Posting Expiry
Postdoctoral Fellowship in Data Science for Neurological Diseases
Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
A postdoctoral fellow position is available in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC) ‐ in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
The successful applicant will become a member of the Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE)—an academic research group whose mission is to improve health‐care related outcomes through the application of the best in research, education and practice enhancement strategies. To find out more about the CORE group, please see our website: https://core.ubc.ca.
The successful candidate will be involved in an exciting cross‐Canada collaboration to apply advanced data science techniques (eg. data visualization, machine learning, artificial intelligence) to build predictive models of health outcomes among individuals with neurological diseases. The focus of the projects will be in multiple sclerosis (MS), with the potential to expand to other neurological conditions. This is an opportunity to become part of a landmark Canadian longitudinal study of MS progression, incorporating both large retrospective and prospective cohorts with a wide range of data sources and elements (eg. administrative data, clinical assessments, neuroimmunologic measures, and medical imaging). There will also be opportunities to expand or explore applications to health economics and economic evaluation.
The successful applicant will play a key role in the success of this Canada‐wide study including: study design, accessing and linking data, ensuring data integrity, recoding/deriving variables, advanced analyses (using both epidemiologic/biostatistical and machine learning methods) and interpretation, presentation of findings, and drafting and publication of scientific manuscripts and grant writing. The successful candidate will also help to mentor and supervise graduate students who are working on this (or related) project(s).
QUALIFICATIONS
- A PhD with expertise in a relevant discipline (e.g. data science, machine‐learning, computer science, artificial intelligence, advanced biostatistics, advanced epidemiology)
- Excellent computer skills, including use of statistical software such as SPSS, STATA, SAS or R
- Experience with disease modeling (eg. regression, classification, cluster analyses)
- Experience with and knowledge about, health conditions, such as neurological disease is an asset
- Experience with large health‐related datasets (eg. linkages) is an asset
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills in English
- Ability to independently organize workload, set goals and work effectively towards deadlines
UBC is one of the world’s leading universities. UBC’s Vancouver campus has over 47,000 students, representing 140 different countries. UBC offers hundreds of academic programs through 12 faculties and 14 schools. Located on the western tip of the Point Grey Peninsula in the city of Vancouver, the stunning campus is surrounded by forests, ocean and mountains, yet is just 30 minutes from the city centre. For more information about UBC, please go to http://www.ubc.ca.
Based in CORE, the Fellow will have a unique opportunity to be supervised and mentored by leading researchers, clinicians, and policy makers with expertise in methods, MS, and other neurologic diseases. The research environment at CORE will provide opportunities for the successful applicant to be become involved in multiple projects, integrate data from these projects to address novel questions, and take a leadership role on specific projects.
Preferred start date is as soon as possible but is negotiable, and the position will remain open until filled. Please send a curriculum vitae (4 pages maximum), a cover letter describing your research experience and most significant research accomplishments, a statement of your research interests, and the contact information for three referees via email to:
Dr. Jacquelyn Cragg
Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
University of British Columbia
Email: jacquelyn.cragg@ubc.ca
Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.