Biostatistics in Mathematics doctoral position

1. Authorities and official bodies world-wide require animal experiments in order to be able to guarantee the safety of clinical tests on humans for medical products. Through implementation of what they call the "Rs" initiative, the NIH has been striving to develop alternative product testing methods that will: Reduce the number of animals used in testing, Refine testing procedures so animals experience less pain and distress; or Replace animals with non-animal testing systems.
2. The goal of this project is to investigate innovative statistical approaches that offer ways to reduce the number of animals in future toxicology studies to obtain the same information as is currently the case, or obtain more information from existing data sets (better study design, dose-response models, more accurate response variables, complex hierarchical clustering models. Longitudinal models,
3. In addition and also within the "Rs" initiative, this project wants to investigate the predictive potential of particular in-vitro tests for in-vivo animal experiments. To that purpose multivariate projection methods, surrogate-marker methodologies, joint modeling of multivariate outcomes of different data types, will be in demand.
4. The main goal of this 6 months period is to prepare the candidate for a Baekeland Grant. Both in September and in January an application for such grant will be submit and an extension for the next 4 years is conditional on the success of these applications. In case of a successful application a PhD will be initiated.
5. 
   Profile:
1. Experience with the design and analysis of statistical applications (e.g in the pharmaceutical industry);
2. experience in the use of statistical software such as SAS, S-Plus, R, StatXact, etc.;
3. excellent knowledge of the English language and good scientific writing skills;
4. be intrinsically motivated, think analytically and creatively, work in an organised and focused manner;
5. enjoy working in an multidisciplinary and multicultural environment.
   Diploma Master degree in (Bio-)Statistics or an equivalent degree.
6. The appointment takes effect from June 1, 2010, for a period of 6 months, extendable to a total period of 4 years conditional on the success of a Baekeland Grant
7. Further information
   Content job responsibilities:
   Prof. dr. Marc Aerts, +32 11-26 82 47, marc.aerts@uhasselt .be
   Prof. dr. Geert Molenberghs, +32 11-26 82 38, geert.molenberghs@ uhasselt. be
   Content terms of employment and selection procedure: Jef Vanvoorden, 011-26 80 80, jef.vanvoorden@ uhasselt. Be
8. Application
   Applicants must use the official application forms which are available at the Rectoraat of Hasselt University, Campus Diepenbeek, Agoralaan - building D, B-3590 Diepenbeek (Belgium), phone +32 - 11 - 26 80 10 or which can be downloaded here pdf-file (http://www.uhasselt.be/download/APengelsUH.pdf) / Word format (http://www.uhasselt.be/download/APengelsUH.doc)
9. The completed application forms must reach the above mentioned address no later than May 2nd 2010.
10. Application by e-mail will only be taken into consideration when sent to the following address: jobs@uhasselt.be.