Clinical Assistant (doctor) with a view to PhD appointment in a project on atrial fibrillation, weight control and echocardiography, Holbæk Hospital as well as Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg

Clinical assistant, physician, with the aim of a PhD appointment in a project on atrial fibrillation, weight control and echocardiography.

Would you like to participate in investigating how weight loss can reduce the frequency of atrial fibrillation? Do you have an interest in cardiology and training in echocardiography at a high level? Then it is in the Cardiology Section, Medicine 1 at Holbæk Hospital, where you can have the opportunity to turn your professional dreams into reality.

We look forward to having you join the team and welcome you.

The position is desired to be filled on January 1, 2027 or as soon as possible after agreement.

Your daily life in the department

In Holbæk you will be part of an interdisciplinary research environment with colleagues from several professions. We are seeking an engaged and ambitious candidate for the national DANWRAP study.

The position is a 3-year, fully funded position aimed at a PhD degree, with expected start January 1, 2027 or soon thereafter. The position is a joint appointment between the Cardiology Section, Medicine 1 at Holbæk Hospital and the Heart Department Y, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital. The PhD student will have their primary workplace in Holbæk but is expected on average to work 1-2 days per week at Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, where they will be part of the department's research environment.

Planning includes enrollment as a PhD student at the PhD School, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, with Professor Michael Hecht Olsen as the main supervisor. The project is conducted in close collaboration with the national team in the DANWRAP project, which includes clinical researchers and experts in lifestyle modification, weight control and treatment of atrial fibrillation.

About the project

The DANWRAP study, Weight loss for Reduction of Atrial Fibrillation burden and Progression (clinicaltrials.gov nr. NCT07816744) , investigates whether structured weight loss reduces the frequency and duration of atrial fibrillation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and overweight.

The planned PhD project is a sub-study to DANWRAP designed to elucidate the effect of structured weight loss on the heart's structure and function and the association of these with the frequency and duration of atrial fibrillation with the aim of achieving a better mechanistic understanding of the importance of weight loss for atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is common among people with overweight and other cardiometabolic risk factors, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully clarified. This PhD project aims to investigate to what extent structural and functional changes in the heart, particularly in the left atrium, can explain the link between overweight and atrial fibrillation.

As a central part of the project, the PhD student will be trained in echocardiography with a particular focus on assessing left atrial size and function, including measurement of atrial volume and atrial strain. Echocardiographic examinations will be used to characterize atrial remodeling and to examine how changes in left atrial structure and function relate to atrial fibrillation burden and the effect of weight loss. The project thus provides opportunities for both clinical research, advanced imaging, and acquisition of practical skills in echocardiography.

About you

We are seeking a candidate who

• Has demonstrated research experience, e.g., a master's thesis, research fellow, or already published articles.
• Has a master's degree in Medicine, and completed Clinical Base Education with entitlement to independent practice.
• Has an interest in cardiology and echocardiography.
• Is proficient in spoken and written scientific English.

Your tasks

• Conduct clinical research with data collection through clinical work.
• Dissemination of research results: presentation of data at national and international conferences, communication to the general public, and preparation of scientific articles.
• Contribute to the research group’s joint work, including participating in the department’s other projects as a natural part of a clinical research department.

We offer

• Good supervision by experienced researchers, professors and lecturers.
• Well-functioning interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Flexibility.
• Opportunity to develop strong methodological and academic skills.
• International and national research networks.

About the research environment

Medicine 1 is one of the few broad internal medicine departments left in Denmark and has a unifying research unit across our clinical specialties. We conduct a number of clinical studies in collaboration with national and international partners.

We treat internal medicine patients broadly, as well as specialty patients in endocrinology, cardiology, nephrology and pulmonology. We have large medical outpatient clinics and three medical wards with a total of about 60 beds.

The research unit includes two professors in endocrinology and cardiology, seven senior researchers with concurrent clinical duties, and three full-time research nurses with GCP certification, currently conducting 20 clinical studies with drug testing, as well as even more cross-sectional studies, registry studies and literature studies.

In the offices at the Research House, Medicine 1 has six PhD students.

Heart Department Y at Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital has a large and active research environment with a particular focus on clinical cardiological research. The research environment includes several professors, postdocs, PhD students, medical students and project nurses who work closely together on a wide range of clinical research projects, including larger national and international clinical studies. As a PhD student, you will become an integrated part of this environment with opportunities for professional sparring, research collaboration and participation in the department’s scientific activities.

Work organization

The position is a full-time role with work locations at both Holbæk Hospital and Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital. The working time is planned typically 3-4 days in Holbæk and 1-2 days per week at Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, with the possibility of flexible scheduling according to the project’s needs.

Salary and terms of employment

Salary and terms of employment in accordance with the applicable collective agreement.

Employment and enrollment at the PhD School

You are employed at Holbæk Hospital, Region Zealand, and Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Region Capital, in a position of about 80/20%. In the initial phase you will, in collaboration with your main supervisor, prepare the PhD protocol and application for enrollment as a PhD student at the PhD School, Institute for Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen. The PhD program itself is counted from the time of enrollment, when the protocol and qualifications are approved by the PhD School.

You can obtain further information about the position by contacting

• Professor Michael Hecht Olsen at phone 61304904 / [email protected]
• Research responsible Chief Physician, Clinical Associate Professor, Morten Lindhardt at 93569195 / [email protected]

Application

Please send your application in pdf format and attach

• Motivated application (max. 1 page)
• CV with any publications list
• Degree certificates
• Contact details of 1-2 referees

Application deadline: October 30, 2026

Employment interviews are expected to be held on Wednesday 4/11 and/or 11/11 in person.

Area of employment

Region Zealand and Region Capital will become Region Østdanmark on January 1, 2027 as a result of the healthcare reform. Your area of employment will be Region Østdanmark with all related organizational units.

Read more about the meaning of the area of employment on Region Østdanmark’s website.

Starting salary for employees covered by a collective agreement

The region is obliged to inform you about the starting salary for the position. You will be informed of base salary, centrally set allowances and pension in the relevant collective agreement. In addition to the starting salary, the salary may include any negotiated allowances depending on the position, your experience and qualifications.

See the starting salary on the region's website

About Holbæk Hospital

Holbæk Hospital is an innovative workplace with plenty of opportunities for personal and professional development. We strive to be a leading in diagnostics and treatment of common and frequently occurring diseases, and we have well-functioning research environments in these areas.

We are an ambitious and well-run hospital with a flat management structure – so the path from idea to action is short. We look forward to welcoming you to the team. You can see more about jobs at Holbæk Hospital here.

If you have questions, you are welcome to contact

Name

Michael Hecht Olsen

Email

[email protected]

Position

Chief Physician

Name

Morten Kofod Lindhardt

Email

[email protected]

Position

Chief Physician

WORKPLACE

Holbæk Hospital

QUICKNR.

055963

SPECIALTIES

Internal Medicine: Cardiology

JOBTYPE

Full time

POSTED

October 9, 2026

APPLICATION DEADLINE

October 30, 2026

START DATE

January 1, 2027