ST. BARTHOLOMEWS AND THE ROYAL LONDON SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY 

Department of Psychological Medicine 

Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Genetic Statistics 

Applications are invited for the above post to join a research group in
the development of new statistical methods for mapping disease genes,
especially those with complex inheritance. The group is led by Dr David
Curtis and Dr Pak Sham. The successful candidate will be under the
direct supervision of Dr Curtis and will be based at the Royal London
Hospital, Whitechapel, in the East End of London. 

The initial main focus of the project will be to develop and implement
new parameterisations of genetic models around the existing likelihood
calculation engine of VITESSE or FASTLINK, two programs which carry out
likelihood calculations of phenotypic and genotypic data from extended
pedigrees. The aim of these parameterisations will be to allow
likelihood maximisation over variables in a manner which is not feasible
in the standard versions of these programs, in particular to implement
developments from the MFLINK approach to genetic linkage analysis and to
support fine-mapping using a combination of linkage and linkage
disequilibrium analysis. Performance of new methods will be assessed by
applying them to simulated data and to real data from projects the group
is involved with, for example pertaining to schizophrenia, manic
depression, coeliac disease, Tourette syndrome and ischaemic heart
disease. It is expected that the post-holder will also provide general
computing support to the group, including some data analysis and systems
support. 

The applicant should be able to program in C and have training in
statistics, preferably to a doctoral level. Experience in genetics and
other computer-related skills would be advantageous. If the successful
candidate does not possess a doctoral degree they would be expected to
complete a PhD thesis as part of the project. 

Interested candidates are welcome to make informal contact with David
Curtis (+44 171 377 7729, [log in to unmask]) and/or Pak Sham (+44
171 919 3534, [log in to unmask]). 

The post is funded for three years by a Wellcome project grant. Starting
salary will be in the range of #17,869 to #23,949 pa inclusive of London
Allowance. 

For further details and an application form please contact our 24 hour
recruitment line on 0171-415-3737 or email: [log in to unmask]
quoting reference number 99580/SK. Applications, quoting the reference
number, should be returned by 31st August 1999 and be addressed to SMD
Recruitment, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London E1 4NS. 

-- 
Dave Curtis                     Tel   : +44-171-377-7729
Dept Adult Psychiatry           Fax   : +44-171-377-7316
3rd Floor Outpatient Building   Email : [log in to unmask]
Royal London Hospital           WWW   :
http://www.gene.ucl.ac.uk/~dcurtis/
Whitechapel, London E1 1BB, UK


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