Application Guide

How to Apply for Senior Physician for the Department of Congenital Diseases

at Statens Serum Institut

🏢 About Statens Serum Institut

Statens Serum Institut is Denmark's national public health institute, uniquely positioned at the intersection of research, diagnostics, and public health policy. Working here means contributing directly to national screening programs that impact population health, with opportunities to shape policy through evidence-based medicine. The institute's dual focus on cutting-edge research and practical public health implementation makes it distinctive in the European healthcare landscape.

About This Role

This senior physician role focuses on advancing congenital disease screening through medical oversight, research leadership, and integrating next-generation sequencing into newborn screening programs. You'll bridge clinical practice with public health policy by ensuring screening quality and interpreting results for patient care. The position is impactful because it directly shapes Denmark's national screening strategy for rare diseases, affecting early diagnosis and treatment outcomes nationwide.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day involves reviewing complex screening cases with laboratory specialists, providing medical consultation to hospital genetics departments, and advancing research projects through data analysis and manuscript writing. You might spend the morning discussing sequencing validation protocols with bioinformaticians, then afternoon collaborating with international partners on study design, while also preparing medical guidance documents for regional health authorities.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Statens Serum Institut

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Statens Serum Institut Is Looking For

  • A board-certified pediatrician or clinical geneticist with 5+ years of post-specialization experience in rare disease management
  • Published researcher with first-author genetics papers in reputable journals and experience leading multi-center studies
  • Hands-on experience with newborn screening programs, including interpreting biochemical/genetic results and consulting on clinical follow-up
  • Proven ability to translate research findings into clinical guidelines or public health recommendations, with experience in stakeholder collaboration

📝 Tips for Applying to Statens Serum Institut

1

Highlight specific experience with Danish or Nordic healthcare systems, as SSI collaborates closely with Danish hospitals

2

Quantify your research impact: mention citation counts, grant amounts secured, or policy changes influenced by your work

3

Demonstrate understanding of public health screening ethics, particularly around genetic data handling and incidental findings

4

Show how you've previously integrated new technologies (like sequencing) into existing clinical workflows

5

Reference SSI's specific congenital disease programs (like the Danish Newborn Screening Program) and suggest concrete improvements

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience bridging clinical genetics with public health implementation, not just research or clinical work alone', 'Specific examples of leading multi-stakeholder projects involving hospitals, laboratories, and policy makers', 'How your research has directly influenced screening guidelines or clinical practice for congenital diseases', 'Your vision for responsibly integrating sequencing into population screening while addressing ethical and practical challenges']

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → SSI's current newborn screening panel and recent expansions (particularly for lysosomal storage disorders)
  • → The institute's role in Denmark's Rare Disease Plan and collaborations with Rigshospitalet
  • → Recent SSI publications on genetic epidemiology of congenital diseases in Denmark
  • → Denmark's unique healthcare data infrastructure and how SSI utilizes national registries for research

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a study to validate the clinical utility of whole-genome sequencing in newborn screening?
2 Describe your approach to handling discordant screening results between biochemical markers and genetic findings
3 How have you previously navigated ethical dilemmas in genetic screening (e.g., incidental findings, carrier status)?
4 What specific metrics would you use to evaluate the quality of a congenital disease screening program?
5 How would you collaborate with Danish regions and hospitals to implement screening improvements while respecting their autonomy?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing solely on clinical patient care without demonstrating public health or population-level thinking
  • Presenting research experience without showing how it translated to clinical or policy impact
  • Using generic application materials that don't reference SSI's specific programs or Denmark's healthcare context

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Statens Serum Institut!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →