The MRC Network of Hubs for Trials Methodology (HTMR) has a number of PhD studentships available for 2015 entry (http://www.methodologyhubs.mrc.ac.uk/about_us/phd2015.aspx ).

The project "Adaptive equivalence studies with multiple treatments" at Lancaster University will develop statistical designs for equivalence studies with more than two treatment arms. The general framework of this work is to construct the designs to ensure that, while testing all treatments simultaneously, the overall error rate is controlled. To gain further efficiency the designs will utilize adaptive designs that allow arms to be stopped early either because equivalence can be shown already or because the accumulated evidence shows that equivalence is not present. Optimal designs that balance expected size of the study under a wide range of true parameter values will be considered.

The project is supervised by Dr Thomas Jaki (Lancaster University), Dr James Wason (MRC Biostatistics Unit) and Dr Martin Wolfsegger (Baxter).

Package includes an enhanced student stipend of £19,726 per year. Due to funding restrictions only home/EU applicants are eligible for funding through this programme. Eligibility and residence requirements must be met, further information on this can be found at http://www.mrc.ac.uk/skills-careers/studentships/studentship-guidance/terms-conditions-and-guidance/ .

Interested candidates are invited to contact Dr Thomas Jaki ([log in to unmask]) prior to submitting a completed application form to the Network. The deadline for completed applications is 26 March, and

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Thomas Jaki, PhD
Medical and Pharmaceutical Statistics Research Unit
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Lancaster University
Lancaster LA1 4YF
United Kingdom

(+44) 01524 592318
www.mps-research.com
www.maths.lancs.ac.uk/~jaki/