Institute of Clinical Medicine
PhD position in evolutionary genetics in psychiatry
Job Description
At the Institute of Clinical Medicine, the KG Jebsen Research Centre in Psychosis – TOP Study Group, University of Oslo, there is a position available as PhD student (government position code 1017). The TOP project is a multicenter study involving all psychiatric hospital departments in Oslo and several research groups at the University of Oslo (UiO). The purpose of the study is to study how biological/genetic, psychological and environmental factors contribute to severe mental disorders. The TOP study group has used their infrastructure for clinical evaluations, neuropsychological testing, MRI brain imaging and biobanking to collect a large database. Specifically, we have collected a large number of genetic and brain imaging data on patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and the current project is focused on multivariate analysis of these and other large datasets, based on new genic annotation and pleiotropy enrichment methods, in addition to information about evolutionary genetics.
The PhD student will work in a project funded by the Research Council of Norway – FriMedBio program. The research area is statistical genetics, and the goal is to quantitatively characterize the evolutionary contribution to development of psychiatric disorders, using data from brain imaging and whole genome studies, as well as international data bases. The work will involve multivariate statistical modeling, to identify more of the polygenic contribution to development of human disorders, focusing on bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Requirements
Applicants must have a Master degree or equivalent in an area relevant to the topic of the doctoral dissertation. Applicants should have expertise in statistics, mathematics, physics or equivalent. The ideal candidate has methodological expertise and applied experience with parametric or nonparametric multivariate modeling, machine learning methods or generalization performance, classification prediction, familiar with Matlab, R or Python, and a great potential and genuine interest to apply and develop statistical methodology for this project. Background in population or evolutionary genetics, microarray statistics, Bayesian methods, and information theoretic learning, among others, can also be useful, as well as some knowledge of molecular genetics. The fellow will be part of the scientific personnel in the project. The PhD fellow will work at the KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis research (TOP Study Group), in collaboration with Statistical Genetics Group at Oslo University Hospital/University of Oslo. The work is based on collaboration with University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and with deCODE Genetics, Iceland. Periods abroad may be included.
When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Applicants may be called in for an interview.
The position is funded for three years.
Please also refer to the regulations pertaining to the conditions of employment for PhD students.
We offer
In accordance with the University of Oslo’s equal opportunities policy, we invite applications from all interested individuals regardless of gender or ethnicity.
UiO has an agreement for employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.
According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, even though the applicant has requested non disclosure.
At the Institute of Clinical Medicine, the KG Jebsen Research Centre in Psychosis – TOP Study Group, University of Oslo, there is a position available as PhD student (government position code 1017). The TOP project is a multicenter study involving all psychiatric hospital departments in Oslo and several research groups at the University of Oslo (UiO). The purpose of the study is to study how biological/genetic, psychological and environmental factors contribute to severe mental disorders. The TOP study group has used their infrastructure for clinical evaluations, neuropsychological testing, MRI brain imaging and biobanking to collect a large database. Specifically, we have collected a large number of genetic and brain imaging data on patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and the current project is focused on multivariate analysis of these and other large datasets, based on new genic annotation and pleiotropy enrichment methods, in addition to information about evolutionary genetics.
The PhD student will work in a project funded by the Research Council of Norway – FriMedBio program. The research area is statistical genetics, and the goal is to quantitatively characterize the evolutionary contribution to development of psychiatric disorders, using data from brain imaging and whole genome studies, as well as international data bases. The work will involve multivariate statistical modeling, to identify more of the polygenic contribution to development of human disorders, focusing on bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Requirements
Applicants must have a Master degree or equivalent in an area relevant to the topic of the doctoral dissertation. Applicants should have expertise in statistics, mathematics, physics or equivalent. The ideal candidate has methodological expertise and applied experience with parametric or nonparametric multivariate modeling, machine learning methods or generalization performance, classification prediction, familiar with Matlab, R or Python, and a great potential and genuine interest to apply and develop statistical methodology for this project. Background in population or evolutionary genetics, microarray statistics, Bayesian methods, and information theoretic learning, among others, can also be useful, as well as some knowledge of molecular genetics. The fellow will be part of the scientific personnel in the project. The PhD fellow will work at the KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis research (TOP Study Group), in collaboration with Statistical Genetics Group at Oslo University Hospital/University of Oslo. The work is based on collaboration with University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and with deCODE Genetics, Iceland. Periods abroad may be included.
When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Applicants may be called in for an interview.
The position is funded for three years.
Please also refer to the regulations pertaining to the conditions of employment for PhD students.
We offer
- We can offer an exciting research environment with a multi disciplinary profile and large opportunities for academic development.
- Pay Grade: 53-58 (NOK 438 000 – NOK 476 800) depending on qualifications.
- Favorable pension arrangements
- Attractive welfare arrangements
- Application letter
- CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
- Copies of educational certificates and letters of recommendation
- List of publications
In accordance with the University of Oslo’s equal opportunities policy, we invite applications from all interested individuals regardless of gender or ethnicity.
UiO has an agreement for employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.
According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, even though the applicant has requested non disclosure.
- Region:
- Oslo
- Job type:
- Contract
- Working hours:
- Full-time
- Application deadline:
- 27.01.2013
- Expected Start Date:
- Spring 2013
- Reference number:
- 2012/14715
- Home page:
- http://www.med.uio.no/klinmed/
- Contacts:
- Professor Anders M. Dale
- Professor Ole A. Andreassen
Telephone: +47 23027350
Mobile: +47 99038893 - Researcher Dr. Srdjan Djurovic
- Senior Executive Officer Thoril Kristiansen (questions regarding application form)
Telephone: +47 22 84 46 99
