Job description

Applications are invited for a 2-year position as postdoctoral fellow in cancer epidemiology to be based at the Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Department of Biostatistics at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo (UiO), Norway. The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences consists of departments and units that pursue research and education within basic medical science. The institute has approximately 320 employees and is located in the Domus Medica.

Currently, OCBE includes 10 tenured professors and associate professors, 15 researchers, and several post-doctoral fellows and PhD students, making up a group of about 65 persons. 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, informative missingness and measurement error models, epidemiological studies of lifestyle and chronic diseases, stochastic models for infectious diseases, high dimensional data and models) and numerous collaborations with leading bio-medical research groups nationally and internationally.

More about the position

The position is part of a large project, "Exposure-related risks of cancer in Norwegian offshore petroleum workers", led by drs. Tom K Grimsrud and Jo S Stenehjem at the Cancer Registry of Norway in collaboration with Professor Marit B Veierød at OCBE, UiO. The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway, the PETROMAKS2 programme. Collaborating partners include the Faculty of Mathematics (UiO), the University of Bergen, U.S. National Cancer Institute (MD, USA), and Albert Einstein College of Medicine (NY, USA).

The postdoctoral fellow will work with exposure related risks of cancer among male offshore petroleum workers. There are two main research questions that are to be addressed by the postdoc; (1) exposure to dusts and fibres and risk of respiratory cancers and (2) shift work and risk of prostate cancer. Data are from the third round of studies of cancer risk among 28 000 workers with experience from platform work on the Norwegian continental shelf. The exposure data include self-reported demographical data, work history and lifestyle factors, and job-exposure data on carcinogens or suspected carcinogens for the working period 1970–2000. Cancer risk will be assessed in the offshore worker cohort according to job or exposure, using a stratified case-cohort design and a conventional full cohort design.

The candidate will be expected to make a progress plan for the 2-year position withinthe first 2–3 months after employment. The appointment is a fulltime position and is made for a period of up to two years. We are looking for a motivated and competent candidate interested in statistical applications and epidemiological cancer research. The postdoctoral fellow will join a highly active research group including three PhD candidates connected to the same research group. The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to spend parts of the time and be available regularly at the Cancer Registry of Norway, where the PhD candidates and the project managers are working.

OCBE provides advising services for bio-medical projects at the Medical Faculty and the regional research hospitals. Postdocs are expected to take part in this, often leading to significant experiences and further co-authorships.

The main purpose of the fellowship is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines. The Faculty of Medicine offers a Postdoctoral Programme with structured and tailored support for career development.

Qualification requirements and personal skills

The following qualifications will count in the assessment of the applicants:

• Candidates must hold a PhD in epidemiology, biostatistics or related, preferably related to cancer research.
• Candidates must have experience with epidemiological study designs and statistical methods beyond the basic level.
• Candidates must be fluent in English and in a Scandinavian language.
• We are looking for candidates with insight and experience in use of cancer registry data.
• Documented programming skills, preferably with Stata or R.
• Documented academic track record, evidenced by successful publishing in scientific journals.
• We are looking for candidates with interest and motivation for occupational health and prevention.
• Strong written/verbal communication skills are also preferable.
• The ideal candidate is able to work effectively as part of a team, but also to develop and pursue independent ideas.
• The successful candidate is expected to conduct innovative research at the highest international level.

We offer

• Salary NOK 523 200 – 583 900 per year depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Fellow (postition code 1352)
• Dedicated supervision and a professionally stimulating working environment
• 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, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• A complete list of publications
• Up to 5 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered
• 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. 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, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo or be be appointed twice as a Postdoctoral Fellow financed with funds from the Research Council of Norway.

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

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

• Professor Marit B Veierød, phone number: +47 22 85 14 32 / +47 416 39913, e-mail: m.b.veierod@medisin.uio.no
• Forsker Jo S Stenehjem, phone number: +47 90 50 95 70, e-mail: jo.stenehjem@kreftregisteret.no
• Overlege/forsker Tom K Grimsrud, phone number: +47 22 92 88 52, e-mail: tom.k.grimsrud@kreftregisteret.no

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