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UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS
RESEARCH STUDENTSHIP IN MEDICAL STATISTICS
EPSRC funding is available for a research studentship leading to a PhD
in Medical Statistics. Although an MSc in Medical Statistics is
desirable applications are also welcomed from those with a good degree
in statistics, or with substantial statistical content. Strong
computing skills and an interest in epidemiology would also be
advantageous. The start date is October 2002 and funding is available
for three years. Informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr I Bray
by phone (01752 233316) or e-mail ([log in to unmask]).
The Department
The project student will join a friendly department currently
comprising 30 permanent full-time academic staff, several temporary
and part-time staff, and five research students. The Department's
research interests lie in the application of statistics to many
fields, and our researchers work on a variety of international
collaborations. The Medical Statistics and Epidemiology group is
particularly active. Our staff are involved in several collaborative
projects with local medics, including an MRC-funded clinical trial,
and provide statistical support for researchers at Derriford Hospital
and throughout the University. Further details can be found at
http://www.tech.plym.ac.uk/maths/research/stats.html. In September
2002 the Department of Mathematics and Statistics will host the
biennial International Conference of the Royal Statistical Society.
In addition to the degree course in Applied Statistics, we teach
statistics to students in a range of other departments such as
Biological Sciences and Marine Studies. We also run a number of MSc
modules in Medical Statistics and Epidemiology jointly with Plymouth
Postgraduate Medical School. There will be opportunities for the
project student to assist in tutorial teaching, paid at the University
rate.
The Project
The aim of this research is to make projections of cancer incidence
and mortality for a wide range of sites and countries, and to further
develop current methodology to make more efficient use of available
data. Developments in computer-intensive methods over the last few
decades have enabled Bayesian approaches to be applied to traditional
age-period-cohort models, with the advantage that rates can be
projected without making parametric assumptions about future period
and cohort effects. Instead, non-parametric smoothing models are
incorporated in the modelling procedure to reduce variation and make
more robust projections. This methodology has recently been applied
to smoking-related cancers in countries of Central and Eastern Europe
and to lymphoid neoplasms worldwide. For further details and
references see
http://www.tech.plym.ac.uk/maths/research/stats/cancer.html.
We will use computer-intensive simulation methods to extend the models
to deal with missing data, data collected in unequal time bands and
coarsened data. Technical implementation issues will also be
considered. The grant covers travel costs for the student to attend
conferences and courses, and for visits to the International Agency
for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon. Our ongoing collaboration
with IARC provides access to the most comprehensive cancer databases
in the world and expertise in all fields of cancer research. The
project student will gain a broad training in both applied
computational statistics and this important area of epidemiology.
Application forms can be obtained from:
Carole Watson ([log in to unmask])
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth PL4 8AA.
Telephone: 01752 232558
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