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@bham.ac.uk) Dr Lucinda Billingham, Senior Biostatistician, Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, Institute for Cancer Studies (l.j.Billingham@bham.ac.uk) Dr Wenbin Wei, Bioinformatician, Institute for Cancer Studies (w.wei@bham.ac.uk) Professor KK Cheng, Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology (k.k.cheng@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@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.