Statistical Genetics Senior Researcher position at The Pioneer Centre for SMARTbiomed

within the Pioneer Centre on developing innovative computational methods and apply them to study brain disorders, cardiometabolic disorders, and reproductive health outcomes. Depending on the specific candidate, this may include developing methods to improve risk prediction using health registers and genetic data; develop methods to infer genetic architecture of diseases and furthering our understanding of disease aetiology; develop more robust polygenic risk scores; or improve fine mapping of genetic variants by accounting for functional annotations. The specific projects and tasks may vary based on the applicant's expertise. The position(s) will also include an opportunity for participating in exciting international collaborations, and for research visits at Oxford University and University of Copenhagen. 

Academic and personal qualifications 

• Background in data science, statistical genetics, quantitative genetics, bioinformatics, statistics, computer science, or related fields, with a relevant PhD degree (required).
• Experience with supervising students or postdocs.
• Computational expertise in analysing large health datasets, electronic health records, e.g. UK Biobank, All-of-Us, or similar sources.
• Experience with analysing large genetic datasets, e.g. using programs like GCTA, SBayesR, SBayesS, bigsnpr, LDSC, LDAK, LDpred2, PRS-CS, or similar.
• Experience with machine learning approaches, e.g. penalised regression, deep learning, autoencoders, XGboost, or similar.
• Experience with programming in R, Python, C++, or other programming languages.
• Excellent collaborative, communication and presentation skills
• Scientifically self-motivated and creative
• Ability to work both independently and in structured groups, and take responsibility for the complete research process from idea phase to publication and presentation of results
• Fluent in spoken and written English (English is the working language)

We offer

• An exciting job in an inspiring research team.
• An informal research environment at a high international level.
• Experienced collaborators and colleagues from around the world, offering competent feedback and support.
• High influence on work tasks, study designs and choice of methods, and ideas from the candidate will be welcomed in all aspects of the work. 
• Training and supervision as needed.
• Possibility to participate in courses as well as national and international conferences.

About the Pioneer Centre

The Pioneer Centre for Statistical and computational Methods for Advanced Research to Transform Biomedicine (SMARTBiomed) will support a critical mass of researchers who focus on method and software development for analysis and inference from massive human data, advancing applications in medicine. The Pioneer Centre for SMARTBiomed will leverage large-scale, multimodal biomedical data combined with focussed innovation in statistical and computational methods including machine learning to advance our understanding, treatment, and prevention of human disease.

The Centre will be anchored at the National Centre for Register-based Research (NCRR) at Aarhus University with hub sites at Copenhagen University and University of Oxford. Prof. Naomi Wray, Michael Davys Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Big Data Institute at the University of Oxford is the SMARTBiomed Director. SMARTBiomed is funded by the Danish National Research Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Lundbeck Foundation, the Carlsberg Foundation and the Villum Foundation. Funding has been secured to support a 10-year research plan (until 2035).
 
SMARTBiomed will support a critical mass of researchers who focus on method and software development for analysis of, and inference from, human health-related massive data, advancing applications in medicine. We will create a vibrant international community of researchers, both virtually and in-person, providing an exciting environment of collaboration to attract early-career researchers from a wide variety of fields, working as a team towards unified goals.

The core mission of SMARTBiomed is development of statistical and computational methods focussing on causal inference (theme lead: Erin Gabriel), risk prediction (theme lead: Bjarni Vilhjálmsson) and machine learning (theme lead: Chris Holmes). This broad focus is ring-fenced by questions relevant to common complex diseases/disorders (specifically cardiometabolic, brain and reproductive traits), and ring-fenced by big data types that are newly emerging for exploitation (‘omics, longitudinal – usually electronic health record or biobank -  and clinical imaging data) by bridging omics and clinical big data, the Centre aims to facilitate the translation of these advancements into practical applications for improving human health.

About NCRR

NCRR – the National Centre for Register-based Research, Aarhus BSS is financed
mainly by external research funds. The Centre houses an internationally acknowledged
group of researchers in psychiatric epidemiology, regularly publishing scientific articles.
In addition to its own research, the Centre also conducts guidance and counselling
related to register-based research projects, validation and data management of register
data, as well as development of methods for analysis of register data. Other significant
grants based at NCRR include iPSYCH, CIRRAU and EpiPsych. 

Place of work

Fuglesangs Allé 26, 8210 Aarhus V. 

Further information

Contact persons: Bjarni J. Vilhjálmsson, Professor, Email: bjv.ncrr@au.dk

If you need help uploading your application or have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR supporter, Line Møller Kristiansen, Email: lmkr@au.dk 
 

Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.