Genetic Statistician in Cambridge, UK

The Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit (CEU) conducts world-leading interdisciplinary research into the prediction and prevention of cardiovascular disease, with a portfolio of studies that comprises >2.5 million participants.
Professor John Danesh is the Unit’s overall Director and Professor Simon Thompson is the Unit’s Director of Research in Biostatistics.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a talented statistician with an interest in genetics to work on world-leading large-scale studies of cardiovascular disease. This position can be filled by an appropriate candidate at Senior Research Associate, Research Associate or Research Assistant level, depending on relevant qualifications and experience.
The main responsibility of the post holder will be to design and implement analyses of genetic datasets from large consortia in relation to cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. Specific examples of these analyses may include:
- traditional SNP association tests adjusting for covariates; – multimarker tests (eg, haplotype analyses, burden of rare variant testing); – fine-mapping and conditional analyses to pinpoint causal variants; – integration of genetic data with biochemical factors for the assessment of causality (“Mendelian Randomisation”); – analyses of specific classes of genetic variation (eg, rare variants, loss-of-function variants, copy number variants).
Such analyses will lead to internationally unique insights into the heritable basis of cardiovascular disease, the world’s leading source of death and major disability, providing opportunities for medicines development and disease prevention.
The role will involve contributing importantly to a series of high-impact publications.

The post-holder will have: (1) relevant qualifications (eg, a postgraduate degree in medical statistics, biostatistics, genetic epidemiology or similar), (2) a sound understanding of statistical concepts, ideally in relation to chronic disease epidemiology (3) a working knowledge of genetics (4) strong quantitative skills, including experience of using relevant statistical software (STATA, R or SAS) (5) high level report writing and presentational skills. The post-holder should also be able to work independently, accurately judge priorities, and have excellent organisational and communication skills.
Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 31 December 2015 in the first instance.
Senior Research Associate status may be awarded to a suitably experienced and qualified candidate if approved by the Faculty Board of Clinical Medicine.
This appointment is subject to a health assessment. Whether an outcome is satisfactory will be determined by the University.
Further Particulars and details of how to apply are available at http://www.phpc.cam.ac.uk/jobs/
Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Adam Butterworth by email (asb38@medschl.cam.ac.uk) or telephone + 44 (0) 1223 741302. Please quote reference: RH00943.
Closing date: 18 March 2013. ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 5PM ON THE CLOSING DATE Interview Date: w/c 20/21/22 March 2013.