Research Group Leader in Work Environment and Cancer to the Danish Cancer Institute

Research Group Leader in work environment and cancer to the Danish Cancer Institute

The Danish Cancer Institute (DCI) at the Danish Cancer Society invites applications for a Research Group Leader position of the Work Environment and Cancer research group. We are looking for an ambitious, collaborative, and inclusive scientist to develop and lead an internationally competitive research program that advances our understanding of how working and living environments affect cancer risk, disease trajectories, and survivorship.

This position is full-time and based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

About the Danish Cancer Institute and the Danish Cancer Society

DCI has an international profile with around 285 employees and students from about 30 countries, organized into 21 research groups and several support functions. We work across disciplines and are leading in areas of basic biology, data science, epidemiology, translational, psychosocial, and clinical cancer research. We have a collaborative environment that values both scientific excellence and societal impact.

We are embedded within the Danish Cancer Society, which is Denmark’s largest patient organization. DCI is one of the Society’s three core divisions alongside Prevention and Patient Support & Volunteers. Together, the three core divisions carry the Society’s vision to stand “Together Against Cancer” and work to: Reduce cancer risk, promote early diagnosis, develop new therapeutic and supportive solutions and improve life with and after cancer

About the Work Environment and Cancer Research Group

The Work Environment and Cancer group has focussed on the ways in which occupational and environmental exposures influence cancer risk and cancer-related outcomes. The former group leader is retiring, and the Danish Cancer Society has decided to post the position as it is a research area that the Society finds of great importance and wishes to continue. Current strengths include research on noise, air pollution, and ultrafine particles, with strong expertise in population-based and registry-based studies, exposure assessment, and advanced epidemiological methods. The group currently count 8 members, with several employed on existing externally funded projects.

The role and responsibilities

As a Group Leader of the Work Environment and Cancer Group, you will be expected to strengthen and expand the group’s research on occupational and environmental determinants of cancer and develop new lines of inquiry across the broader work and environment spectrum. You will have substantial freedom to shape the scientific direction of the group within this overall theme of work, environment, and cancer, while contributing to DCI’s collaborative and cross-disciplinary research culture.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead and develop an independent research programme on work environment and cancer, including strategic planning of short- and long-term scientific goals.
• Supervise and mentor master students, PhD students, postdocs, and other researchers, fostering an inclusive, supportive, and diverse research culture.
• Secure competitive external funding from national and international sources and manage grants responsibly in collaboration with DCI’s administrative support.
• Conduct high-quality, rigorous research using appropriate epidemiological, statistical, and interdisciplinary methods, and publish in relevant international journals.
• Promote collaboration within DCI (for example with groups in epidemiology, data science, psychosocial and clinical research) and with external partners in Denmark and abroad.
• Contribute to knowledge translation and communication of findings to policymakers, practitioners, and the public where appropriate.
• Actively support open and responsible research practices, including data-sharing when possible, transparent methods, and reproducible analyses.
• Contribute to DCI’s strategic development, including participation in relevant committees and initiatives related to research quality, work environment, and diversity.

What We Offer

• Tenured position with own salary and core funding for two researcher positions (current employees).
• Potential affiliation with one of the Danish Universities as associate or full professor dependent on profile.
• An international, ambitious, and collaborative research environment with access to unique Danish registries, cohorts, and data infrastructure.
• Substantial support to attract funding for further positions.
• Core functions and administrative support in areas such as statistics and epidemiological design, HR, finance, legal, grant support and communication.
• Benefit from a clear leadership framework and ongoing development opportunities for leaders, including cross-organizational leadership meetings and seminars at the Society.
• Work in a supportive organization that prioritizes both scientific excellence and wellbeing, with a strong focus on the physical and psychosocial work environment.
• Be based in central Copenhagen with close access to the University of Copenhagen and the University Hospital Rigshospitalet, and the wider Medicon Valley life science environment.

Your Profile

You are an established researcher with a strong track record in epidemiology, public health, environmental/occupational health, or closely related fields, and a clear vision for advancing research on work environment and cancer. We expect that you:

• Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in epidemiology, public health, environmental/occupational health, medicine, biology or a related discipline.
• Have a strong publication record compared to your career level, relevant to work, environment and cancer, demonstrating rigorous methods and impactful findings.
• Demonstrate large experience and success in obtaining external research funding.
• Have experience in supervision and mentoring of junior researchers and students, and can articulate a clear approach to inclusive, supportive leadership.
• Are experienced working with large data sources, such as registries, cohorts, or other population-based datasets, and with advanced statistical/epidemiological methods.
• Show a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, for example with exposure scientists, clinicians, psychosocial researchers, or data scientists.
• Have excellent communication skills in English (spoken and written). Knowledge of Danish is not a requirement in the institute, but a willingness to learn Danish over time is appreciated in the Danish Cancer Society.
• Value and actively promote a respectful, inclusive, and psychologically safe work environment, where diversity of backgrounds and perspectives is seen as a strength.

Evaluation criteria

DCI and the Danish Cancer Society are committed to modern, fair, and responsible research assessment, and in the evaluation of candidates we will look broadly at:

• Quality and originality of research contributions, not only journal metrics.
• Contribution to team science, collaboration, and shared infrastructure.
• Mentoring, supervision, and capacity building, including support of early-career researchers.
• Societal impact and engagement beyond academia.
• Leadership, integrity, and contribution to a healthy and inclusive work environment.

We offer 37 hours a week with lunchbreak included, a staff canteen, fruit scheme, active sports and art association, and physiotherapy services. You will receive salary and pension in accordance with the current agreement between the Danish Cancer Society and the negotiating leader organisations at the Danish Cancer Society.

And you are a strong leader. We know how important good leadership is – for those who report to you, for collaboration across professional disciplines, and for achieving results that advance our cause. That is why we have set out our expectations for leadership in our leadership framework, which you can read more about here.

Non-Danish and Danish applicants may be eligible for tax reductions if they hold a PhD degree and have not lived in Denmark the last 10 years.

Our working hours are smoke-free.

Application, recruitment process and further information

Please submit your application in English, including:

• Cover letter (max 1 page)
• Narrative CV in the ERC-style format, including major achievements, contributions to science, mentoring and leadership, and other relevant experience
• Publication list, including:
  • Up to 10 selected publications with a brief description of the main outcome of each and your own contribution
  • Full publication list
• A 5-year research plan (max 3 pages), outlining your overall vision for work environment and cancer research, key research questions and approaches, and a reflection on complementarities and synergies with existing research, methodologies and technologies at DCI
• Names and contact details of 2–3 referees

Applications should be submitted via our electronic recruitment system (link to “Apply for the position”) no later than 18 October.

Selected candidates will be invited to an online first round of interview during early November.

Shortlisted candidates will followingly be invited to an onsite visit including a panel interview, a scientific seminar and a chalk-talk for the DCI group leaders during January 2027.

An offer is expected to be made by February 2027, with a start date as soon as possible thereafter, by agreement.

For questions about the position, please contact Mads Melbye, Director of the Danish Cancer Institute, at melbye@cancer.dk

Application due 10/18/2026

Start date 4/1/2027

Work hours

Position category

Position type

Workplace Copenhagen

Homepage https://www.cancer.dk

Contact Mads Melbye Forskningsdirektør 53504540

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