PhD scholarship in the project Detecting and predicting post-stroke cognitive impairments
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PhD scholarship in the project Detecting and predicting post-stroke cognitive impairments
Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship in the DFF-funded project ‘Detecting and predicting post-stroke cognitive impairments’ at the Copenhagen Neuropsychology Lab, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Enrolment will be at the Faculty of Social Sciences under Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences. The position is fully funded for 3 years.
Information about Copenhagen Neuropsychology Lab and our ongoing research can be found here: https://psychology.ku.dk/research/research_groups/copnl/
The position starting date is 1 February 2026 or after agreement.
Introduction
‘Detecting and predicting post-stroke cognitive impairments’ is a project that involves a close collaboration between PI Associate Professor in Clinical Neuropsychology Ro J. Robotham and clinicians from the Department of Neurology at Rigshospitalet Glostrup and at Bispebjerg Hospital. The project is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.
Cognitive impairments are common after a stroke and must be identified early so that rehabilitation can be initiated to improve outcome. As a comprehensive cognitive assessment is rarely possible during hospitalization, short screening tools are often used. In 2016, a tool developed specifically to screen for cognitive deficits in stroke, the Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS), was released. Despite OCS now being widely used internationally, it has not been validated against a full comprehensive cognitive assessment, and little is known about the tool’s predictive validity. Here, we will assess a large sample of consecutively recruited stroke survivors with the OCS and detailed cognitive tests in both the sub-acute and chronic stage after stroke to determine the diagnostic accuracy and predictive validity of the OCS, and determine the prevalence of cognitive impairments at both stages of recovery.
The PhD programme provides PhD students with strong research training and includes independent research work (under supervision), active participation in research networks, PhD courses, teaching, and other forms of knowledge dissemination, as well as drafting and defending a PhD-dissertation. The open position is for a 3-year PhD, within the framework of the 5+3 study programme.
Qualifications
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to master’s level related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Psychology. If you have completed your education in Denmark, you must have a master’s degree covered by the collective agreement for academics in the state sector. If you have completed your education outside of Denmark, you must either have a master’s degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years) or as minimum a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Danish bachelor’s degree (three years) and be assessed as having professional qualifications at master's level.
If you have completed your education outside of Denmark, we will obtain an assessment of your education from the Danish Research Agency.
Deadline for applications: 19 October 2025, 23:59 CEST
Information
For further information regarding the project, including the overall project description, please contact Associate Professor Ro J. Robotham (ro.robotham@psy.ku.dk).
We recommend that you request the overall project description before preparing your application.
Further information about the PhD study programme is available on the website of Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences:
In English: https://socialsciences.ku.dk/phd/
In Danish: https://samf.ku.dk/forskning/phd/
Under "Legal basis" on the website you will find information about the rules and guidelines for the PhD programme and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities.
Applicants should familiarise themselves with the research strategy and the ongoing research at the Department before submitting their application. Further information can be found:
In English: http://socialsciences.ku.dk/research/
In Danish: http://samf.ku.dk/forskning/
Job description
The specific focus of the PhD project is to conduct a thorough validation of a cognitive diagnostic tool that is widely used in stroke. The PhD-student will be involved in planning the project, recruiting participants, conducting neuropsychological assessments, analysing data and disseminating findings.
The successful candidate will be working in close cooperation with the PI as well as student assistants that will assist with a variety of tasks related to the project. The PhD-student will benefit from being part of the Copenhagen Neuropsychology Lab that is part of the research section Cognition and Neuropsychology, where the PhD-will partake in common research meetings and daily interaction with other PhD students and researchers. An international stay is planned as part of the PhD.
Enrolment as a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Sciences' PhD School is a precondition for employment as a PhD scholar.
As a PhD scholar at The Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen, you will be supervised throughout the 6 semesters of your programme. In addition to this, you must complete courses totalling approximately 30 ECTS. On completion of the PhD programme you must submit a PhD thesis in order to document your research effort.
Read more about the structure of the PhD programme and what it means to be enrolled as a PhD student via this link: https://psychology.ku.dk/phd_programme/
For more information about the PhD School, click here: https://socialsciences.ku.dk/phd/
Applications
The application must be submitted electronically using the APPLY NOW button below.
Applications should include the following enclosures:
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding society, and invites all qualified applicants, regardless of personal background, to apply for the positions. In order to be awarded a PhD scholarship the applicant has to enroll as a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Sciences, cf. the rules of the Danish Ministerial order No 1039 of 27 August 2013.
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an expert assessment committee.
Application process
On the website of Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences you will find a time schedule for the application process, and information about enclosures to include with your electronic application:
http://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/english/applicants/application/current_advertisement/ (in English) and
http://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/til_ansogere/ansoegning/aktuelle_opslag/ (in Danish)
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, applicants are selected for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants will be notified whether they are passed on to assessment or not. Whereafter, the Assessment Committee is appointed by the Dean and the selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment which relates to their own application.
Afterwards selected qualified candidates will be invited for an interview. Please be advised that a positive assessment does not necessarily mean that you will be invited for an interview.
As an applicant to the University of Copenhagen, you should be prepared to undergo a security screening related to international research collaboration as part of the recruitment process. The security screening will be conducted in cases where the University deems it appropriate based on an overall assessment.
Applications received after the deadline will not be taken into account.
Information about Copenhagen Neuropsychology Lab and our ongoing research can be found here: https://psychology.ku.dk/research/research_groups/copnl/
The position starting date is 1 February 2026 or after agreement.
Introduction
‘Detecting and predicting post-stroke cognitive impairments’ is a project that involves a close collaboration between PI Associate Professor in Clinical Neuropsychology Ro J. Robotham and clinicians from the Department of Neurology at Rigshospitalet Glostrup and at Bispebjerg Hospital. The project is funded by the Independent Research Fund Denmark.
Cognitive impairments are common after a stroke and must be identified early so that rehabilitation can be initiated to improve outcome. As a comprehensive cognitive assessment is rarely possible during hospitalization, short screening tools are often used. In 2016, a tool developed specifically to screen for cognitive deficits in stroke, the Oxford Cognitive Screen (OCS), was released. Despite OCS now being widely used internationally, it has not been validated against a full comprehensive cognitive assessment, and little is known about the tool’s predictive validity. Here, we will assess a large sample of consecutively recruited stroke survivors with the OCS and detailed cognitive tests in both the sub-acute and chronic stage after stroke to determine the diagnostic accuracy and predictive validity of the OCS, and determine the prevalence of cognitive impairments at both stages of recovery.
The PhD programme provides PhD students with strong research training and includes independent research work (under supervision), active participation in research networks, PhD courses, teaching, and other forms of knowledge dissemination, as well as drafting and defending a PhD-dissertation. The open position is for a 3-year PhD, within the framework of the 5+3 study programme.
Qualifications
Applicants must have qualifications corresponding to master’s level related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Psychology. If you have completed your education in Denmark, you must have a master’s degree covered by the collective agreement for academics in the state sector. If you have completed your education outside of Denmark, you must either have a master’s degree equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (two years) or as minimum a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Danish bachelor’s degree (three years) and be assessed as having professional qualifications at master's level.
If you have completed your education outside of Denmark, we will obtain an assessment of your education from the Danish Research Agency.
Deadline for applications: 19 October 2025, 23:59 CEST
Information
For further information regarding the project, including the overall project description, please contact Associate Professor Ro J. Robotham (ro.robotham@psy.ku.dk).
We recommend that you request the overall project description before preparing your application.
Further information about the PhD study programme is available on the website of Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences:
In English: https://socialsciences.ku.dk/phd/
In Danish: https://samf.ku.dk/forskning/phd/
Under "Legal basis" on the website you will find information about the rules and guidelines for the PhD programme and the Danish Ministerial Order on the PhD Programme at the Universities.
Applicants should familiarise themselves with the research strategy and the ongoing research at the Department before submitting their application. Further information can be found:
In English: http://socialsciences.ku.dk/research/
In Danish: http://samf.ku.dk/forskning/
Job description
The specific focus of the PhD project is to conduct a thorough validation of a cognitive diagnostic tool that is widely used in stroke. The PhD-student will be involved in planning the project, recruiting participants, conducting neuropsychological assessments, analysing data and disseminating findings.
The successful candidate will be working in close cooperation with the PI as well as student assistants that will assist with a variety of tasks related to the project. The PhD-student will benefit from being part of the Copenhagen Neuropsychology Lab that is part of the research section Cognition and Neuropsychology, where the PhD-will partake in common research meetings and daily interaction with other PhD students and researchers. An international stay is planned as part of the PhD.
Enrolment as a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Sciences' PhD School is a precondition for employment as a PhD scholar.
As a PhD scholar at The Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen, you will be supervised throughout the 6 semesters of your programme. In addition to this, you must complete courses totalling approximately 30 ECTS. On completion of the PhD programme you must submit a PhD thesis in order to document your research effort.
Read more about the structure of the PhD programme and what it means to be enrolled as a PhD student via this link: https://psychology.ku.dk/phd_programme/
For more information about the PhD School, click here: https://socialsciences.ku.dk/phd/
Applications
The application must be submitted electronically using the APPLY NOW button below.
Applications should include the following enclosures:
- Cover letter
detailing your motivation and background for applying for the specific PhD project
- Reflections the advantages and limitations of using cognitive screening tools in stroke survivors.
The application must include a brief paper including a presentation and discussion of how the candidate views the advantages and limitations of using cognitive screening tools in stroke survivors. - This paper must not exceed 2 standard pages, corresponding to approx. 4,000 characters (including curriculum, title, punctuation, figures, footnotes and references, but excluding bibliography). A substantial breach of this will result in the application being excluded from consideration.
- CV
Including a list of publications, if available, must be submitted with the application.
- Diploma and transcript of records
The following documentation must be submitted: -
- A copy of the applicant's Master's degree diploma (if not available before the application deadline, a pre-approval must be submitted)
- A copy of the applicant's Master’s degree transcript of records (an official description of the grading scale must be included)
- A copy of the applicant's Bachelor’s degree diploma
- A copy of the applicant's Bachelor’s degree transcript of records (an official description of the grading scale must be included)
The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding society, and invites all qualified applicants, regardless of personal background, to apply for the positions. In order to be awarded a PhD scholarship the applicant has to enroll as a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Sciences, cf. the rules of the Danish Ministerial order No 1039 of 27 August 2013.
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Appointments Committee. All applicants are then immediately notified whether their application has been passed for assessment by an expert assessment committee.
Application process
On the website of Copenhagen Graduate School of Social Sciences you will find a time schedule for the application process, and information about enclosures to include with your electronic application:
http://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/english/applicants/application/current_advertisement/ (in English) and
http://samf.ku.dk/phd-skolen/til_ansogere/ansoegning/aktuelle_opslag/ (in Danish)
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, applicants are selected for assessment on the advice of the Appointment Committee. All applicants will be notified whether they are passed on to assessment or not. Whereafter, the Assessment Committee is appointed by the Dean and the selected applicants are notified of the composition of the committee. Each applicant has the opportunity to comment on the part of the assessment which relates to their own application.
Afterwards selected qualified candidates will be invited for an interview. Please be advised that a positive assessment does not necessarily mean that you will be invited for an interview.
As an applicant to the University of Copenhagen, you should be prepared to undergo a security screening related to international research collaboration as part of the recruitment process. The security screening will be conducted in cases where the University deems it appropriate based on an overall assessment.
Applications received after the deadline will not be taken into account.