  Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian) and Rules for the use of research posts SKO 1108, 1109, 1110 and 1183 at UiO.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees to secure the rights to all research results and related intellectual property.