PhD Day 2026: research, communication, and community across Health
On Friday 16 January 2026, PhD and research year students at Health will gather for the seventeenth time for the annual PhD Day. In the Lakeside Lecture Theatres, a full day of presentations, academic discussions, and networking awaits as hundreds of early-career researchers come together for this traditional event.
Join us for PhD Day at Health. This is the invitation from the organisers, who emphasise that the event is relevant for PhD students, supervisors, and other interested researchers at Health.
The day begins at 8:00 with a welcome from the organisers, followed by this year’s keynote lecture from Professor Bente Klarlund Pedersen from Rigshospitalet, who will speak about the societal and practical significance of health research.
After the keynote, the Fogh-Nielsen Competition takes place, where selected PhD students present their projects on stage. The competition is one of the day’s highlights, and the winner will be announced later in the evening during the closing celebration dinner.
You can read more about the Fogh-Nielsen Competition on the website.
About PhD Day 2026
- Friday 16 January 2026 from 8:00
- Held in the Lakeside Lecture Theatres and other lecture halls at The University Park, Aarhus University
- Concludes with a celebration dinner and award ceremony at DGI-Huset, Aarhus C from 18:30
- Keynote speaker: Professor Bente Klarlund Pedersen, Rigshospitalet
- Other speakers: Professor Michael Toft Overgaard and Professor Mette Nyegaard, Aalborg University
- Deadline for abstract submission: 1 November 2025
- You can view the full programme and read more about the event on the PhD Day website
Presentations of the latest research
Throughout the day, the faculty’s early-career researchers will present their work in thematic sessions across academic years. New students will give short pitches, while more experienced participants will contribute with flash talks or extended presentations.
All PhD supervisors are also invited to take part as session chairs, contribute to academic discussions, or simply attend the rest of the day’s programme.
All abstracts will be compiled in an abstract book, available in December, offering an overview of the latest research at Health.
Focus on innovation and workshops
After lunch, the programme continues with talks by Professor Michael Toft Overgaard and Professor Mette Nyegaard from Aalborg University on how science can assist in solving criminal cases. This is followed by another round of academic sessions before the day concludes with coffee and cake at 15:40.
In the lead-up to PhD Day, a two-day innovation workshop, “Fill Up Your Toolbox for Future Commercial Research Collaborations”, will be held. The case focuses on a major pharmaceutical company, and students will work in interdisciplinary teams to develop new solutions. The results will be presented at PhD Day, showcasing how health research can be transformed into concrete ideas with societal relevance.
Celebration dinner and award ceremony
In the evening, the programme continues at DGI-Huset with a celebration dinner and awards ceremony. As tradition dictates, the dinner is a festive conclusion to the day’s academic activities and a social gathering for both students and supervisors.
During the evening, the organisers will present the Fogh-Nielsen Prize for best presentation, the JCD Prize for PhD Supervisor of the Year, and the 3R Prize for high-quality animal research projects.