PhD fellowship in Intimate Partner Violence Conceptualization and Measurement

We are offering a PhD fellowship in intimate partner violence conceptualization and measurement commencing 1 August 2024. This is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years

Our group and research
The Self, Health and Romantic Processes (SHaRP) group seeks to examine how relational factors impact mental health and health behaviors. We recently received grant funding to develop a better understanding of perceptions of IPV as well as the intra-personal and interpersonal factors that lead people to become violent in their romantic relationships (see description below). Data suggests that up to 28% of Danish women and 12% of Danish men experience intimate partner violence (IPV) at some point in their lives, and international data suggests that the numbers might be even higher; it is internationally acknowledged that these numbers likely underestimate the prevalence of IPV, depending on how IPV was measured. The research and clinical practice literature is wrought with inconsistencies regarding definitions and measurement of IPV, and lay persons’ perceptions of what is IPV are even less clear.

The project is a collaboration between Camilla S. Øverup, associate professor of medical psychology at Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, and Angelo M. DiBello, assistant professor at the Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies and the Applied Department of Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University, USA. In addition to us, the team will consist of a part-time student assistant, a postdoc, and the phd student.

Project description
You will be part of multiple ongoing projects that are all centered around intimate partner violence conceptualization and measurement, from both an expert and a lay-person perspective. The work will include 1) a critical analysis of existing measures, examining theoretical conceptualizations of IPV and item content and overlap between the scales; 2) a Delphi study to develop consensus among (both Danish and international) clinical and research experts around conceptualization and measurement of IPV, and 3) to develop and rigorously validate improved measurements of IPV that aligns with theoretical conceptualizations and addresses current gaps (e.g., distinguish the motivational bases for IPV).

Principal supervisor is Camilla S. Øverup, Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health, Camilla.oeverup@sund.ku.dk.  The co-supervisor is Angelo M. DiBello, assistant professor at the Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies and the Applied Department of Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University, USA.

Job description
Your key tasks as a PhD student at SUND are:

• Carrying out an independent research project under supervision.
• Completing PhD courses or other equivalent education corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points.
• Participating in active research environments including a stay at another research team.
• Obtaining experience with teaching or other types of dissemination related to your PhD project
• Teaching and disseminating your knowledge.
• Writing a PhD thesis on the grounds of your project

Key criteria for the assessment of applicants
We seek a scientist who is highly motivated and enthusiastic, possessing the following competencies and experience:

• You have a master’s degree related to the subject area of the project, for example, psychology, sociology, or public health. Please note that your master’s degree must be equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years).
• Fluent or good language skills in written and spoken Danish and English.
• Experience with qualitative research methodologies and/or quantitative data analysis, perhaps from a bachelor’s project or a master’s thesis
• A curious mind-set, with an interest in research and policy around romantic relationships and/or intimate partner violence
• Previous publications would be considered a plus.

Place of employment
The place of employment is at the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in a dynamic and international research environment. We are located at the historic ‘Kommunehospital’, in the center of Copenhagen (near Nørreport Station). Our facilities include spacious and sunlit offices and a local-use tea-kitchen, with a state-of-the-art coffee machine.

Terms of employment
The average weekly working hours are 37 hours per week.

The position is a fixed-term position limited to a period of 3 years. The start date is 1 August 2024.

The employment is conditioned upon the applicant’s success­ful enrolment as a PhD student at the Graduate School at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The PhD study must be completed in accordance with The Ministerial Order on the PhD programme (2013) and the Faculty’s rules on achieving the degree.

Salary, pension, and terms of employment are in accordance with the agree­ment between the Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Depending on seniority, the monthly salary starts at approximately 28,900 DKK/Roughly 3,800 EUR (October 2023 level) plus pension.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact Camilla S. Øverup [Camilla.oeverup@sund.ku.dk].

General information about PhD studies at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences is available at the Graduate School’s website: https://healthsciences.ku.dk/phd/guidelines/

Application procedure
Your application must be submitted electronically by clicking ‘Apply now’ below. The application must include the following documents in PDF format: 

1. Cover letter/motivated application (max. one page).
2. CV incl. education, work/research experience, language skills, list of publications (if any), and other skills relevant for the position.
3. Diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc)

Application deadline:  1 May 2024, 23.59pm CET
We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
The hiring committee consists of Camilla S. Øverup and Angelo M. DiBello.

After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the hiring committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an unbiased assessor.

The assessor makes a non-prioritized assessment of the academic qualifications and experience with respect to the above-mentioned area of research, techniques, skills and other requirements listed in the advertisement.

Once the assessment work has been completed each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment that relates to the applicant him/herself.

You find information about the recruitment process at: https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/

The applicants will be assessed according to the Ministerial Order no. 242 of 13 March 2012 on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.