LEDIG STILLING VED UIT NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in biostatistics: Social transmission of biomarkers, lifestyle and health
Deadline: 19.09.2021
UiT The Arctic University of Norway
The Faculty of Health Sciences at UiT The Arctic University of Norway represents a newly created entity gathering almost all possible health study programs. This facilitates an unique interdisciplinarity and innovation in health education and research.
We work closely with the services in the North to solve tomorrow's challenges.
At the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Department of Community Medicine, a full-time position as Postdoctoral Fellow is available for a period of three (3) years.
Appointment to the position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow is mainly intended to provide qualification for work in top academic positions. It is a prerequisite that the applicant is able to carry out the project over the full course of the employment period. No person may hold more than one fixed-term position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the same institution.
The project
The project will focus on developing social network models and methods for the analysis of how phenotypes may spread and change over time in friendship networks. Extensive prospective data has been collected in the Fit Futures youth cohort with repeated assessment of friendship network and phenotypes including physical activity sensor data, lifestyle and diet questionnaires, clinical measurements, circulating biomarkers (e.g. proteins, hormones, lipids), and microbiomes. Research objectives related to social influence on risk factors for disease will be highly relevant. For example, may healthy/unhealthy lifestyles among your friends be protective/harmful for your own health status? The postdoc will work in close collaboration with colleagues in the Health Data Lab and the Fit Futures study.
The Health Data Lab’s research focus is threefold. First; build and experimentally evaluate infrastructure systems for bioinformatics and machine learning analyses. Second; apply bioinformatics, statistics, and machine learning methods for novel health data analyses. Third; build and evaluate data exploration and interpretation tools. All our research is interdisciplinary. We therefore combine experimental computer science with real problems, applications, and data obtained from our biomedical research collaborators.
The population-based Fit Futures study is the most comprehensive youth cohort study in Norway in terms of repeated phenotype data and friendship networks. The main aim of the study is to generate new knowledge about lifestyle and health in the transitional phase from adolescence to adulthood, in order to improve early prevention of disease and unfavorable life course trajectories. The Fit Futures research environment encompasses several interdisciplinary teams including students and faculty in epidemiology, bioinformatics, statistics, biology, laboratory and clinical medicine, psychology, dentistry, and public health.
The candidate must have completed a PhD within a relevant field and document relevant research experience for the project. Candidates may also be considered if they have submitted their PhD thesis for doctoral degree evaluation. Additional relevant research experience is an advantage, but not mandatory.
We are looking for a candidate with a statistical-/machine learning background who is familiar with the techniques applied in social network data analysis, population studies, or bioinformatics. The candidate should have practical experience with computing and programming, preferably in data analysis environments such as R. Familiarity with interdisciplinary work, epidemiology, and/or -bioinformatics is beneficial, but not required. Previous experience in analysis of large health datasets is also considered an advantage. The candidate should be proficient in spoken and written English. Skills in writing scientific publications in English is essential.
Personal skills will be emphasized. We are seeking a highly motivated and responsible candidate who should be able to work independently and interactively in a team setting. The candidate should have excellent analytical skills, and also have a great work capacity and enthusiasm for research.
In order to achieve a targeted use of the postdoctoral position, and to strengthen the employee’s career development, a development plan must be available no later than three months after the appointment contract is signed. The development plan must be approved by the immediate leader with personnel responsibility.
At UiT we put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).
Application
Your application must include:
Cover letter explaining your motivation to apply for the position, research interests, and which part of your education is most relevant for the position
CV - containing a complete overview of education, experience, and professional work
2-3 references with contact details
Up to 5 submitted or published scientific publications as attachments
Diplomas, diploma supplements and transcripts (all degrees)
Documentation has to be in English or a Scandinavian language. We only accept applications through Jobbnorge.
We offer
Exciting work tasks in an interdisciplinary research field
Involvement in an interesting research project
A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues
A large degree of independence in work
Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
Pension scheme through the state pension fund
The appointment is for a period of 3 years. Remuneration of Postdoctoral Fellow positions are in State salary code 1352. In addition to taxes, a further 2% is deducted for the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. The working hours will be utilized for research, research-related activities and research administration.
More practical information for working and living in Norway can be found here: Welcome to UiT!
General
The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.
The objective of the appointment as a Postdoctoral Fellow is to qualify for work in senior academic positions, and no one may be appointed to more than one fixed term period at the same institution.
A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. UiT and will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.
According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.
UiT – Developing the High North
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus research university and the northernmost university of the world. Our central location in the High North, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio, and our interdisciplinary qualities make us uniquely suited to meet the challenges of the future. At UiT you can explore global issues from a close-up perspective.
Credibility, academic freedom, closeness, creativity and commitment shall be hallmarks of the relationship between our employees, between our employees and our students and between UiT and our partners.
