Job description

Applications are invited for a 3 year position as Postdoctoral Fellow in biostatistics and epidemiology to be based at the Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo.

This is an opportunity to join one of Europe's most active biostatistics groups at an exciting time. Currently, OCBE includes nine tenured professors and associate professors, fifteen researchers, and several post-doctoral fellows and PhD students, making up a group of about 50. 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. The Department of Biostatistics is an active partner of Big Insight: Statistics for the Knowledge Economy, which is one of the Norwegian centers of excellence for research-based innovation.

More about the position

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a strong background in statistics, interested in statistical applications in epidemiological research, and ideally with some experience from large epidemiologic studies.

The position is within the project “Physical activity, UV exposure and risk of melanoma” funded by the Norwegian Cancer Society (Principal Investigator Professor Marit B Veierød). Cutaneous 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 risk factors of melanoma. This understanding may ultimately feed into public health recommendations to stop the rising incidence of melanoma in Norway.

The candidate will join the EpiStat research group at OCBE and will be part of a national and international network on skin cancer research. The Faculty of Medicine offers a Postdoctoral Programme with structured and tailored support for career development.

The main purpose of the fellowship is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in statistics, epidemiology or a closely allied discipline. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Appointment is dependent on the public defence of the doctoral thesis being approved.
• Expertise in statistical methods for survival analysis
• Expertise in statistical programming using software such as Stata or R
• Documented track record of research, evidenced by successful publishing in scientific journals
• Excellent written, oral and presentation skills (English)

Experience from large epidemiologic studies will be an advantage.

Personal skills

• Scientific creativity and ability to drive research ideas to a successful conclusion
• Ability to work and collaborate within a multidisciplinary team

We offer

• Salary NOK 515 200 - 576 100 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• A welcoming and professionally stimulating international working environment
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
• A personalized career development programme

How to apply

The application must include

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• A complete list of publications
• List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)
• Optional: letters of recommendation

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.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations

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

No one can be appointed as Postdoctoral Fellow for more than one specified period at the same institution.

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.

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, m.b.veierod@medisin.uio.no

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