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PhD position in biostatistics / stochastic processes

Deadline: 20.08.2021

Universitetet i Oslo

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.


The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences overall objective is to promote basic medical knowledge in order to understand normal processes, provide insight into mechanisms that cause illness, and promote good health. The Institute is responsible for teaching in basic medical sciences for the programmes of professional study in medicine and the Master's programme in clinical nutrition. The Institute has more than 300 employees and is located in Domus Medica.

Job description

Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD position in biostatistics/stochastic processes to be based at the Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo.

This is an opportunity to join one of Europe’s most active biostatistics groups in an exciting time. Currently, OCBE includes 10 tenured professors and associate professors, 15 researchers, and several postdoctoral fellows and PhD students, making up a group of about 70 individuals in total. OCBE is internationally recognized, with interests spanning a broad range of areas (including time-to-event models, causal inference, data integration, statistical genomics, high dimensional data and models, Bayesian inference, stochastic simulation algorithms, probabilistic graphical models, machine learning, evolution and population genetics, informative missingness and measurement error models, epidemiological studies of lifestyle and chronic diseases, and stochastic models for infectious diseases). OCBE has numerous collaborations with leading biomedical research groups internationally and in Norway.

More about the position

The position is linked to the project “Stochastic differential equations for robust evaluation of cancer treatments”. This project is funded over the FRINATEK program at the Norwegian Research Council, and will also employ two 3-year postdocs in addition to this PhD-position. The overall objective of the project is to develop better statistical methodology for trustworthy evaluation of cancer treatments from registry data in order to support decision makers when forming official clinical guidelines. A central theme in this project is to use available data to model properly randomized clinical trials where we can more easily identify treatment effects. This strategy will rely heavily on established causal inference methodology, but since we mostly consider time-to-event data, we will develop new methodology based on counting process and stochastic differential equations.

Ideally we are looking for either a candidate with background in stochastic calculus that is also motivated to learn bio-statistical methods, or a candidate with background in statistics that is motivated to learn and work with stochastic calculus methods.

The research fellow must take part in the Faculty’s approved PhD program 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 program is characterized by a strong research profile, and the PhD thesis will include scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals of high quality.

Qualification requirements

  • Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in statistics or mathematics.
  • Experience in methodological statistics and interest in developing methods for applied problems. Knowledge in survival analysis or causal inference is an advantage, but not necessary.
  • Experience and interest in computer programming (for example in R, Matlab, Python, C++ or others).
  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of Norwegian language is not required.

Personal skills

  • Ability to work independently and efficiently.
  • Good collaborative skills.

We offer

  • A friendly, ambitious and international working environment.
  • Opportunities for national and international collaborations.
  • Salary NOK 491 200 – 534 400 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow, (position code 1017).
  • Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities.

How to apply

The application must include

  • Cover letter statement of motivation and research interests.
  • CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work).
  • Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only).
  • List of publications, academic works, published abstracts or presentations.
  • List of 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).

When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Applicants may be called in for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of 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.

The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. We also want to have employees with diverse expertise, combinations of subjects, life experience and perspectives. We will make adjustments for employees who require this.

If there are qualified applicants with special needs, gaps in their CVs or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant in each of these groups to an interview.

Contact information

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