We are looking for a PhD candidate who wants to join our epidemiology team and is keen to optimize prognostic epidemiological research and generate relevant insights into the relation between patient-related characteristics, including germline DNA, and outcome in bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer is in the top ten of most common cancers in the world; in the Netherlands, each year almost 7,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer. Our group aims to tackle unmet needs in the treatment of bladder cancer by use of epidemiological research. We are specialized in genetic epidemiological studies, but also study non-germline patient-related factors and tumor characteristics and their relation with outcome and therapy response. We also aim to contribute to evaluation and optimization of (genetic) epidemiological analyses for prognostic outcomes and to connect molecular and population-based research.

As a PhD candidate you will focus on analyses of patient-related factors for outcome and chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment response and toxicity in bladder cancer. The candidate will contribute to optimizing epidemiological analyses for prognostic outcomes by investigation of, among others, collider bias and by facilitating the link between epidemiological and molecular and mechanistic research. You have access to already available datasets as well as contribute to extending relevant datasets via collaborations and (re-)use of national and international registries and biorepositories.

Tasks and reponsibilities

• Collection and curation of available bladder cancer datasets with clinical, questionnaire, and biomarker data, including genome-wide germline DNA data.
• Collection and curation of additional features for available bladder cancer datasets.
• Literature review into patient- and tumor-related factors and outcome in bladder cancer.
• Study of methodological challenges in prognostic research (e.g. collider and immortal time bias) and optimization of related epidemiological analyses.
• Performing statistical analyses of patient-related factors, including germline DNA variation, in relation to bladder cancer outcome.
• Reporting research findings in scientific papers and presentations at meetings.
• Writing of PhD thesis.

Our ideal candidate has a MSc degree with training in epidemiology and experience with various statistical techniques, including survival analyses, and software. You are a team player, accurate, good communicator and show flexibility with regard to collaborations and tasks. Moreover you have a high interest in sharing knowledge and skills via teaching activities within Radboudumc curricula. You are keen to think across multiple disciplines and connect molecular to epidemiological and clinical research.

Naturally, the PhD student will receive support and training throughout the PhD trajectory to allow for development of relevant knowledge, expertise and skills.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

At Radboud university medical center, you build on your future. We are committed to providing the best care, education, and research. And we are true to our word, because we help you develop and seize opportunities and give you the room to grow. As an employer, we believe that employees should feel vital and happy at work in all stages of life. We are also committed to creating a healthy and safe working environment. Our employment conditions contribute to that. What we offer:

• Upon commencement of employment, you will start at scale 10A, step 0 (€2,901 based on a full-time appointment). Over a maximum period of 4 years, you will progress to scale 10A, step 3 (€3,677 based on a full-time appointment). You will also receive an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a 47% to 72% bonus for working unsocial hours.
• Plenty of opportunities for personal development. You can take a variety of courses in our online learning environment. You can also share knowledge with colleagues through digital learning spaces – perfect for getting inspired and inspiring others.
• Your well-being and vitality are our priorities. For instance, you can enjoy a 40% discount on a sports subscription at the Radboud Sports Center along with access to the Healthy Professionals program designed to assist you in managing your energy. If you are going through a life-changing event, our Company Support Team and a personal coach are there to help you.
• Support in achieving a good work-life balance at every stage of your life. This includes advice and training courses (from ‘Millennial Dilemmas’ to ‘Your Career After 57’), activities at our own mindfulness center, and informal caregiving consultations if you have questions about juggling work and caregiving responsibilities at home.
• 168 holiday hours per year (23 days) based on a 36-hour working week.
• 26 weeks of parental leave, nine of which are paid.
• You build up a pension by ABP Pension Fund, and Radboudumc pays 70% of the pension premium.
• Discounts on health insurance and ten other types of insurance, from home insurance to legal assistance.
• An allowance for your travel expenses or a working-from-home allowance of €2 per day.

Radboudumc

You will be embedded in an academic, multidisciplinary setting at science department IQ Health and will have access to already available datasets as well as contribute to extending relevant datasets via collaborations and (re-)use of national and international registries and biorepositories.

Radboudumc
Welcome to Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc), where scientific breakthroughs are born through the curiosity and passion of our collaborating researchers in a vibrant environment. We believe trust and excitement are crucial elements to achieving our goals, and we approach our research as teams and with the utmost rigor to make a significant impact on health and healthcare. Our researchers are driven by their fascination with the biological, psychological, and sociological mechanisms underlying health and healthcare. They collaborate with partners from all over the world to improve health outcomes for all. Radboudumc unites patient care, research, education, and corporate learning, which allows us to approach our mission to shape the health and healthcare of the future in an innovative and person-centered way.

Our ambition is to lead the way in the pursuit of prevention, sustainability, meaningful care. We believe that through our research, we can significantly improve the health and well-being of society. Join us on our mission to make a difference in healthcare. Become a part of our community of gifted researchers, professionals or patient partners who are dedicated to making a real impact on population health and healthcare.

Read what it is like to do a PhD at the Radboud University Medical Center.