Researcher: Statistical analyses - DNA methylation assay in HPV-based screening

The Cancer Registry of Norway in collaboration with Akershus University Hospital, is searching for a researcher who will join our ongoing research project assessing the value of DNA methylation analyses in HPV-based screening using retrospective biobank material and registry data.

Are you interested in contributing towards elimination of cervical cancer and improving cervical cancer screening?

A two-year position as Research Fellow is available on the project “Towards elimination of cervical cancer: DNA methylation analyses to improve specificity and reduce overtreatment related to HPV-based screening”, funded by Helse Sør-Øst. The candidate will be situated and working at the Cancer Registry of Norway, which is located within the Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park at Montebello in Oslo, Norway, however, administratively the candidate is employed at the Akershus University Hospital.

In Norway, the cervical cancer screening program is transitioning from cytology-based testing to high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) based testing, to improve the overall screening program sensitivity for precancerous lesions which require treatment. For optimal HPV-based screening there is a need to improve the follow-up of those with HPV-positive screening results. Newly developed commercial molecular DNA methylation tests have the potential separate clinically relevant HPV-infections associated with pathologic precancerous lesions from harmless, transient HPV infections, thus improving the harms-benefit balance of clinical management guidelines.

The project started the 1st of October 2022 and laboratory analyses are now being performed. the Research Fellow will work with data management, harmonization of new and existing laboratory results with data from screening and cancer registries, statistical analyses as well as interpretation and dissemination of results. We expect several publications and dissemination of the results both scientifically and as popular science, as well as for the policy makers. The day-to-day work will be carried out within the human papillomavirus (HPV)-research team at the Section for Molecular Epidemiology and Infections at the Research Department at the Cancer Registry, in close collaboration with project partners at Akershus University Hospital and National Institute of Public Health.

We are looking for a candidate who is collaborative and enthusiastic, with the following qualifications:

Completed PhD degree (or equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree) and working experience as a researcher. The PhD should preferably be within medical statistics or epidemiology, but a PhD in molecular biology / medical sciences focused within the field of cancer or HPV-related research is also ideal, provided the candidate can document experience in using advanced statistical methods for data analysis. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who wants to contribute to improve the cervical cancer elimination efforts in Norway and globally.

Desired scientific qualifications:

• Skills in working with multi-dimensional data, combining registry data, clinical information and different molecular analysis results.
  
• Experience with scientific programming, e.g R, Python, STATA

Personal qualifications:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
  
• Solid analytical skills
  
• Good abilities for independent and systematic work
  
• Excellent collaboration skills  

We can offer:

• A multi-disciplinary team and creative work environment with expertise in HPV and cancer epidemiology, biostatistics, computer science and other relevant fields
  
• Extensive research support
  
• Collaborations with strong national and international cancer research groups in Europe and US
  
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
  
• Possibilities for rental housing and day-care facilities
  

How to apply:

The application must include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation and research interest)
  
• CV (summarizing education, positions, academic work, and other relevant activities)
  
• Publication list
  
• Copies of educational certificates and letters of recommendation
  
• 2 referees (name, relation to the candidate, e-mail, and phone number)

The application must be submitted via our electronic recruitment system.

Personal suitability will be evaluated through interviews and references.
Salary NOK is depending on qualifications.  

Start date: Preferably between 1st of May and 1st of September 2023

Duration: Two years

Application deadline: 8th of March 2023

For questions, please contact:

Mari Nygård, Head of Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway (man@kreftregisteret.no)
Eva Wessel Stratford, Special Advisor, Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway (evws@kreftregisteret.no)
Ulla Randen, Head of Department, Dept. of Pathology, Akershus university hospital (ulla.randen@ahus.no)

The Cancer Registry of Norway
Institute for Population Based Cancer Research
The Cancer Registry of Norway is part of the South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority and is organized as an independent institution under Oslo University Hospital Trust, with its own board. In addition to research, the institute register all cancer cases in Norway and provides advise to the population and health authorities on cancer prevention measures, and on how to reduce the burden of cancer. The Cancer Registry also has the administrative responsibility for the public screening programs in Norway - the Breast Cancer Screening Program, the Cervical Cancer Screening Program and the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. The organization has approximately 200 employees and is organized in three technical departments and one administrative department and is located within Oslo Cancer Cluster Innovation Park in Montebello, Oslo.

Akershus University Hospital (Ahus) is a combined local and district hospital for approximately 575,000 inhabitants. Our main tasks are patient treatment, research, teaching and patient education. We provide specialist somatic and mental health services, including addiction treatment.

Our research environment is rapidly growing at a high international level, and supports the development of our prioritized areas of medicine and service development. There is good access to research support through research administrators, library services, statisticians and the Clinical Trials Unit, as well as dedicated support staff for privacy issues, biobanking and innovation. Our research is conducted in close collaboration with the University of Oslo, which has established a well-equipped research laboratory on site (EpiGen).

"Humanly close - professionally strong" is our vision