[Forum SIS] PhD position in high-dimensional data analysis, The Netherlands

[livio finos]

Institution: VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam
Department/section: Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division VI
Working hours: 36 hours per week

General
The Biostatistics group (see http://www.vumc.nl/afdelingen/EB/ - in
Dutch) at the VU University Medical Center (VUmc, Amsterdam) has a
small and very active group of statisticians working on
high-dimensional data analysis, where Renée Menezes (the project
leader) is based. The group within the Department of Epidemiology &
Biostatistics has close links to the Mathematics and Statistics
Department of the Vrije Universiteit, as well as to both the
Department of Pathology and the Microarray Facility of the VUmc.

Project
High-dimensional data analysis, involving data with few samples (n)
and many more parameters (p>>n), is a fast-moving and competitive area
of research. This project aims at tackling the important problem of
joint analysis of such datasets, extending the work of Menezes et a
(2009, BMC Bioinformatics) to, amongst other things, find associations
between multiple high-dimensional genetic datasets (say, methylation,
copy number and expression array data), use gene sets in both
dependent and independent parts of the model to gain power in a
similar way as done by Goeman et al (2004, Bioinformatics), and to
draw on these tools for better classification of samples.

This project involves a collaboration with Jelle Goeman, of the
Department of Biostatistics of the Leiden University Medical Center
(LUMC) and with the internationally known Pediatric Oncology group of
the Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, from which data will be
analysed. So it will include the student in an important network of
scientists.

Requirements
We are looking for a PhD student with an MSc in either Statistics,
Bioinformatics or a closely related discipline. Essentials are: good
statistical knowledge enabling the development of new models and
analysis tools, programming skills, the ability to explain complex
ideas to biologists/non-specialists and an affinity with genetics and
biology. Previous knowledge of any of the areas involved in the
project (such as mixed-effects models, high-dimensional data analysis)
and of R programming are an advantage. The PhD student we are looking
for has good communication skills and is flexible to work both at the
VUmc and at the LUMC.

Work conditions
This PhD position is open at the department of Epidemiology &
Biostatistics. The temporary employment will be for a period of 4
years. The gross salary per month will be according to the AIO scales,
depending on previous experience. The terms of employment will be in
accordance with the CAO Universtair medische centra of the
Netherlands.

Contact
For details about the project contents please contact
Renee Menezes           Jelle Goeman
r.menezes a vumc.nl   j.j.goeman a lumc.nl
+31 20 444 4933         +31 71 526 9708

Applications
You may apply via our website or per conventional post. Via our website, go to
http://www.vumc.nl/afdelingen/werk/vacatures/overzicht/

and look for this job opening ("Vacatures") under the "Beroepsgroep"
"Wetenschappelijk onderzoeker". At the bottom of the screen, go to
"Soliciteren" and fill in the online form. As this is all in Dutch,
foreigners may prefer to apply via conventional post. For this, please
send your CV and motivation letter indicating the job opening number
D6.2009.00085
 to
Divisiebureau divisie 6
mw. C. Egberts
Bs 7, C 369
wervingcluster6 a VUmc.nl

Closing date for applications : 19th October 2009