PhD Position in Biostatistics at the Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), University of Oslo University of Oslo in Norway

The University of Oslo invites applications for a 3-year PhD Fellowship in Biostatistics at the Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Institute of Basic Medical Sciences. OCBE is one of Europe's most active biostatistics centres, internationally recognized for its research in biostatistics, machine learning, and epidemiology, and hosts about 75 researchers. The centre collaborates with leading biomedical research groups both nationally and internationally and is a partner in the Norwegian Centre for Knowledge-driven Machine Learning (Integreat) and the Norwegian Centre for Trustworthy AI (TRUST).

The successful applicant will join the research group 'Statistical learning in molecular medicine' and participate in the T-PRESS consortium, which aims to support trustworthy personalized healthcare decisions. The PhD project, titled 'Reliable Bayesian prediction models with uncertainty quantification for trustworthy personalized treatment decisions in the T-PRESS Evidence Ecosystem Framework', focuses on developing Bayesian statistical and machine learning methods for treatment response prediction in cancer, specifically using adjuvant immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma as a use case. The research will integrate clinical information, molecular tumor characterizations, and in vitro drug response experiments with patient-derived organoids (PDOs) to provide personalized risk assessments and predictions for treatment effect, including explicit uncertainty estimates.

Key research questions include adapting statistical models to account for biological and technical variability in PDOs, integrating heterogeneous clinical and multi-omics data, assessing the added predictive value of organoid data, and validating prediction models for trustworthy integration into digital decision aids at the point of care.

The PhD program requires admission to the doctoral degree program at the Faculty of Medicine, with the expectation to complete the project within the fellowship period. The thesis typically includes several papers published in leading scientific journals, and candidates must take a small number of advanced courses as part of their training. The University of Oslo offers an ambitious and international research environment, meaningful tasks, good welfare schemes, career development opportunities, and membership in Statens Pensjonskasse, one of Norway's best pension schemes.

Applicants must hold a master's degree in biostatistics, bioinformatics, statistics, mathematics, computer science, or a related quantitative subject with proven competence in statistics. Ideal candidates have a strong background in statistical methodology (especially Bayesian statistics and statistical learning for high-dimensional data), solid programming skills (R or Python), and a strong interest in interdisciplinary research with applications in molecular biology and cancer research. English proficiency is mandatory; Norwegian is not required. The University of Oslo is committed to equality, inclusion, and diversity, and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds.

Salary for the position ranges from NOK 550,800 to 595,000 per year, depending on competence and experience, with a 2% deduction for statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund. The application should include a cover letter, CV, educational certificates and transcripts, documentation of English proficiency (if applicable), list of publications (if applicable), and 2-3 references. Applications must be submitted via the Jobbnorge recruitment system. The deadline for applications is 17th May 2026.

For further information, contact Professor Manuela Zucknick at [email protected].