PhD Candidate in Exercise and Brain Health – The MolEx Studies

Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet (NTNU); Trondheim; On-site; NOK 480,000 - 560,000; Full time

Job summary

NTNU is offering a PhD candidate position in the Cardiac Exercise Research Group (CERG) within the Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The project focuses on molecular responses to exercise and their potential to protect brain health in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

The MolEx program includes three randomized clinical studies in diverse populations, with longitudinal blood sampling and multi-omics analyses.

Qualifications

• Master's degree (equivalent to 120 ECTS) in exercise physiology, human physiology, molecular biology, biomedicine, neuroscience, medicine, medical technology, or related field.
• Strong academic record, equivalent to a B or better, per NTNU grading scale.

Responsibilities

• Take an active role in MolEx studies across cohorts.
• Develop and lead sub-projects contributing to the doctoral thesis.
• Participate in data collection: exercise testing, cognitive testing, blood sampling logistics.
• Analyse large-scale omics data with bioinformatics collaborators.
• Publish results in international journals and present at conferences.
• Write and defend a doctoral thesis.
• Complete the mandatory PhD programme at NTNU.

Skills

Excellent English skills

Strong academic background

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in related field

Tools

R

Python

Job description

About The Position

Do you want to help uncover the molecular secrets of exercise – and how they may protect the brain against Alzheimer’s disease? We have a vacancy for a PhD candidate at the Cardiac Exercise Research Group (CERG; ntnu.edu/cerg), Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging (ISB), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU. CERG is a world-leading research group in exercise in medicine, with state-of-the-art laboratories and infrastructure for clinical and experimental research, located at St. Olavs University Hospital in Trondheim.

This is a fixed-term, full-time (100%) position for 3 years. For a position as a PhD candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education up to an obtained doctoral degree. The main supervisor will be Professor Ulrik Wisløff (NTNU). Professor Dorthe Stensvold (NTNU) and Postdoctor Atefe R. Tari (NTNU) will serve as co-supervisors. Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About The Project

The doctoral work is part of the MolEx research programme (“MOLecular secrets of EXercise”), which investigates the acute and long‑term effects of exercise on the molecular composition of human blood – and how exercise‑induced circulating molecules (“exerkines”) may mediate beneficial effects on the brain and possibly protect against Alzheimer’s disease.

Physical activity and high cardiorespiratory fitness are among the most promising preventive strategies against Alzheimer’s disease, but the underlying biological mechanisms in humans remain poorly understood. Our group has shown that plasma from exercise‑trained donors can counteract Alzheimer‑related pathology in experimental models, and we lead clinical trials testing exercise and “exercised plasma” as treatment strategies (e.g., the ExPlas Study). MolEx takes the crucial next step: mapping, in humans, the temporal dynamics and molecular signatures of exercise responses in blood.

MolEx consists of three coordinated randomized clinical studies applying the same core protocol in three populations: healthy younger adults, healthy older adults, and individuals in the early phase of Alzheimer’s disease. In each study, participants perform single sessions (acute) and a period (chronic) of high‑intensity interval training or moderate‑intensity continuous training, with blood sampling at repeated timepoints before and up to 48 hours after exercise, combined with comprehensive assessments of cardiorespiratory fitness, cognitive function, and body composition.

Blood samples are analysed with state‑of‑the‑art multi‑omics technologies, including mass spectrometry‑based proteomics quantifying approximately 11,000 proteins per project, as well as metabolomics, small non‑coding RNAs, and blood‑based Alzheimer biomarkers.

The PhD candidate will take an active role in all three studies and will develop and lead own sub‑projects within each of them, in close collaboration with the supervisor team. The specific research questions of the three papers that will constitute the doctoral thesis will be defined together with the candidate during the first phase of the position, allowing the thesis to be shaped by the candidate’s own ideas, the emerging data, and the most promising scientific leads.

Duties of the position

• Take an active role in the ongoing and planned MolEx studies in healthy younger adults, healthy older adults, and individuals with early‑stage Alzheimer’s disease
• Develop and lead own sub‑projects within each of the three studies, which together will form the basis of the doctoral thesis
• Participate in data collection, including supervised exercise training and testing (e.g., cardiopulmonary exercise testing), cognitive testing, and blood sampling logistics
• Analyse and interpret large‑scale molecular data (approximately 11,000 proteins per project) in collaboration with our bioinformatics and statistics collaborators
• Publish results in international peer‑reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences
• Write a doctoral thesis and publicly defend it
• Complete the mandatory PhD programme at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU

Required Selection Criteria

• A completed master’s degree (equivalent to a minimum of 120 ECTS credits) in exercise physiology, human physiology, molecular biology, biomedicine, neuroscience, medicine, medical technology, or a related field
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies, with an average grade from the master’s degree programme, or equivalent education, that is equivalent to B or better according to NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. Applicants with a weaker grade background may be considered if it can be documented that they are particularly suited for PhD education
• Documented experience with clinical and/or laboratory research
• Excellent written and oral English skills

The applicant must meet the requirements for admission to the Medical Faculty’s PhD programme (ntnu.edu/mh/phd).

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.

Preferred Selection Criteria

• Knowledge of, or experience with, bioinformatics and the analysis of large‑scale omics data (e.g., proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics), including basic programming skills in R and/or Python
• Documented experience with exercise testing (e.g., testing of maximal oxygen uptake) and/or supervision of exercise training in healthy individuals or patient groups
• Experience with cognitive testing and/or clinical research involving older adults or patient populations
• Publications in international peer‑reviewed scientific journals or presentations at scientific meetings
• Ability to communicate in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is an advantage, as data collection involves older adults and patients with early‑stage Alzheimer’s disease

Personal characteristics

• Enthusiastic and highly motivated, with a genuine interest in exercise physiology, brain health, and molecular medicine
• Good work ethics, organisational skills, and the ability to work systematically and independently
• The ability to work collaboratively towards common research goals in a multidisciplinary team
• Good communication skills and a respectful, patient approach when working with study participants, including older adults and patients

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience, and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential for research will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

We offer

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong, international academic environment that is world‑leading in exercise in medicine
• The opportunity to work with unique human multi‑omics data across the lifespan and in early‑stage Alzheimer’s disease
• Excellent opportunities for scientific and personal development in collaboration with skilled co‑workers and international collaborators
• State‑of‑the‑art laboratories and research infrastructure at NTNU and St. Olavs University Hospital
• Career guidance and follow‑up during the PhD period
• An open and inclusive work environment with engaged colleagues
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a