Jon Michael Gran

Applications are invited for a 4-year PhD position in Biostatistics at the Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Department of Biostatistics, University of Oslo. The project focuses on causal inference for the effects of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals, leveraging real-world data from Norwegian health registries and advanced statistical methods. OCBE is one of Europe's leading biostatistics groups, with about 75 researchers and a strong international reputation in areas such as causal inference, time-to-event analysis, clinical trials, epidemiology, high dimensional statistics, infectious disease modelling, and machine learning. The successful candidate will join the UiO:Life Science convergence environment, specifically the 'UiO:Real-World Evidence' initiative, which aims to generate high-quality evidence on pharmaceutical effectiveness and safety. The project involves methodological challenges in defining, identifying, and estimating causal effects from observational data, with a focus on complex event history analysis, competing risks, individual heterogeneity, and machine learning approaches. The research will contribute to improving the analysis of linked health registries and developing new methods for causal inference in time-to-event outcomes. The position is full-time for four years, with 25% of the time dedicated to career-promoting activities such as teaching and advising within UiO:Life Science and OCBE. The candidate will collaborate with partners at OCBE, the Department of Pharmacy, Oslo University Hospital, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and others. The workplace is at OCBE’s premises in Domus Medica, with access to facilities in the Life Sciences Building. The PhD fellow must enroll in the Faculty of Medicine’s approved PhD program and is expected to complete the degree within the fellowship period. The program emphasizes research training and publication in high-quality peer-reviewed journals. Membership in the National Research School in Epidemiology (EPINOR) is included. Applicants should have a master’s degree or equivalent in statistics, data science, or a related field, with documented statistical knowledge and an average grade of B or above. Strong methodological statistics background, interest in medical science applications, programming skills (R, Python, or similar), and fluency in English are required. Experience with causal inference, survival analysis, large datasets, or registry data is advantageous but not mandatory. Personal qualities such as independence, efficiency, communication, and collaboration skills are valued. The position offers a competitive salary (NOK 550,800–600,000 per annum), attractive welfare benefits, a generous pension agreement, and opportunities for national and international collaboration. Oslo provides a family-friendly environment with rich cultural and outdoor activities. To apply, submit your application via the electronic recruiting system, including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and references. All documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language. The deadline for applications is 4th February 2026, and the starting date should be no later than 1st October 2026. For questions, contact Professor Jon Michael Gran at [email protected].

The University of Oslo invites applications for a 4-year PhD position in Biostatistics, focusing on causal inference for the effects of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals. This opportunity is based at the Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (OCBE), Department of Biostatistics, one of Europe's leading biostatistics groups with approximately 75 researchers. OCBE is internationally recognized for its expertise in causal inference, time-to-event analysis, clinical trials, epidemiology, high-dimensional statistics, infectious disease modeling, and machine learning. The successful candidate will join the UiO:Life Science convergence environment, specifically the 'UiO:Real-World Evidence' initiative, which leverages Norwegian health data to rapidly generate real-world evidence on pharmaceutical effectiveness and safety. The project involves methodological research on defining, identifying, and estimating causal effects from observational data, with a strong emphasis on analyzing complex event history data, competing risks, individual heterogeneity, and the use of machine learning methods. Real-world studies will utilize linked data from national health registries and data simulations based on infectious disease models. The position is full-time for four years, including 25% dedicated to career-promoting activities such as teaching and advising within UiO:Life Science and OCBE. The candidate will collaborate with partners at OCBE, the Department of Pharmacy, Oslo University Hospital, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and others. The workplace is located at Domus Medica, with access to the Life Sciences Building and the UiO Real World Evidence convergence environment. The PhD fellow must enroll in the Faculty of Medicine’s approved PhD program and is expected to complete the project within the fellowship period. The program is research-intensive, and the thesis will comprise high-quality scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals. The candidate will also be a member of the National Research School in Epidemiology (EPINOR). Applicants should hold a master’s degree or equivalent in statistics, data science, or a related field, with documented statistical knowledge and an average grade of B or above. A strong background in methodological statistics is preferred. Interest in applied medical science, especially vaccine studies, is essential. Programming skills in R, Python, or similar are required, and experience with large datasets or registry data is advantageous. Fluency in English is mandatory. Candidates may apply before completing their master’s degree but must provide proof upon appointment. The position offers a competitive salary (NOK 550,800–600,000 per annum), attractive welfare benefits, and a generous pension agreement. The University of Oslo provides a friendly, ambitious, and international working environment, with opportunities for national and international collaboration. The application deadline is 4th February 2026, and the starting date should be no later than 1st October 2026. To apply, submit your application via the electronic recruiting system, including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and references. All documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language. For further information, contact Professor Jon Michael Gran at [email protected].