PhD Studentship in Medical Statistics/Epidemiology (HIV Research)
Department of HIV/GU Medicine
Division of Immunity, Infection and Inflammatory Diseases
The Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine
Kings College London, Denmark Hill Campus, London SE5
Applications are invited for a Research Assistantship / PhD
studentship/Research Assistantship within the Department of HIV and
Genitourinary Medicine, Kings College on “The impact of HIV infection on
the black Caribbean population in the UK” to start in September 2005. This
is a collaborative MRC funded project with the Department of Infectious
Diseases Epidemiology at Imperial College, where the statistical and e
statistical mathematical modelling of HIV transmission dynamics will be
supervised by Professor Geoff Garnett
(http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/people/g.garnett.html).
The successful candidate will join an active and internationally renowned
team in HIV epidemiology and an expanding cross-campus HIV clinical and
basic science HIV research group at Kings based in a 5* research division.
The research activities of the department include several large
epidemiological studies, including a Medical Research Council sponsored
project on HIV transmission in the black Caribbean community in South
London, the epidemiology of different HIV subtypes, as well as laboratory
based studies on the pathogenesis of resistance to HIV, and phase 2 and 3
clinical trials on antiretroviral drugs. Further details on the project and
department are attached.
The candidate will also be actively involved with the statistical analysis
of several other epidemiological and clinical studies in the department, in
particular two pan-London epidemiological studies on HIV-associated
nephropathy (HIVAN) and HIV-TB co-infection. The PhD can be undertaken
part-time while gaining further experience in the analysis of these other
projects. The candidate will be encouraged to attend the regular
departmental journal club, in addition to relevant seminars at Kings and
Imperial College, the MRC HIV Clinical Trials Centre and local RSS
meetings. Further information for prospective postgraduate students at
Kings College are available from
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/pgp05/school/51/research. Training in mathematical
modelling of infectious disease transmission dynamics will be provided by
Imperial College.
Applicants should possess at least a 2.1 degree and an MSc in statistics,
and have practical experience in medical statistics and epidemiology.
Previous HIV research experience would be an advantage. Experience of
numerical analysis or programming in C/C++ would also be an advantage.
Candidates should have excellent computer skills and considerable
experience in using statistical packages such as STATA, or SAS and database
systems such as Microsoft Access. Experience of numerical analysis or
programming in C/C++ would also be an advantage. They should have good
communication skills, possess initiative, and be able to work effectively
as part of a team.
The studentship will cover all academic fees for UK residents, a stipend of
£15,000, plus a discretionary enhancement depending according to on the
student’s background and contribution to the statistical analyses of other
projects in the department.
Applicants should submit a letter of application to Professor Easterbrook
and the standard Kings College London application for postgraduate study
(http://www.kcl.ac.uk/pgp05//), and return to:
Sherrie King
Dept HIV/GUM
Guy’s, King’s and St Thomas’ School of Medicine
Weston Education Centre
Cutcombe Road
London SE5 9RJ, Tel: 020 7848 5770 :Fax: 020 7848 5769
Electronic submissions should be sent [log in to unmask]
For an informal discussion about the studentship, please call Professor
Philippa Easterbrook, Head of Department (Tel: 020 7848 5770 or e-mail
[log in to unmask]).
Deadline for applications is Sunday 7th August 2005.
Project summary: The high rates of bacterial sexually transmitted
infections among the black Caribbean community in the UK is of major public
health concern, and has fuelled concerns about the potential for increasing
transmission of HIV infection in this population. To date, there has been
little research in the UK focused on HIV in the black Caribbean population.
An in-depth epidemiological, behavioural and laboratory MRC study of known
HIV-infected patients and STD clinic attendees of black Caribbean origin in
South London is currently ongoing. The PhD studentstudentship will focus
mainly on analyses to predict the future course and potential impact of HIV
infection in the black Caribbean community on the UK HIV epidemic.
Sherrie King
PA to Professor Easterbrook
GKT School of Medicine
Weston Education Centre
Cutcombe Road
London SE5 9RT
Tel: 020 7848 5770
Fax: 020 7848 5769
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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