The Department of Public Health appoints three new professors

Christina C. Dahm will become Professor of Epidemiology, Mette Hansen will be appointed Professor of Sport Science and Ask Vest Christiansen will likewise become Professor of Sport Science. The three researchers represent very different academic approaches to health but share a common goal: to create new knowledge that can improve people’s lives and wellbeing.

A first in the department’s history

“As far as I am aware, this is the first time in the department’s history that we have appointed three new professors at the same time – and we are doing so from an exceptionally strong field of applicants. Christina, Mette, and Ask are each extraordinarily skilled within their respective areas, but they also have distinct profiles and therefore strengthen the department with diverse competencies,” says Head of Department Michael Baggesen Klitgaard.

He also emphasises that the appointments are the result of an open and competitive process.

“It is important that, at the Department of Public Health, we are able to recruit and retain the most talented researchers and teachers – but also that we do so in open competition with external applicants. That has been the case here, and I am very pleased that a unanimous appointments committee supports the recruitment of Christina, Mette, and Ask as professors,” he says, adding:

“And it is an additional, and by no means insignificant, pleasure that all three are kind and caring colleagues who, in addition to taking responsibility for their own careers, also make a great contribution to the community.”

The interplay between diet, health, and climate

Christina C. Dahm conducts research on how diet and lifestyle affect both health and the climate. She investigates connections between dietary patterns, sustainability, and the prevalence of overweight – particularly among children and young people.

“The professorship is a tremendous recognition of my research, but also of the strong collaboration within my research group and with external partners. It is both a joy and an honour, and it will be an important boost to my interdisciplinary collaborations and project applications, where a professorial position truly makes a difference,” says Christina C. Dahm.

Read more about Christina C. Dahm’s research in the article on the Health website.

Following women’s physiology throughout life

Mette Hansen studies how female sex hormones affect muscles, strength, and health across different stages of life. As a professor, she will continue to develop her research in sport science, focusing on the role of hormones in muscles, bones, and women’s health.

“I see the professorship as a great recognition of the work that my colleagues and I have done over the years to answer key research questions in women’s physiology. I hope that the appointment can provide a foundation for greater support for a research area that has historically been underrepresented,” says Mette Hansen.

Read more about Mette Hansen’s research in the article on the Health website.

The ethical and cultural significance of sport

Ask Vest Christiansen researches the ethical, cultural, and societal dimensions of sport – from doping culture to questions of gender, identity, and fairness in elite sport.

“Sport is a field where our ideas about morality, the body, and equality are constantly being challenged. By examining topics such as doping, gender, and fairness, we gain insights into what sport means for both individuals and communities,” says Ask Vest Christiansen.

Read more about Ask Vest Christiansen’s research in the article on the Health website.

Contact

Head of Department Michael Baggesen Klitgaard
Department of Public Health, Aarhus University
Phone: +45 87 16 82 01
Email: mbk@ph.au.dk