Naja Hulvej Rod

Professor, Head of Section

Section of Epidemiology
Bartholinsgade 6Q, 2. sal, 1356 København K, 24 Øster Farimagsgade 5, Building: 24-2-16
- nahuro@sund.ku.dk
- https://www.ifsv.ku.dk/
Phone: +4535326735

ORCID: 0000-0002-6400-5105

Naja Hulvej Rod

(Formerly Naja Rod Nielsen)

MS, PhD, DMSc

LinkedIn: Naja Hulvej Rod

Twitter: @HulvejRod

EDUCATION

DMSc in Medicine	University of Copenhagen, Denmark	2014
PhD in Epidemiology	University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA	2007
Master of Public Health Science	University of Copenhagen, Denmark	2004
Bachelor of Public Health Science	University of Copenhagen, Denmark	2002

CURRENT APPOINTMENTS

Chair and co-Founder of Section of Epidemiology	University of Copenhagen, Denmark	2018-
Professor of Epidemiology	University of Copenhagen, Denmark	2019-

PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS

Professor (mso) of Stress Epidemiology	University of Copenhagen, Denmark	2017-2019
Adjunct Researcher	University of Stockholm, Sweden	2017-2020
Associate Professor of Epidemiology	University of Copenhagen, Denmark	2008-2017
Adjunct Postdoctoral Fellow	University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA	2008-2011
Researcher	National Institute of Public Health, Denmark	2007-2008
Teaching Assistant	University of Copenhagen, Denmark	2005-2006
Research Assistant	National Institute of Public Health, Denmark	2002-2006
Epidemiologic advisor	RAND Health, Santa Monica, USA	2004
Research Assistant	Institute of Preventive Medicine, Denmark	2001-2002

RESEARCH STATEMENT

I am Chair and co-Founder of the Section of Epidemiology, which is a strong interdisciplinary and international environment that contributes to the development of the field of theoretical epidemiology, with a specific focus on causal inference, complexity and life course epidemiology. I am also heading an interdisciplinary research group in Complexity and Big Data in Epidemiology. Health is a complex phenomenon, and the aim of the research group is to study the social and biological factors determining health and disease and to elucidate the underlying behavioral, psychological, and physiological mechanisms that might explain these effects. I specifically aim to investigate the health consequences of the accumulation of childhood social adversities and the complex interactions between work, life and health as they evolve across the life span. I have solid experience in working with longitudinal datasets, register-based research and complex modelling including social influences and group dynamics. I also have a particular interest in causal inference and in development and application of new methods in epidemiology, such as interaction and mediation analyses. To embrace complexity in epidemiology I actively explore new sources (e.g. smartphones) of ‘big data’, incorporate system theory thinking and leverage insights across disciplines. I am also involved in several citizen science projects with a direct societal engagement and impact.

CAREER BREAKS

Three periods of maternity leave; July 2007 to March 2008 (9 months), June 2010 to February 2011 (9 months) and from October 2013 to June 2014 (9 months).

HONORS

The Elite Research Prize (EliteForsk-prisen) awarded by the Ministry for Higher Education and Science to outstanding researchers with international experience.	2022
DFF Starting Grant (Sapere Aude), Independent Research Fund Denmark	2017
Matas’ Heart Prize, Danish Heart Foundation	2011
Raymond D. Goodman Scholarship Award, UCLA	2006

RESEARCH LEADERSHIP

Primary investigator for the citizen science research project ‘Standing together – at a distance: How Danes are living with the Corona Crisis’ (https://coronaminds.ku.dk/), which documents the public health effects of the crisis.	2020-
Primary investigator for the SmartSleep program (www.smartsleep.ku.dk), which is a multi-sourced study on mobile phone use, sleep and health	2018-
Primary Investigator of the Danish Life Course (DANLIFE) Cohort (www.danlife.ku.dk), which is a register-based cohort of more than 2 mill Danish children focusing on childhood adversities	2017-
Head of the Steering Committee for the Copenhagen Stress Research Center (www.stressresearch.ku.dk), which has been established to provide coordinated and innovative research into the mechanisms, health consequences and prevention of stress	2012-2019
Head of the research group in Complexity and Big Data in Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen (https://publichealth.ku.dk/sections/section-epidemiology/research/complexity-and-big-data/)	2015-
Primary investigator of the Stress and Health Sub-study of CAMB, which includes detailed information on physiological stress mechanisms	2010-

RESEARCH FUNDS

I have, in total, received 5.29 million EUR (equivalent to 39.7 mill DKK) in research funds as primary investigator and more than 3.1 m Euros as co-PI. I qualified for the 2^nd round (interview) of the ERC consolidator grant 2021.

Funded projects where I am PI:

The Young Sleep Program: patterns, mechanisms, and dynamics underlying sleep health in young adults. Lundbeck Foundation, 4,976,645 DKK (665,000 EUR), 2023 to 2026, PI
Labor market outcomes, mental health problems and childhood disadvantages. Rockwool Foundation, 2,863,098 DKK (381,700 Euros), 2022 to 2025, PI together with Signe Hald Andersen
A nationwide study on childhood adversities and gestational diabetes mellitus: understanding mechanisms, pathways, and consequences. Independent Research Fund Denmark, 2,851,366 DKK (380,200 Euros), 2021 to 2024, PI
Working environment in Danish Hospitals. The Danish Regions, 460,000 Euros, 2019 to 2023, PI
Healthy working among people with chronic disorders. Danish Work Environment Foundation, 340,000 Euros, 2019 to 2023, PI
The SmartSleep program. Documenting health consequences of smartphone interrupted sleep through a pioneering combination of high-resolution smartphone data and rich clinical health data, DFF Starting Grant (Sapere Aude), Independent Research Fund Denmark, 757,000 Euros, 2018 to 2023, PI
Parental leave reforms and women’s health. Danish Health Insurance Foundation, 52,000 Euros, 2018 to 2020, PI together with Emilie Courtin
Psychosocial working environment and the risk of diabetes, sickness absence and disability pension (PSA-DISPO), Danish Work Environment Foundation, 512,000 Euros, 2017 to 2020, co-PI
Negative social relations at work and risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease: mediating mechanisms, Danish Work Environment Foundation, 123,320 Euros, 2016 to 2019, PI
Psychosocial work environment in the Region, Danish Regions, 245,000 Euros, 2016 to 2018, PI
Childhood adversities and onset of type 1 diabetes, Innovation Foundation, 145,000 Euros, Company PhD to Jessica Linnéa Bengtsson, 2016 to 2019, Co-PI from the University.
Resourceful work: a multi-national study on health effects of improvement in work environment, Danish Work Environment Foundation, 520,000 Euros, 2016 to 2019, PI
Psychosocial work environment and healthy ageing, NordForsk, 2015 to 2020, 2.6 mill Euros, PI: Mika Kivimaki, co-PI for Work package 2
Social capital at hospitals – well-being, sickness absence and quality of work, Danish Work Environment Foundation, 306,000 Euros, 2014 to 2017, PI
Health consequences of the complex interplay between psychosocial work demands and demands in private life, Danish Work Environment Foundation, 435,000 Euros, 2013 to 2017, PI
Impaired sleep and cancer, Lundbeck Foundation, 13,500 Euros, 2011 to 2012, PI
Psychosocial risk factors for Parkinson’s Disease, Danish Health Insurance Foundation, 46,500 Euros, 2011 to 2012, PI
Impaired sleep and cardiovascular disease prognosis, Danish Health Insurance Foundation, 53,500 Euros, 2010 to 2012, PI
Psychosocial factors and cardiovascular disease: Understanding the mechanisms for men and women, Danish Heart Association, 53,500 Euros, 2010 to 2011, PI
Life course stress and risk of chronic obstructive lung disease, Lundbeck Foundation, 16,000 Euros, 2009 to 2010, PI
Stress and risk of developing the metabolic syndrome, Danish Heart Association, 13,500 Euros, 2009 to 2010, PI
Stress-related morbidity and mortality, Danish Research Council, 306,500 Euros, 2007 to 2011, PI

ORGANISATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

2012-2013	Scientific Committee Member for the IEA-IEE European Congress of Epidemiology 2013
2010-2011	Scientific Committee Member for the European Public Health Association Conference 2011
2005-	Scientific Committee Member for the annual Danish Stress Research Conference

INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

2019-	Member of the management team of the Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen
2014-	Director of Research Education Program in Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2010-2016	Member, Educational Board for Master of Public Health Science, University of Copenhagen

INTERNATIONAL NETWORK

Visiting Professor and Fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands (5 months)	2022
Formalized collaborations around the DANLIFE cohort with Professors at Imperial College London, University College London, Harvard School of Public Health and INSERM in France	2018-
Visiting Professor, Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, USA (6 weeks)	2017
Visiting Researcher, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM), Paris, France (4 weeks)	2014
Visiting Researcher, Department of Insurance Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Sweden (3 weeks)	2013
Visiting Researcher, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London (4 weeks)	2012
Program Director for the Danish arm of the IDEAR (Integrated Datasets across Europe for Ageing Research) network, which has been established in order to improve research on chronic diseases and aging (www.idear-net.net). The IDEAR network brings together large, well-established cohort studies from five European countries and builds on a highly productive collaboration between researchers at University of Copenhagen; University College London, UK; Stockholm University and Karolinska Institute, Sweden; INSERM, France; and University of Turku, Finland	2010-
Research visit, the Bandim Health Project, Guinea-Bissau, West Africa (3 months)	2004

REVIEW ASSIGNMENTS

The Lancet Public Health, British Medical Journal, Psychological Medicine, Cancer Causes and Control, Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Diabetologia, Steroids, Acta Oncologica, International Journal of Epidemiology, Journal of Sleep Research, JAMA

COMMISIONS OF TRUST

2021-	Vice-Chair, Council on Health and Disease Prevention (Vidensråd for Forebyggelse), Denmark
2021-	Member, Scientific Advisory Board, the Health Data Hub, France
2021	Member, Scientific Expert Panel, Evaluation of the strategic program Health, Finnish Strategic Research Council
2020-	Steering Group Member for COVID-MINDS, which is a Wellcome Trust funded network of longitudinal studies on the global mental health impact of Covid-19
2020	Appointed member of expert panel designing the COVID-19 population testing and surveillance in Denmark for the Danish Health Authority
2020	External scientific reviewer, ERC starting grant
2019-	Advisory board member, Center for Digital Health, Danish National Board of Health, Denmark
2019-2020	Member, Scientific Evaluation Committee, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forte)
2015-	Scientific Board Member, the Council on Health and Disease Prevention, Denmark
2014-2017	International Scientific Reviewer, National Cancer Institute, France
2011-2015	Scientific Board Member, Danish Epidemiologic Society, Denmark
2011	International Scientific Reviewer, Swedish Research Council

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

2021	Podcast ‘Jorden Kalder – Stadig!’ Natural History Museum Denmark.
2020	Podcast ‘Loneliness in Coronatimes’ Science and Cocktails
2019	Developed a toolbox for ‘Balanced Screen Time’ with Danica Pension.
2019	Podcast ‘Mobiltelefonen ødelægger din nattesøvn’ The Independent Research Fund Denmark
2018	Citizen science week on sleep ‘Sover du godt tema’, a collaboration between the Danish National Broadcasting Company (Danmarks Radio) and the SmartSleep project.

SELECTED INVITED TALKS AND TEACHING

2022	Keynote speaker, ‘Health Complexity and Big Data’, Swedish Register-based Research Summit, Stockholm
2022	Keynote speaker, ‘Childhood adversity and Health: Results from the Danish Life Course Cohort, Stress Research Conference, Copenhagen
2022	Invited speaker, ‘Social phenomena and health: exploring the role of networks and group dynamics’, Population Scale Network Analysis (PopNet) seminar series, Institute of Advanced Studies, Amsterdam.
2020	Keynote speaker, ’Moderation in health inequality research’, Invited Workshop on Mechanisms in Social Inequalities in Health, Committee on health inequalities, European Academies of Science, Paris.
2019	Keynote speaker, ‘Complexity, causality and big data: the mix and match of modern epidemiology’ 9th Nordic Conference of Epidemiology and Register-based Health Research, Tampere, Finland
2019	Invited speaker, ‘Complexity and causality in Epidemiology’, Symposium, School of Public Health, Peking University
2019	Keynote speaker, ‘Childhood adversities across a life course: findings from a nationwide cohort’ Symposium, Institute of Child Health, University College London
2018	Invited expert, the National Stress Panel, National Ministry of Health, Denmark
2018	Keynote speaker, Danish Society for Obesity Research annual meeting, Nyborg
2017	Keynote speaker, 14^th Stress Research Conference, Copenhagen
2017	Invited speaker, seminar series on epidemiologic methods, University of California, San Diego
2016	Panel discussant, Conference on Social Innovation, Copenhagen, Denmark
2015	Keynote speaker, National Working Environment Conference, Nyborg, Denmark
2015	Keynote speaker, 11^th Parkinson’s Disease Meeting, Stockholm, Sweden
2013	Lecturer at a 3-day PhD level course on Causal Inference, Center for Social Inequity Studies, Stockholm University and the Karolinska Institute, Sweden
2013	Keynote-speaker at the Summer School of the national graduate research program in Public Health (GRASPH), Denmark
2012	Invited expert, workshop on psychosocial risk management in the EU- company experiences in the context of regulatory frameworks and politics at the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Germany
2012	Invited expert on stress, National Ministry of Health, Denmark

TEACHING

I am responsible for PhD-level courses in Causal Inference and Introduction to Directed Acyclic Graphs at the University of Copenhagen. I also give lectures in stress and sleep epidemiology. I have been the main advisor for numerous bachelor and master students in Public Health Science and Medicine at the University of Copenhagen, and I have been on the assessment committee for seven PhD theses and one Doctoral Dissertation.

Education