Postdoc in Computational Social and Molecular Data Sciences

As a postdoc within the Department of Biomedical Data Sciences and healthcampus The Hague, you will play a key role in studying 1) the concentration of socioeconomic differences in health and healthy aging in families, and 2) the prediction of health outcomes in the general population using molecular, socioeconomic, and environmental data. You will work with very large, globally unique registry, medical, and molecular data from CBS and ELAN, linked to major study cohorts such as the LLS and LifeLines. The ultimate goal is to gain insight into how socioeconomic resources, such as income, education, and social networks, cluster within families, and how they, in combination with molecular profiles, relate to the physical living environment, health outcomes, and lifespan. This knowledge will then be applied for health prediction in support of prevention.

Your core tasks are:

·         Linking large longitudinal, family, and cohort datasets and preparing these data for analysis.

·         Analyzing complex socioeconomic, environmental, and molecular data in the context of multigenerational families.

·         (Co-)developing predictive models based on very large registry, medical, social/environmental, and molecular data, aimed at predicting health outcomes.

·         Performing coordinating tasks, including maintaining contact with collaboration partners within BDS and the Health Campus in The Hague

You work accurately and independently, but also actively seek collaboration. You find it inspiring to connect knowledge across different disciplines and have a curious, eager-to-learn mindset. You strive for results while maintaining an overview, even in complex projects. You communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, in Dutch and English. With your analytical mindset, initiative, and structured way of working, you make a visible contribution to the quality of the research and the collaboration within the team.

Additionally, you have:

·         An (almost) completed PhD in a relevant field, such as quantitative social sciences, (molecular) data sciences, biological psychology, or a comparable domain.

·         Affinity with computational social sciences, (molecular) data sciences, or health sciences.

·         Experience analyzing large datasets; experience with registry data (such as CBS data) is a plus.

·         Demonstrable skills in quantitative research methods; experience with genetic or omics data (such as proteomics or metabolomics) is a plus.

·         A good command of the Dutch language is a strong advantage

As a motivated postdoc, your salary ranges from a minimum of €3,598 to a maximum of €5,669 gross per month (scale 10, UMC Collective Labour Agreement). These amounts are based on a full-time position.

You will work a 36-hour week and receive an initial appointment for two years. Depending on available funding, there is the intention to extend this period.

Our offer

Driven by health; that's our mission. This applies not only to our patients but also to our employees. We strive to provide a safe, inclusive and equitable work environment, with a focus on talent development and connected leadership. In order to be able to continue to learn and develop, we offer internal and external training. You are also entitled to an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), holiday allowance, sports budget, bicycle scheme, home office allowance and an excellent commuting allowance. Furthermore, as an employee of LUMC, you are also affiliated with the ABP pension fund. This means that 70% of your pension premium is paid by LUMC, leaving you with a higher net salary. Nice, right?

At the Leiden University Medical Center, we continuously work on improving patient care. We invest in groundbreaking, international research and work with the latest equipment. Together with our team of doctors, medical specialists, teachers, academic researchers and supporting staff, we aim for the best quality in health care, education and international research. And we need you to realize our goals!

You will be part of an enthusiastic and multidisciplinary team of social, data, health, and biomedical scientists within the Department of Biomedical Data Sciences (BDS) at the LUMC (Healthy Aging team) and at the Health Campus The Hague (Syndemics team).
Together with other PhD candidates and postdocs, you will work on innovative research, actively participate in weekly meetings, and benefit from the latest insights across multiple disciplines.

The Healthy Aging research group investigates how molecular and social factors interact to influence healthy aging. This is achieved by combining social science, epidemiological, and molecular data and perspectives.
The team, led by Prof. Slagboom, Dr. Deelen (ERC laureate), Dr. Van den Berg (Veni laureate), and Dr. Beekman, regularly publishes in leading international scientific journals.

At the healthcampus The Hague, you will work in an environment where science, healthcare, and society come together. The aim is to improve health and life expectancy and reduce socioeconomic health inequalities.
The healthcampus is under the scientific leadership of Prof. Kiefte-de Jong and focuses on prevention, AI, and big data.

In short, you will join an inspiring and ambitious environment where your contribution truly makes a difference. Within this dynamic research setting, you will have ample opportunities to develop yourself both personally and professionally.