Senior Applied Researcher in Data-Driven Nutrition

Are you interested in applying advanced data analytics and quantitative models to challenges in nutrition and health? This position at Fraunhofer-Chalmers Research Centre offers the opportunity to work as a Senior Applied Researcher in data-driven nutrition. In this role, you will contribute to applied research that bridges industrial mathematics, data analytics, and nutrition science.

About us

Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre (FCC) is a leading research centre in industrial mathematics, modelling, simulation, optimisation, and data analytics. We operate at the interface between academic research and industrial needs, often in interdisciplinary projects where mathematics, data, and domain expertise meet.

Together with the nutrition research group led by Professor Rikard Landberg at Chalmers University of Technology, we conduct advanced research in data-driven nutrition, health, and food science. With large-scale diet and health data, omics data, biomarkers, digital food and health services, we establish predictive models for evaluation of the role of dietary in health and disease and establish personalized dietary strategies for more effective disease prevention. In many cases, the work involves time series data, dynamic processes and phenomena, where both methods and interpretation must account for temporal dynamics. Data typically comes from intervention studies conducted in Gothenburg and/or from large cohorts and biobanks from international collaborators.

To secure and further develop this important collaboration, we are now recruiting a senior applied researcher with a strong quantitative profile and interest in nutrition, health, or medicine.

Your role

As a senior applied researcher in this area, you will:

• Act as a key person in the collaboration between FCC and the nutrition research group at Chalmers.
• Lead and conduct research projects in data-driven nutrition, such as:
• statistical modelling, AI, and machine learning on large epidemiological cohorts, diet and health data
• analysis of omics data (metabolomics, proteomics, microbiome, etc.)
• development of predictive models and digital decision-support tools for nutrition and health
• method development in causal inference, integration of heterogeneous data sources, uncertainty quantification
• analysis of time series data and dynamic processes, where signals and responses evolve over time.
• Work with a wide range of data types, for example dietary records, biomarkers, omics data, registry data, and sensor data such as CGM measurements (continuous glucose monitoring), activity trackers, and other wearable sensors.
• Contribute to grant proposals and projects for national and international funding (e.g. Swedish Research Council, Formas, EU) together with Chalmers and other partners.
• Serve as a bridge between domain researchers (nutrition, medicine, food science) and quantitative experts (mathematics, statistics, AI&ML, systems engineering).
• Supervise and support PhD students and postdocs involved in joint projects.
• Help establish new collaborations with industry and public-sector stakeholders (e.g. food industry, health-tech companies, e-health actors).

Your profile

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics, Automatic Control, Signal Processing, Systems Engineering, Data Science, or a related field.
• Has documented experience in data-driven research, preferably related to biomedicine, nutrition, epidemiology, food science, or public health.
• Is proficient in modern statistical modelling, AI & machine learning methods (e.g. system identification, regression models, Bayesian methods, deep learning).
• Is an experienced programmer in R and/or Python, and used to working with large datasets and reproducible analysis workflows.
• Has a demonstrated ability to initiate and drive own research ideas, preferably with experience from writing and securing research grants.
• Enjoys working in interdisciplinary environments and is curious about understanding biological/nutritional research questions in depth.

It is meritorious if you also:

• Have experience working with cohort data, registry data, clinical studies, or omics data.
• Have previously worked in projects involving both academic and industrial/external partners.
• Have experience supervising PhD students, postdocs, or junior researchers.
• Can communicate in both Swedish and English; excellent English is required.

What we offer

With us, you will:

• Have a unique opportunity to combine advanced quantitative and data-driven methods with cutting-edge research in nutrition and health.
• Work in a strong and long-term collaboration between Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre and Chalmers division of Food and Nutrition Science, with access to both academic and industrial networks.
• Influence the direction of a strategically important initiative in data-driven nutrition and health.
• Be part of a creative, collaborative, and international research environment with good opportunities for personal and scientific development.

Employer:

Fraunhofer-Chalmers Research Centre for Industrial Mathematics (Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre, FCC)

Employment:

according to agreement

Location:

Gothenburg, Sweden

Department:

Systems and Data Analysis (in close collaboration with Chalmers)

Application procedure

The application should be written in English and attached as PDF-files, containing as specified below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

• CV
• Publication list
• Transcript of grades
• Personal letter with:
• A brief description of your research profile and how it relates to nutrition/health
• A brief motivation as to why you are interested in this position.

We welcome your application no later than February 22nd. Evaluation of applications will be done on a continuous basis.

Please note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered. Contact details to references will be requested after the interview.

For questions, please contact:

Mats Jirstrand, Head of Department, Systems and Data Analytics, Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +46 730 794303