PhD Position in Wearables & Biosensors for Primary Aldosteronism at University of Bergen

Out-of-Hospital Diagnosis and Digital Monitoring in Endocrinology

Location: Munich, Germany
Host Institution: Ludwig Maximilians University Hospital Munich
Coordinating Institution: University of Bergen
Department: Klinisk institutt 2
Funding: European Commission – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network ENDOTRAIN (Grant No. 101227148)
Duration: 3 years (possible extension)
Start Date: By August 2026

PhD in Digital Endocrinology and Wearable Biosensor Technology

A fully funded PhD Research Fellowship is available in Wearables and Biosensors for Out-of-Hospital Diagnosis and Monitoring of Primary Aldosteronism (DC5). The position is embedded within the ENDOTRAIN Doctoral Network, Europe’s first structured doctoral programme dedicated to Digital Endocrinology.

The PhD candidate will be enrolled in the structured medical research programme at LMU Munich, Faculty of Medicine.

Transforming Adrenal Disease Diagnosis Through Digital Medicine

Digital health is entering a new era driven by:

• Artificial Intelligence in healthcare

• Sensor-based physiological monitoring

• Omics technologies

• Digital twins in medicine

• Real-world endocrine data integration

ENDOTRAIN integrates clinical endocrinology, chronobiology, AI, medical sensor systems, data science, engineering, ethics, and health law to advance precision medicine in adrenal disorders.

Primary aldosteronism serves as a model condition to develop innovative diagnostic and monitoring strategies using wearable biosensors and hormone dynamics.

Research Focus: Hormone Dynamics & Continuous Monitoring

This PhD project belongs to Work Package 1: Hormone Dynamics and aims to improve the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism through:

• Continuous physiological data streams

• Chronobiological steroid rhythm analysis

• Real-world environmental challenges (e.g., salt intake)

• Ambulatory endocrine monitoring

Core Research Areas

• Endocrinology

• Chronobiology

• Digital Health Technologies

• Medical Sensor Systems

• Systems Physiology

• Internal Medicine

Key Responsibilities and Research Activities

1. Dynamic Hormone Profiling

• Apply advanced hormone rhythm analytics (e.g., U-RHYTHM methodology)

• Utilize next-generation wearable biosensors for ambulatory endocrine assessment

2. Clinical Phenotyping and Endocrine Diagnostics

• Structured diagnostic evaluation of primary aldosteronism

• Monitoring under varying salt intake conditions

• Analysis of physiological stressors in daily life

3. Multimodal Data Integration

• Combine wearable-derived metrics (activity, heart rate, temperature) with endocrine test results

• Identify diagnostic patterns using real-world data

4. Development of Digital Diagnostic Tools

• Contribute to multimodal datasets

• Support AI-driven endocrine diagnostic model development

International Research Secondments

The doctoral candidate will gain interdisciplinary expertise through placements at:

• University of Ulm – Wearable data algorithms and signal processing

• University of Manchester – Mathematical modelling of hormone rhythms

• University of Bristol – Advanced chronobiological modelling

Candidate Profile and Eligibility

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree (MSc or equivalent) in:

  • Medicine

  • Biomedical Sciences

  • Physiology

  • Bioengineering

  • Related life science disciplines

• Strong interest in translational endocrinology and digital medicine

• Excellent written and spoken English

• Interdisciplinary collaboration skills

Preferred Skills

• Programming experience (R, Python)

• Data science or wearable data analytics knowledge

• Interest in AI applications in healthcare

MSCA Doctoral Network Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be of any nationality

• Not have resided or worked in Germany for more than 12 months in the past 36 months

• Hold a Master’s degree qualifying for doctoral studies

• Not already possess a doctoral degree

• Meet English language requirements

The Master’s degree must be completed before employment begins. If pending, official confirmation of expected completion date is required.

Employment Conditions and Benefits

• Salary according to German Research Foundation (DFG) guidelines – E13 Stufe 2

• Full social security coverage in Germany

• Dedicated travel and secondment budget

• Structured doctoral training

• Industry exposure and European networking opportunities

• Career development within digital health and endocrine research

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit:

1. ENDOTRAIN Application Form

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

3. Mobility Declaration

4. Motivation Letter

Only basic details should be entered in the Jobbnorge CV section to avoid duplication.

Supervisors and Contact Information

Project Supervisors:

• Prof. Martin Reincke

• Prof. Nicole Reisch

Programme Manager (ENDOTRAIN):

• Elizabeth Farmer

HR-related and technical application inquiries should be directed to the respective host institution.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

The ENDOTRAIN Doctoral Network promotes:

• Gender balance

• Inclusion of candidates with immigrant backgrounds

• Equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities

Women and underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Gender quota rules may apply when candidates have equivalent qualifications.

About the MSCA Doctoral Networks

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks train innovative, entrepreneurial researchers capable of transforming scientific discoveries into societal and economic impact. These networks strengthen the excellence and global competitiveness of doctoral training in Europe.

About Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Strategic Impact of This PhD

This doctoral project sits at the intersection of:

• Wearable biosensor innovation

• AI-driven endocrine diagnostics

• Chronobiological hormone modelling

• Precision medicine for adrenal disorders

It offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of digital endocrinology, improve early detection of primary aldosteronism, and advance personalized out-of-hospital monitoring solutions across Europe.