Adam Hulman named PhD supervisor of the year
This year, the Health PhD supervisor award goes to Associate Professor Adam Hulman. Although his name is on the award, Adam Hulman believes the honour belongs to his entire research group.
At the closing gala dinner following PhD Day 2026, the PhD supervisor of the year was celebrated. This year’s recipient is Associate Professor Adam Hulman from the Department of Public Health, who leads the Machine Learning & Clinical Prediction Lab at Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus.
According to his PhD students, he is distinguished by a unique ability to both elevate their research and create a supportive environment that values the person behind the project.
“I really didn’t see it coming”
For Adam Hulman, receiving the award was unlike any experience he has had before:
“I really didn’t see it coming. And because I was nominated by my own PhD students, I was both more touched and more surprised than I’ve been with previous awards,” he says.
He emphasises that the award’s focus on supervision makes it particularly meaningful:
“Academic awards are usually given for research results, but the JCD Award recognises something more complex. I see it as an acknowledgement of me as a person and of the collegial environment we’ve built together in our research group.”
About the JCD Prize:
- Established in 2012 and named after Professor Emeritus Jens Christian Djurhuus, who was Head of the Department of Clinical Medicine from 1978 to 2012 and known for his dedication to PhD students.
- The prize includes a cash award of 25,000 DKK and is awarded annually by the PhD Association at Health to a supervisor who is accessible, engaged, and supportive, making a difference for students.
- Previous recipients include Stine Sofia Korreman from the Department of Clinical Medicine (2024), Jørgen Bjerggaard Jensen from the Department of Clinical Medicine (2023), Helle Terkildsen Maindal from the Department of Public Health (2021), and Christian Kanstrup Holm from the Department of Biomedicine (2020).
- More information about the JCD Prize is available on Aarhus University’s website.
Researching artificial intelligence and diabetes
Adam Hulman leads a cross-disciplinary research group in the Hulman Lab, working with artificial intelligence in diabetes research and treatment.
“We want to explore how AI can support diabetes research and care. Much of our work focuses on prediction models – for example, whether we can identify who is at high risk of developing complications,” he explains.
Artificial intelligence enables the inclusion of new data types such as images, voice recordings, and free text – not just traditional risk factors like age, sex, or cholesterol.
A research group across disciplines and languages
The Hulman Lab was founded about three years ago and today consists of a handful of researchers with widely different backgrounds.
“We are currently eight people with seven different academic backgrounds in the group,” he says, explaining that this broad and interdisciplinary approach has been intentional, as the group bridges clinical research and data science.
Adam Hulman is the principal supervisor of four PhD students whose master's degrees span fields from sports science to engineering and data science.
“AI attracts a lot of attention, and in our group, we need people who can approach the technical aspects from different disciplines but who can all learn to speak the language of clinical research,” he says.
Prompt feedback and clear expectations
Adam Hulman holds regular check-in meetings with all his PhD students on a weekly or biweekly basis, along with fixed group meetings. A core principle in his supervision is prompt feedback:
“PhD projects and supervision are very high on my daily priority list. If a student sends me a manuscript, they shouldn’t have to wait two weeks for feedback. If we plan properly and I know the next version is coming on a Thursday, I try to block out time on Friday so they receive feedback the next day,” he says.
Twice a year, the research group holds full-day workshops and also works systematically with “retrospectives”, where they collectively evaluate what works and what needs to change in terms of work environment, workflows, etc.
According to Adam Hulman, this has influenced his own supervisory style:
“My name is on the award, but I also see it as recognition of the entire research environment we’ve created together. I’m not the only one setting the framework for supervision – the PhD students and the rest of the group actively shape the culture,” he says.
Letting go – and thriving in the role
As a research leader, Adam Hulman has moved from being hands-on in the research and handling most of the technical work himself to focusing more on facilitating others’ projects.
“When you transition from postdoc to leading a research group, you have to let go of control. At first, it’s quite a shift, but I actually enjoy the role of facilitating projects and making more strategic decisions,” he says, adding:
“I can’t do projects on my own anymore, and I actually don’t want to. PhD students play a key role in our group, and their good work allows me to focus on the bigger picture. I really value the culture and openness in the group – and I’m of course very happy and proud that the students thought I was worth nominating.”
Contact
Associate Professor Adam Hulman
Aarhus University, Department of Public Health and
Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Hulman Lab
Phone: +45 23 70 74 81
Email: adam.hulman@ph.au.dk