PhD position - hosted at HØKH (Health Services Research Unit at Research and Innovations Division

PhD position in a project Modelling of virus-borne diseases with focus on reproductive numbers and control measures - hosted at HØKH (Health Services Research Unit at Research and Innovations Division, Akershus University Hospital)

The Health Services Research Unit (HØKH) at Akershus University Hospital is a leading environment within health services research. The environment is active, multidisciplinary and spans various fields, from sociology, health sciences and medicine to economics, epidemiology, and statistics.

We are pleased to announce a three-year position for a PhD candidate in the project Modelling of virus-borne diseases with focus on reproductive numbers and control measures . This project aims to advance disease spread models, enhance the estimation of reproductive numbers, and utilize these models to assess potential control measures to mitigate the pandemic. A wide range of statistical, epidemiological, and simulation methods focused on modelling the spread patterns of virus-borne diseases will be developed and applied. With the right background, the PhD project may also involve more theoretical developments.

The Principal Investigator and main supervisor for the appointed PhD candidate is Research Professor J?rat? altyt? Benth (Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo (UiO), and HØKH), one of the leading scientists in medical statistics, also having years of experience within spatial-temporal modelling. The external collaborators are Professor Fred Espen Benth (Department of Mathematics, UiO) with high level of expertise in risk analysis and its applications, and Medical Doctor/Researcher Espen Rostrup Nakstad (Oslo University Hospital and UiO), centrally involved in informing and communicating the Norwegian Government’s strategy to control the Covid-19 pandemic.

The PhD candidate will be enrolled at the PhD program at the Faculty of Medicine, UiO.

The key responsibilities of PhD candidate:

• Participate in project planning and accomplishing.
  
• Analyse data from open sources, develop statistical models, conduct simulation studies, interpret the results, and publish research papers for inclusion into the PhD thesis.
  
• Participate in and present findings at national and international research conferences and workshops and contribute to dissemination of the results in other relevant events and arenas.

Required qualifications:

• A master’s degree, preferably in statistics or epidemiology, that meets the requirements for enrolment in the PhD program at UiO. Qualified applicants with master’s degree in related fields such as mathematics and economics are also welcome to apply.
  
• Proficiency in English, both written and spoken.

Preferred skills and experience:

• Prior experience in statistical/epidemiological modelling.
  
• Familiarity with SEIR models.
  
• Proficiency with statistical software such as R, Matlab or STATA.
  
• Proactive and independent, with strong collaborative skills.
  
• Norwegian language skills.

What we offer:

• Being a part of a dynamic, multidisciplinary research environment.
  
• Training and collaboration with expert supervisors and project collaborators.
  
• Opportunities for collaboration with decision makers.
  
• A platform to gain and provide important knowledge that may guide and inform decisions during potential future pandemics or other health crises.

For inquiries, please contact:
J?rat? altyt? Benth
Email: j.s.benth_at_medisin.uio.no
Phone: + 47 48 22 44 31