Postdoc: Improving efficiency in oncology clinical trial methods

We are looking for a highly-motivated and talented post-doc with a strong background in statistics, who is interested in evaluating, developing and implementing novel statistical methodology to make early phase clinical trials in oncology more efficient. You will directly work together with biostatisticians and clinical epidemiologists, as well as bioethicists and health economic experts in our "adaptive trial design team" (4 fte junior and senior staff).

This team is part of Oncode Accelerator, a national growth fund project, that aims to accelerate the development of safe, personalized and effective cancer therapies. Within this project you will therefore also collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of investigators involved in preclinical and early phase clinical research for new cancer treatments.

You will particularly work on statistical methodology relevant for increasing the efficiency of early phase trials in addition to the use of adaptive designs, such as methods to incorporate real-world (external) control data, multivariate strategies that combine multiple endpoints, and methods for biomarker development to identify subgroups of patients that likely respond to a treatment. You will identify relevant statistical methodology and needs, and will perform simulation studies to evaluate, compare and improve the performance of different methods. With the ambition to apply these methods in actual early phase trials.

The maximum salary for this position (32 - 36 hours) is € 5.292,00 gross per month based on full-time employment.

In addition, we offer an annual benefit of 8.3%, holiday allowance, travel expenses and career opportunities. The terms of employment are in accordance with the Cao University Medical Centers (UMC).

You will be appointed at the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care within the Cancer Epidemiology group under direct supervision of Dr. Sjoerd Elias and will particularly work closely together with the other members of the Oncode Accelerator adaptive trial design team. This team includes members of the Epidemiology and Health Economics, the Data Science and Biostatistics, and the Global Public Health and Bioethics departments of the Julius Center. The Julius Center is one of the divisions of the UMC Utrecht and aims for a leading role in the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge in the field of Health Sciences and Primary Care. The Julius Center distinguishes itself through high-quality scientific research and education.