Full time, fixed term PDRA/research fellow for 36 months (possible extension by additional 12 months).
Closing date 28th June 2020.
Flexible starting date, but ideally Oct 2020-Jan 2021.
Salary: £30,942 - £40,322 per annum.
Apply through website Research Fellow (Sequential Design and Statistical Analysis of Human Egg Development (102007-0520)
Subject areas: Experimental design, multi-variate analysis, clustering/stratification/categorisation, and/or Bayesian experimental design, MCMC. Potentially relevant are rare events analysis, Gaussian processes and mixture modelling.
Project: Applications are invited for a 3yr PDRA position to work on the experimental design and statistical data analysis of chromosome organisation in human egg development. The project will involve two main tasks - firstly, determining optimal (sequential) egg assignment amongst a range of experiments using experimental design techniques and, secondly, analysis of complex heterogeneous data sets using multi-variate analysis and clustering methods to determine the power of these experiments for answering key hypotheses and identifying the causal factors/correlates of misorganisation events (eg aberrant organisation patterns). Egg assignment will be particularly important since the numbers of eggs is limited and misorganisation is a rare events (1 in 10 or less). Bayesian analysis methods, such as Bayesian experimental design and Bayesian inference using (hierarchical) Markov chain Monte Carlo, may potentially be required given the data complexity and heterogeneity.
Background: Chromosome organisation during egg development is a complex mechanical process that in humans is poorly understood. You will join a large interdisciplinary team joint between Warwick and Edinburgh using donated human eggs (~50/mth) to understand how eggs develop and acquire a single complete copy of the genome. You will undertake the analysis of the data generated on the project by utilising a range of computational and statistical methodologies. This includes sequential experimental design techniques and multi-variate analysis, and may include use of optimisation methods, clustering/stratification methods, rare events analysis, Gaussian processes and mixture modelling. The project can also involve image analysis for interested applicants. The overall aim of the project is to deliver the first comprehensive analysis of chromosome separation during egg development and during the early embryonic cell divisions in humans. This project thus has direct relevance to understanding human infertility.
Desirable skills: The ideal candidate will have a PhD in a relevant subject such as statistics, mathematics, physics, operations research, computer science or data science, and have a strong statistics background. Candidates with either Bayesian or traditional statistical backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Having experience with experimental design, analysis of large complex multi-variate data sets or developing algorithms for (statistical) analysis of complex (heterogeneous) data sets will be an advantage. Candidates should be able to programme in a high level language such as R, MatLab, C++ or similar. A willingness for communicating with biologists is encouraged. A background in biology is NOT required.
Application is via the HR website
Research Fellow (Sequential Design and Statistical Analysis of Human Egg Development (102007-0520)
and should include 1) a letter of application outlining previous research experience/significant results and why you are interested in the post, 2) a CV, 3) a list of publications, and 4) links to a small selection of reprints/preprints/publications from your PhD/latest research post as appropriate.
Scientific queries about the project can be made to Prof Burroughs, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or see his website https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/zeeman_institute/staffv2/burroughs/.
