Employment0.8 – 1.0 FTEGross monthly salary€ 2,541 – € 3,247Required backgroundResearch University DegreeOrganizational unitFaculty of ScienceApplication deadline21 August 2022

The large amounts of omics data nowadays available have the potential to unravel biological mechanisms underlying human diseases. This requires curious and highly motivated individuals who want to push boundaries in the statistical modelling of omics data. As a PhD candidate at the Department of Mathematics, you get to explore the fascinating potential of statistical methods in a welcoming and proactive atmosphere, together with a diverse group of researchers.

The Department of Mathematics at Radboud University is seeking an outstanding and highly motivated PhD candidate to develop statistical methods for omics datasets. Omics research has the potential to unravel biological mechanisms underlying human diseases. Ongoing technological advances deliver diverse omics datasets and their analysis requires novel methods. Developing these methods using multivariate analyses techniques such as functional principal component analysis and partial least squares is the topic of this project.

You will work on a PhD project under the supervision of Prof. Jeanine Houwing-Duistermaat. You will develop new statistical methods, apply them to omics datasets, interpret the results, and implement the method in software packages. The position is funded for four years and has a light teaching load (10%). You will be encouraged to participate in relevant group meetings, conferences, workshops and seminars, and to communicate your findings through publications in peer-reviewed journals. Upon successful completion, you will be awarded a PhD degree from Radboud University. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups.

Profile

• You hold a Master’s degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Econometrics, or an equivalent degree, or will have completed such a degree before the start date.
• You have a strong background in statistics.
• You have experience in programming, preferably in R.
• You have an interest in medicine and biology.
• You have excellent writing and communication skills.
• Experience in data analysis would be a plus.

We are

Statistical methods is one of the research areas of the Department of Mathematics. The field is represented by Prof. Jeanine Houwing-Duistermaat and Prof. Eric Cator.

The department has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere with researchers in related areas including stochastics and applied mathematics.  There is a good balance of junior and senior staff, and of Dutch and international researchers. We regularly organise research seminars as well as various informal events throughout the year. Moreover, statisticians at Radboud University are part of a larger international network of statisticians who regularly interact and meet for seminars and other events.

The Mathematics Department has more than 20 PhD candidates.

Radboud University

We want to get the best out of science, others and ourselves. Why? Because this is what the world around us desperately needs. Leading research and education make an indispensable contribution to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This is what unites the more than 24,000 students and 5,600 employees at Radboud University. And this requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play!

We offer

• It concerns an employment for 0.8 (5 year contract) – 1.0 FTE (4 year contract).
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,541 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,247 from the fourth year onwards (salary scale P).
• You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment  and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
• Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 29 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University’s primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Would you like more information?

For questions about the position, please contact Jeanine Houwing-Duistermaat, Professor of Statistics at j.duistermaat@math.ru.nl. Alternatively, you can contact Eric Cator, Professor of Applied Stochastics at +31 24 365 31 40 or e.cator@math.ru.nl.

Practical information and applying

You can apply until 21 August 2022, exclusively using the button below. Kindly address your application to Jeanine Houwing-Duistermaat. Please fill in the application form and attach the following documents:

• A letter of motivation.
• Your CV including the contact details of at least one academic reference, preferably the supervisor of your Master’s degree project.
• A transcript of records of your Bachelor’s and Master’s studies.
• A copy of your Master’s thesis (if already completed).

The first round of interviews will take place on Monday 29 August. 

We can imagine you’re curious about our application procedure. It offers a rough outline of what you can expect during the application process, how we handle your personal data and how we deal with internal and external candidates.

Apply now Application deadline 21 August 2022