The candidate will develop statistical state-space models within the Bayesian framework to analyse multivariate intensive longitudinal data. Intensive longitudinal data become very common nowadays. They are produced for example by electronic devices such as activity trackers. Statistical methods still lag behind these technological innovations. In particular, this research project aims at developing new statistical models to study 1) the dynamic evolution of several variables with intensive measurements measured at the same time with emphasis on the dynamic evolution of the correlation between these variables (e.g. heart rate and activity intensity) and 2) the reliability and validity of devices producing intensive longitudinal data when used in real conditions. The development of these new models involves mathematical derivations to approximate the posterior distribution of the model parameters, simulating data to study the model properties and developing a software package to fit the models. The explosion of intensive longitudinal data in many research fields such as medicine and psychology promises a great future for the developed methods.

• Graduated with a MSc in Statistics, Psychometrics, Biometrics, Econometrics
• Good mathematical and computer programming skills
• Good writing and expressional skills in the English language

Fixed-term contract: 4 years, evaluation after each year.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

We offer a full-time position (38 hours/week) with the Maastricht University at the Department Methodology of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, School CAPHRI  

Salary: The gross salary will start at €2325 in the first year and can go up to €2972 in the 4th year

Universiteit Maastricht

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 18,000 students and 4,300 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

The Department of your place of employment is the Department of Methodology and Statistics of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) of the Maastricht University Medical Center, in Maastricht, the Netherlands. This Department works closely together with the dept. of Methodology and Statistics of the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) under a common leadership. Together, these two departments consist of about 20 staff members from PhD student to Professor, and provide the statistics education in five different Bachelor programs and various master and PhD courses in the two aforementioned faculties. The research is mainly carried out within the School CAPHRI and concentrates on multilevel/mixed and mixture models for longitudinal data, optimal designs and sample sizes, missing data, and Bayesian statistics for intensive and high-dimensional data. Further, the Department offers statistical consulting and advanced data analyses to researchers from other departments.