PhD candidate in Biostatistics

at  Universitt Bern

The Institute of Primary Health Care of the University of Bern (BIHAM) is dedicated to train and foster the next generation of primary care physicians and to carry out research in primary health care, epidemiology, and public health. The BIHAM offers a lively, interdisciplinary environment with excellent methodological support and access to a large network of practicing primary care physicians.

We are seeking a PhD student to work on the project “Evidence synthesis methods to predict personalized treatment effects” at the Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), at the University of Bern. This is a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The overarching aim of the project is to develop new statistical methods for tailoring the choice of treatment to the individual characteristics, needs, and preferences of patients. The main objectives of the project are to develop new statistical methods for:

• predicting treatment efficacy and safety at the individual level (“personalized medicine”)
• estimating effects of different dosing schemes of interventions
• evaluating the performance of models predicting individual treatment effects.

All methodological developments will be illustrated in real medical examples, using datasets from mental health, cardiology, neurology and rheumatology. The post holder will have the opportunity to collaborate with world leading experts in evidence synthesis, biostatistics, and epidemiology, and will acquire expertise in a wide range of skills.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Perform original research on developing statistical methods for predicting the effects of medical interventions based on patient characteristics.
• Analyse real data collected in RCTs.
• Develop easy-to-use online tools that will implement developed methods in clinical examples.
• Collaborate with scientists in Bern and abroad.
• Present results in international conferences and publish them in peer-reviewed journals.

Qualifications and skills:

• A university degree (MSc or equivalent) in biostatistics, statistics or another quantitative discipline such as applied mathematics, mathematical physics, or computer science.
• Programming skills in R (preferably), or another programming language.
• Fluency in English both written and oral.
• Some experience with the following would be desirable: Bayesian methodology, meta-analysis, machine learning.

What we offer:

• Working in an international, multidisciplinary and highly stimulating environment.
• Collaboration with world-renowned experts in Switzerland and abroad.
• Support for career development and training. A wide range of courses offered by the University of Bern (https://www.ghs.unibe.ch/)
• Salary according to the regulations of the Swiss National Science Foundation for PhD students (approximately CHF 50,000 per annum plus social security contributions)
• Flexible working hours; centrally located and modern offices in a nice building.

The post starts between 01/2025 and 3/2025 (negotiable) and is for 3.5 years. For further information on the position, please contact Prof. Georgia Salanti (georgia.salanti@unibe.ch) and Dr. PD Orestis Efthimiou (orestis.efthimiou@unibe.ch). Please apply no later than 10/12/2024.

Please send your application in one PDF file to Mr. Markus Isch, hr.biham@unibe.ch. Applications must be written in English and should include the following:

• curriculum vitae, including contact details of two academic or professional referees.
• a cover letter with a personal statement describing your motivation (max 1 page).

www.karriere.unibe.ch
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• Perform original research on developing statistical methods for predicting the effects of medical interventions based on patient characteristics.
• Analyse real data collected in RCTs.
• Develop easy-to-use online tools that will implement developed methods in clinical examples.
• Collaborate with scientists in Bern and abroad.
• Present results in international conferences and publish them in peer-reviewed journals