PhD Studentship in Drug Safety, Pharmacoepidemiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Utrecht University, Faculty of Science:
The new Faculty of Science consists of six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information and Computing Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry and Mathematics. The Faculty is home to 3500 students and nearly 2000 staff and is internationally renowned for the quality of its research. The Faculty’s academic programmes reflect developments in today’s society.

The department of Pharmaceutical Sciences is responsible for teaching in pharmacy, and drug-related research. The division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy has currently a job opening for a PhD student in pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety.

Scope of the post:
Fulltime during 3 year (1.0 fte).

Salary:
The gross salary is according to the collective agreement of Dutch Universities, in the range between € 2000-€ 2500 per month.

Job description:
You will address the main question, why the potential risk of bone fractures is different between users of diabetes medication in Denmark, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In addition, you will estimate the risk of fracture in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. The world’s largest medical databases will be analyzed, yielding the computerized medical data of approximately 20 million patients. The research project will hopefully result in new, better methods to evaluate side effects of drugs. You will be conducting statistical analyses (not too complex) and literature review. The results of your work will be presented at international scientific meetings, and will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The scientific publication will be the backbone of your PhD thesis.

The job will be based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, close to Amsterdam and Schiphol airport. At least three months of the research project will be conducted in Denmark (Copenhagen/Aarhus). In this part, you’ll be supervised by a Danish endocrinologist / epidemiologist. There are exciting possibilities to conduct part of the research project in central London (at the UK General Practice Research Database). Partly working from home is another possibility of this project. You will be supervised by Dr. Frank de Vries, pharmacist/epidemiologist, Dr. Tjeerd-Pieter van Staa, medical doctor/epidemiologist, en Prof. Dr. Bert Leufkens, professor in pharmacoepidemiology.

Each year, approximately 16,000 patients sustain a hip fracture in the Netherlands. About 20% die within the year after the hip fracture. Scientists continuously monitor potential side-effects (such as hip fractures) of drugs that have been brought onto the market.

Qualifications:
You have either a master degree in epidemiology, statistics, mathematics, or public health. Medical doctors or pharmacists, chemists or candidates with a higher degree in biomedical science or engineering are invited to apply as well. You have no difficulties with writing in English. You are proactive and reliable. You are able to prove that you have a working permit for at least the Netherlands and Denmark (both countries are part of the European Union).

Terms of employment:
The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 6,4% per year. In addition we offer: a pension scheme, a partially paid parental leave, flexible employment conditions in which you may trade salary for vacation days or vice versa. Conditions are based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities. The research group will provide the candidate with necessary support on all aspects of the project.

Further details:
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from Dr Frank de Vries: phone: +31(0)610004382 – f.devries[ at ]uu.nl

How to apply:
Please send your application (including a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae and contact details of at least two references) before 2 March 2009 to Dr Frank de Vries, f.devries[ at ]uu.nl

Closing date: 2 March 2009

Ph.D. Position in Microbial Ecology

Ph.D. position in microbial ecology Microbial Ecology Research Group

The research group Microbial Ecology is part of the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies (CEES) in the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the University of Groningen. The group studies the adaptive strategies of prokaryotic microorganisms that allow these to survive in complex natural habitats. One of the topics focuses on the role of microbial diversity in ecosystem functioning. The research is strongly multidisciplinary and includes microbiology, ecology, molecular biology and plant physiology and ecology. The group provides a lively and internationally oriented scientific environment with excellent facilities.

Project
A major goal in general ecology is to understand the role of biodiversity in ecosystem functioning. Ecological theory predicts that ecosystems with a higher diversity of species are more productive and more stable in the face of stresses and environmental fluctuations. Amongst the different components of biodiversity, the diversity of functional traits of species in a community is considered to be the best predictor of the related ecosystem process. In this context, we recently used experimental communities of bacterial species to evaluate the role of bacterial functional diversity on community processes. Diversity had indeed a positive effect on community function and we were able to demonstrate the relevance of the complementarity of species for resource use capacity in shaping biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships. The main goal of this PhD project is to use a similar model system to address the role of bacterial diversity in respect of the stability of the communities. You will be responsible for designing experiments with bacterial communities to test theories related to the diversity-stability relationship. You will apply classical microbiological methods to determine community functioning. You will develop and apply molecular methods for the quantification of bacterial species, as well as statistical models to untangle the effects of diversity components on community stability. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Microbial Ecology center (UMR5557, Université Lyon1) in Lyon, France.
Requirements
You have a Masters degree or equivalent degree in microbiology/ microbial ecology, with a strong background in general ecology or in ecology with interest in working with microbial model systems. Experience with the application of molecular methods in the study of the complex communities is an advantage. The project is demanding and asks for dedication as well as a creative mind. Good proficiency of the English language is required. The Ph.D. candidate is expected to attend a few courses and to assist in teaching students at different levels (10% of time).

Additional information
For more information you may contact Dr Joana F. Salles
e-mail address: J.Falcao.Salles@rug.nl

Additional information can be obtained through one of the following links.
• About the organization (http://www.rug.nl)
• (http://www.rug.nl/fwn/onderzoek/programmas/biologie/microbieleoecologie/index)

Conditions of employment
The university offers a salary of € 1633, to 2443,– gross (bruto) salary per month. Objective of the temporary 4 years position is to produce a number of research articles in highly ranked, peer-reviewed scientific journals, which will form the basis of the thesis leading to the granting of the Ph.D. degree (Dr.) at the University of Groningen. After the first year, there will be an evaluation as to the feasibility of successful completion of the Ph.D. thesis within the next 3 years.

Application
Letters written in English, including a personal motivation, a curriculum vitae, along with names and addresses (including telephone/fax and e-mail addresses) of three referees, are to be sent to:
Department of Microbial Ecology, University of Groningen
Biological Centre
Postbus 14
9750 AA Haren
The Netherlands

The position will be open until March, 15th.

PhD Studentship in Drug Safety, Pharmacoepidemiology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Vacancy for a PhD student in drug safety (pharmacoepidemiology)
The Netherlands / Denmark / United Kingdom

Utrecht University, Faculty of Science:
The new Faculty of Science consists of six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information and Computing Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry and Mathematics. The Faculty is home to 3500 students and nearly 2000 staff and is internationally renowned for the quality of its research. The Faculty’s academic programmes reflect developments in today’s society.

The department of Pharmaceutical Sciences is responsible for teaching in pharmacy, and drug-related research. The division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacotherapy has currently a job opening for a PhD student in pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety.

Scope of the post:
Fulltime during 3 year (1.0 fte).

Salary:
The gross salary is according to the collective agreement of Dutch Universities, in the range between € 2000-€ 2500 per month.

Job description:
You will address the main question, why the potential risk of bone fractures is different between users of diabetes medication in Denmark, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In addition, you will estimate the risk of fracture in patients with Multiple Sclerosis. The world’s largest medical databases will be analyzed, yielding the computerized medical data of approximately 20 million patients. The research project will hopefully result in new, better methods to evaluate side effects of drugs. You will be conducting statistical analyses (not too complex) and literature review. The results of your work will be presented at international scientific meetings, and will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The scientific publication will be the backbone of your PhD thesis.

The job will be based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, close to Amsterdam and Schiphol airport. At least three months of the research project will be conducted in Denmark (Copenhagen/Aarhus). In this part, you’ll be supervised by a Danish endocrinologist / epidemiologist. There are exciting possibilities to conduct part of the research project in central London (at the UK General Practice Research Database). Partly working from home is another possibility of this project. You will be supervised by Dr. Frank de Vries, pharmacist/epidemiologist, Dr. Tjeerd-Pieter van Staa, medical doctor/epidemiologist, en Prof. Dr. Bert Leufkens, professor in pharmacoepidemiology.

Each year, approximately 16,000 patients sustain a hip fracture in the Netherlands. About 20% die within the year after the hip fracture. Scientists continuously monitor potential side-effects (such as hip fractures) of drugs that have been brought onto the market.

Qualifications:
You have either a master degree in epidemiology, statistics, mathematics, or public health. Medical doctors or pharmacists, chemists or candidates with a higher degree in biomedical science or engineering are invited to apply as well. You have no difficulties with writing in English. You are proactive and reliable. You are able to prove that you have a working permit for at least the Netherlands and Denmark (both countries are part of the European Union).

Terms of employment:
The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 6,4% per year. In addition we offer: a pension scheme, a partially paid parental leave, flexible employment conditions in which you may trade salary for vacation days or vice versa. Conditions are based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities. The research group will provide the candidate with necessary support on all aspects of the project.

Further details:
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from Dr Frank de Vries: phone: +31(0)610004382 – f.devries[ at ]uu.nl

How to apply:
Please send your application (including a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae and contact details of at least two references) before 2 March 2009 to Dr Frank de Vries, f.devries[ at ]uu.nl

Closing date: 2 March 2009