[BioC] Prestigious Research Fellowship in Biostatistics/Bioinformatics

[Wei, Wenbin]

As part of a £6 million investment in its research portfolio the University
of Birmingham is launching a programme of prestigious Research Fellowships.
The fellowships will last for five years and, subject to normal probationary
procedures, will lead to permanent academic positions. All successful
candidates will be required to perform some teaching in the last three years
of the fellowship as preparation for an academic post. 
Candidates will be expected to demonstrate high levels of research
achievement, the potential to develop into research leaders of the future
and a high degree of compatibility with the research strategy of the
University. 
Details of one of these new Research Fellowship posts is given below. 
Please see the following website for further information and other vacancies
http://www.birminghaminvests.co.uk/html/fellow_investment.html

Statistical Epidemiology of Cancer Studies
******************************************
The development of microarray and mass spectrometry technologies has
facilitated the growth of genomic and proteomic studies in clinical trials
and epidemiology. In cancer clinical trials the key aim is to identify
genomic and proteomic factors that are prognostic for survival or
relapse-free survival and which predict those patients who respond to
treatment. In epidemiological studies the key aim is to identify the genetic
factors that predispose individuals to disease. Such studies create enormous
amounts of data and the analysis of data on this scale is a major current
challenge. It is becoming increasingly important for life scientists,
computational scientists, statisticians, epidemiologists and clinicians to
work together as integrated research teams. Statistics is an essential
discipline for obtaining appropriate inferences not only from the large
amounts of genomic and proteomic data produced but also in association with
other biological and clinical data. There is therefore a need to investigate
and where appropriate develop the current methodology in this area to ensure
that the data being produced within genomic and proteomic studies attached
to clinical trials and epidemiological studies are appropriately analysed.
There are a number of national clinical trials in breast, bladder and lung
cancer being run within the Institute for Cancer Studies that include
translational studies. In terms of epidemiological studies, one example of
the work that would be facilitated by a strategic investment in
bioinformatics is the cohort study in south China, which would generate a
huge number of data points for each of 50,000 participating individuals. The
aim of the researcher would be to bridge the gap between bioinformatics and
clinical trials and epidemiology in terms of both application and
development of analytical methodology. 

Interface with current academic staff
--------------------------------------
The research fellow would be based at the Institute for Cancer Studies and
would also interface directly with Department of Public Health and
Epidemiology. In addition, the researcher would interface with relevant
academic staff from other schools within the University such as Biosciences,
Computer Science and Mathematics. Relationships with experts in the field at
organisations external to the University could also be developed.
Within the Institute of Cancer Studies the research fellow would interface
with two key academic staff; Dr Lucinda Billingham, Senior Biostatistician
at the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, responsible for statistical
methodology for the analysis of genomic and proteomic data within clinical
trials and Dr Wenbin Wei, responsible for Bioinformatics in the Institute
for Cancer Studies. Other key individuals within the Division of Cancer
Studies would be Dr Paul Murray in the Department of Pathology; Professor
Philip Johnson, Director of the CRUK Clinical Trials Unit and Professor of
Translational Research and Professor Lawrence Young, Head of Institute of
Cancer Studies and Professor of Cancer Biology. In the Department of Public
Health and Epidemiology, the primary interface will be with Professor KK
Cheng, Professor of Epidemiology, and the incoming Chair of Genetic
Epidemiology (to be appointed). 

Contacts:
Professor W.F.Doe, Dean of Medicine (w.f.doe at bham.ac.uk)
Dr Lucinda Billingham, Senior Biostatistician, Cancer Research UK Clinical
Trials Unit, Institute for Cancer Studies (l.j.Billingham at bham.ac.uk)
Dr Wenbin Wei, Bioinformatician, Institute for Cancer Studies
(w.wei at bham.ac.uk)
Professor KK Cheng, Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health
and Epidemiology (k.k.cheng at bham.ac.uk)

Terms & Conditions
-------------------
- Candidates should have a PhD or be of postdoctoral standing (someone who
can demonstrate equivalent and relevant professional experience). 

- Training provision towards an academic position will be provided.

- Annual performance appraisals and personal development advice will be
provided to the Fellows. 

- Each Fellow will be offered a permanent post at the end of the fellowship
that is appropriate to their career path, subject to satisfactory completion
of probation. 

- Fellows will be provided with general infrastructure, equipment and
technical support. 

- The Minimum level of salary on appointment will be £21, 640. 

How to apply
-------------
To apply please send a letter of application, setting out: 
- the area(s) in which you are interested
- how you meet the person specification for the appointment, and 
- a full Curriculum Vitae to Jayne Dowden, Assistant Director of Personnel
Services at one of the following addresses: 
post: The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Birmingham, B15 2TT 
e-mail: Research Fellow applications and enquiries
<mailto:researchfellow at bham.ac.uk> 

fax: +44 (0)121 414 4802 

Closing date for applications will be 30th June 2004.
The majority of interviews will be held in the last two weeks of July.
Please let us know your availability over the summer.