Postdoctoral Researcher in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Are you interested in working at the interface of psychology, epidemiology and biostatistics, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable work place and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a postdoctoral position at Uppsala University.

The Department of Medical Sciences is a large clinical department with approximately 250 employees and over 900 individuals affiliated through Uppsala University Hospital. The department has a broad research profile with strong research groups across a wide range of areas. Research is conducted in close connection with the clinical activities at Uppsala University Hospital and includes both basic studies on disease mechanisms as well as the development and evaluation of improved diagnostics and new treatment methods. More information about the department’s activities can be found at https://www.uu.se/en/department/medical-sciences

The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry research group, which is part of the Department of Medical Sciences, consists of approximately 30 researchers, most of whom are clinically active. Research is conducted in close collaboration with the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry unit at Uppsala University Hospital, with several ongoing clinical studies, as well as within the framework of national and international collaborations.

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to work on a project investigating whether treatment with stimulant medications increases the risk for young people with ADHD to develop psychosis or bipolar disorder. The project will examine several factors that may influence the risk of psychosis and bipolar disorder, including type of medication, dosage, duration of treatment, genetic predisposition, individual vulnerabilities, environmental stressors, and specific symptoms. To achieve these aims, we will analyse data from Swedish national registers together with clinical data collected within child and adolescent psychiatry services in Uppsala. The project is an international collaboration between researchers at the Department Medical Sciences, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Johan Isakssons research at Uppsala University focuses on neurodevelopmental conditions, including ADHD and autism, with expertise in clinical research, twin studies, and longitudinal symptom assessment.

Behrang Mahjanis research at Mount Sinai is dedicated to advancing mental health research through the development and implementation of cutting-edge statistical, computational, and big data analytics methodologies.

Duties

The position involves analysing and interpreting register data and clinical data sets, with a focus on whether treatment with stimulant medications increases the risk for young people with ADHD to develop psychosis or bipolar disorder, as well as drafting scientific manuscripts and publishing them in collaboration with other researchers in the project. Some teaching duties may also be included. The appointed candidate is expected to participate in activities such as seminars, meetings, and conferences aimed at promoting interdisciplinary national and international networks and creating favourable conditions for future career development. The position is based in Uppsala, but travel to New York, USA, will occur, as the project is an international collaboration.

Requirements

PhD degree (or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree) in psychology, biostatistics, epidemiology, statistical genetics, or a related quantitative field. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

It is important that you, as a person, find it easy to collaborate, are well organized, meticulous, and demonstrate high integrity, as the work involves handling sensitive information. Furthermore, you have strong communication skills and are accustomed to working independently. Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities. In addition, you have experience working with advanced statistical methods.

Additional qualifications

Previous experience in research on psychiatric conditions, analyses using advanced statistical methods such as causal inference approaches and register-based statistical methods, as well as a strong record of publications in scientific journals, are a merit.

About the Position

The employment is a temporary position of two years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Preliminary start date is May 1st, 2026, or as agreed. Location: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Associate Professor Johan Isaksson, johan.isaksson@neuro.uu.se, +46 018 611 25 40.

In this recruitment we have replaced the cover letter with questions that you are asked to answer when making your application. The answers will be used as a part of the selection process. The application should also include a CV and a summary of your previous research experience (max 1 page).  Please provide a recommendation letter or the contact details (name, e-mail, phone number) for at least one reference such as previous employers or colleagues. The application can be written in English or Swedish. Selection of candidates is based on qualifications, previous experience, and personal suitability.

Please submit your application no later than March 10th 2026, reference number UFV-PA 2026/478.

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