Dear All,

 

Please see below details of an MRC PhD Studentship in Statistics which will be based at the MRC Human Nutrition Research unit in Cambridge. This PhD project will suit a student with a strong statistical background and an interest in developing statistical methodology within a multidisciplinary research environment in nutrition.

 

Kind regards,

Ivonne Solis-Trapala

 

 

 

MRC Human Nutrition Research

 

MRC PhD Studentship (University of Cambridge)

 

Title: Multivariate measurement error models in nutritional epidemiology

 

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship funded by the Medical Research Council, to commence in October 2013, in the Department of Diet and Population Health (Head of Department: Dr Susan Jebb).

 

Nutritional epidemiology is concerned with the elucidation of associations among nutrition exposures and health outcomes.  In these studies, the outcome variables, the factors of exposure, or both may be subject to measurement error. For example, diet diaries or food frequency questionnaires that are typically used to measure nutrient intake are subject to large measurement error because of the daily and seasonal variability of an individual’s diet, and this leads to biased estimates of diet and health outcome associations. In studies investigating associations of genetic predisposition and diet with obesity-related diseases, the outcome variables, for example insulin sensitivity or dyslipidaemia, are also measured with error. The lack of precision in the measurement or estimation of the variables involved often leads to misinterpretation of the study results. The impact of and correction for measurement error in epidemiological research has been studied extensively for problems involving single error-prone measurements, but little work has been done to model dependence structures of complex multivariate data and their measurement error.

 

This PhD project will develop new multivariate measurement error models in two substantive areas of nutrition research. Firstly the student will characterise diet patterns taking into consideration that nutrients and foods are not consumed in isolation and that these dietary components interact with one another in their associations with health outcomes. Secondly, the student will investigate paths of associations of genetic predisposition in obesity-related diseases in response to diet interventions, where the outcome measures are subject to measurement error.

 

This project will suit a student with a strong statistical background and interest in developing statistical methodology within a multidisciplinary research environment in nutrition. The successful candidate will be registered with the University of Cambridge and should have, or expect to obtain, a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate subject. The studentship is available to UK residents and EU nationals who have been resident in the UK for at least the previous three years. Further information about residence eligibility criteria can be found at www.mrc.ac.uk.

 

Further information about MRC Human Nutrition Research can be obtained from our website (www.mrc-hnr.cam.ac.uk).  Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to the project supervisor Dr Ivonne Solis-Trapala ([log in to unmask]).

 

Applicants should provide a full CV and covering letter explaining their interest in the studentship, and details of two academic referees. Please email to [log in to unmask] or post to Postgraduate Administrator, MRC Human Nutrition Research, Fulbourn Road, Cambridge CB1 9NL.

 

Closing date: Sunday 6th January 2013

Anticipated Interviews: Monday 4th March 2013