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PHD STUDENTSHIP IN STATISTICS, Maastricht University, The Netherlands

The Department Methodology and Statistics of Maastricht University  in
The Netherlands, invites applications for a research studentship leading
to a PhD. The research of the department focuses on optimal design and
analysis of longitudinal studies with random effect and multilevel
models. The department gives courses in methodology and statistics to
Bachelor, Master and PhD students in the Health Sciences, Medicine, and
Psychology. At the moment we offer a position for a PhD studentship. The
project is funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific
Research (NWO/ MAGW)

The research project
The research project is a joint project of the Department Methodology
and Statistics with the Maastricht Brain Imaging Centre of the Faculty
of Psychology and involves the optimal design of functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments for the study of cognitive
processes. Different within subject and between subject designs exist
with their own advantages and disadvantages. This research project aims
at finding optimal designs for fMRI experiments that have maximal
efficiency and maximal power for finding real effects. By means of
results from the statistical theory of optimal designs for generalized
linear mixed effects models, including both random and fixed parameters
together with (auto)correlated errors,  the problem of finding optimal
designs can be formulated as a nonlinear optimisation problem.  The
optimal designs will be empirically evaluated with single subject and
group level fMRI data .

Profile
We look for students with a Master degree in Statistics, Mathematics,
Econometrics, Sociology, Psychology, Biology, or some related
discipline, but a minimal requirement is a  solid training in
Statistics. You preferably are familiar with research designs,
multilevel or general linear models and have knowledge about the typical
structure of fMRI data. You are motivated to perform quantitative
research and have experience in programming in a statistical programming
language. 

What we offer
You are offered a position for four years. In the first year the monthly
salary will be 1933 euro gross increasing to 2472 euro gross in the last
year, provided you have a full-time appointment.

Application
Send a letter of application with CV before June 1st, 2006  to the
personnel Department of the Faculty of Health sciences at the University
of Maastricht, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands with
reference to number AT 2006.071, 
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

Information
For more information about the project please contact: Prof. dr. Martijn
.P.F. Berger, Department of Methodology and Statistics, University of
Maastricht, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. E-mail:
[log in to unmask]
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