This project aims to improve individual patient care by combining evidence available in guidelines with information that is routinely collected through electronic health records. Evidence in guidelines is often based on selective, non-representative, patient populations enrolled in clinical trials. This leads to uncertainty about the true effects of medical interventions in patients seen in clinical practice. We aim to develop and test an applied data system that combines best evidence available from guidelines with individual risk profiles available from routinely collected electronic health records in order to make better-informed decision about individual clinical patient care.

To successfully complete this project, a number of fascinating problems in data analysis need to be tackled. For example, how can we sift through the large amount of information available in electronic health records to estimate individual profiles? How can we adapt existing methods in machine learning and statistics to deal with selection and measurement biases in such data? And how much difference do such methodological issues make to practical patient care?

The research will be carried out at the UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University jointly, as appropriate. You will be working in a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, data scientists, epidemiologists, and statisticians.

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with an MSc degree who is science driven, independent and highly motivated with general experience in data science / statistics and excellent programming skills. An inquisitive mindset, self-reliance, and flexibility are important qualities for this function. Good communicative and cooperation skills and accuracy are required. Previous experience in biomedical research is favored.

We offer an full-time attractive PhD position within the Division Heart and Lungs and Dept of Methodology & Statistics for four years. The gross salary ranges between €2,222 and €2,840 (scale P Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) gross per month for a full-time employment. 

In addition, we offer attractive and flexible secondary terms of employment such as an annual holiday pay of 8%, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% per year and partially paid parental leave. Finally, we also provide an attractive working environment and a vibrant research climate. More information is available at: working at Utrecht University.

The Division of Heart & Lungs (DH&L) is an integral part of the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht). The UMC Utrecht is a leading international academic medical centre where knowledge of health, illness and care is generated, evaluated, shared and applied for the benefit of patients and society. Two of the focus areas of research within the UMC Utrecht are Circulatory Health and Regenerative Medicine; within these areas new therapeutic approaches are being tested to help heart failure patients.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The Department of Methodology & Statistics is part of the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences of the University of Utrecht (UU). The research of the Department of Methodology & Statistics comprises the development of new techniques in areas such as data science methodology, survey research, mixed-mode research, qualitative research methods, multilevel modelling, longitudinal analyses and applied Bayesian statistics, and the application of these techniques to the study of phenomena in the social, behavioural, and health sciences.