Call for Post-doctoral Research Fellows in Epidemiology/Biostatistics, University of Ioannina

Job summary: The Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology at the University of Ioannina School of Medicine in Ioannina, Greece seeks Post-doctoral Research Fellows in Epidemiology/Biostatistics to work in one of the following research programmes:
1. Molecular and nutritional epidemiology of colorectal cancer. The post is funded as part of a collaborative grant from the World Cancer Research Fund entitled: “Identifying mechanistic pathways linking diet to colorectal cancer risk”. We propose to develop a clearer mechanistic understanding of how diet is associated with colorectal cancer development. We hypothesize that numerous mechanisms will be identified using the following objectives: a) examine associations between dietary factors and risk of specific colorectal cancer subtypes defined by mutated pathways identified via targeted tumour sequencing; b) undertake genome-wide interaction analyses incorporating functional information to identify interactions with dietary factors and risk of colorectal cancer; c) perform mediation analysis of diet-metabolomics-colorectal cancer; d) perform two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis of the identified mechanisms and colorectal cancer risk.
2. Cancer epidemiology and causal inference. The post is funded as part of a collaborative grant from Cancer Research UK to the University of Bristol entitled: “Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme: Towards improved causal evidence and enhanced prediction of cancer risk and survival”. We will address four objectives: a) identify novel, potentially modifiable factors that are causal in cancer risk and prognosis and identify novel drug targets; b) clarify molecular mechanisms underlying effects of modifiable exposures on cancer risk and prognosis; c) identify novel biomarkers for cancer early detection and screening, risk prediction and prognosis; d) translate causally relevant exposures and predictive biomarkers into cancer primary and tertiary prevention interventions.

Duties and responsibilities: We are looking to appoint an individual with a background in epidemiology, biostatistics or other related discipline, with strong statistical skills, and experience or interest in nutritional and/or molecular epidemiology. The post holder will contribute to the further development of the epidemiological and analytical plan, communicate, gather and harmonize all the proposed datasets from large prospective studies and genetic consortia, conduct the data management and statistical analyses, interpret results and draft manuscripts. The post holder will work with Dr Kostas Tsilidis and an international study team, which involves project partners from Imperial College London, the University of Bristol, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The post-holder will be based within the Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology at the University of Ioannina Medical School in Ioannina, Greece.

Essential requirements: The post is ideally suited for candidates who hold a recent PhD degree in epidemiology, or a closely aligned field, or have equivalent professional experience. Experience in nutritional and/or molecular epidemiology and strong statistical skills are also essential.

Further Information: The post is full time and fixed-term for 24 months. For further information and formal discussion please contact Dr Kostas Tsilidis (ktsilidi@ uoi.gr). To apply for the position, please send a full CV and a letter of intent to Dr Kostas Tsilidis (ktsilidi@ uoi.gr).
Closing date: May 7th, 2021
Annual salary range: €20000-23000