Description du poste

Fonction : PhD
Type de poste :  PhD Candidate in biostatistics and epidemiology
Employeur :  Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Department of Biostatistics,
Lieu d’exercice : University of Oslo
Date limite de candidature : 18 mai 2020

Description de la structure

OCBE has six professors, five associate professors, fifteen researchers, and many postdoctoral fellows and PhD students, making up a group of 65 scientists. OCBE is internationally recognized, with interests spanning a broad range of areas (including time-to-event models, data integration, causal inference, statistical genomics, Bayesian inference, stochastic simulation algorithms, probability graphical models, machine learning, evolution and population genetics, informative missingness and measurement error models, epidemiological studies of lifestyle and chronic diseases, stochastic models for infectious diseases, high dimentional data and models) and numerous collaborations with leading bio-medical research groups internationally and in Norway.

Missions

The fellowship period is 3 years and devoted to carrying out a project entitled “Prognostic factors in cutaneous melanoma – towards a more personalized risk stratification”. The principal investigator of this project, Professor Marit B. Veierød, will be the main supervisor.

The research fellow must take part in the Faculty’s approved PhD programme and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. The PhD programme is characterized by a strong research profile, and the PhD thesis will include scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals of highest quality. The candidate will also be invited to participate in OCBE’s advising services for bio-medical projects at the Medical Faculty and the regional research hospitals (for about one week per semester), often leading to significant experiences and further co-authorships.

Profil recherché

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate with a strong background in biostatistics, interested in statistical applications in epidemiological research. The candidate will study the importance of host factors and ultraviolet radiation exposure on survival after diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma. Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer and one of the most rapidly increasing cancers. The project combines data of a large and unique cohort study, the Norwegian Women and Cancer study, with data from the Cancer Registry of Norway, to investigate and better understand the prognostic factors of melanoma. The PhD candidate will contribute important insight to the research field and publish the results in international scientific journals. The project team is cross-disciplinary with expertise in statistics, epidemiology, dermatology, oncology and pathology. The project is funded by the Norwegian Research Council.

Qualification requirements

  • Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in biostatistics or within a relevant field (statistics, epidemiology or natural sciences), with a documented knowledge in statistics. The Master’s degree must have a minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent, and include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS. If the master’s studies are not completed at the point of application, a statement of the supervisor must be provided with an expected date for obtaining the degree. This cannot be after 1. October 2020.
  • Documented knowledge in statistical methods for survival data analysis
  • Documented programming skills, preferably with experience in using softwares such as Stata or R
  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
  • Experience in handling large datasets will be an advantage

Personal skills

  • The candidate must express a genuine interest in applying statistical methods in an epidemiological project
  • The candidate will work in a team and excellent communication skills are required.
  • The candidate is able to work independently and efficiently

Pour postuler

The application must include

  • A personal cover letter, stating the motivation for this position and research interests
  • A CV with education, positions, academic experiences, details on master’s thesis, details on statistical and programming skills and a list of publications (if actual)
  • Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
  • List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link: “Apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University’s grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing the applications, particular emphasis will be placed upon the academic and personal ability of the candidate to complete the project within the given timeframe. Short listed applicants will be called for an interview in person or by Skype.