Post-doctoral Fellowship in Data Analytics for Epidemiological Studies on Autism in Ireland

[Apologies for cross-posting]

Post-doctoral Fellowship in Data Analytics for Epidemiological Studies on Autism in Ireland

Autism is a lifelong disorder and has profound effects on an individual's social, emotional and cognitive development.  It has a number of societal implications: for the patient's life-long development, for the patient's family, for state services and for the society at large.  International evidence indicates a significant rise in the prevalence of this condition, as reflected in the recent data from the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which estimates that one in 68 children, has an autism spectrum disorder (CDC, 2014).
The Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research at NUI Galway, the Centre for Studies in Autism and Related Disorders at Trinity College Dublin, and Autism Speaks are currently establishing a registry and biobank for autism and neurodevelopmental disorders.  This endeavour is following related activities in the USA and Denmark.  The Irish Autism Registry and Biobank (www.iarb.ie<http://www.iarb.ie>) will enable transformational innovation to accelerate world-class research in Ireland and to achieve best practice service provision.  This research is embedded into the ongoing development in the healthcare and Life Sciences (HCLS) domains towards data driven sciences, which is based on large-scale processing, modelling and semantic annotation of experimental data.  Increasingly semantic Web technologies are being applied in these knowledge rich domains to achieve interoperability of data and the semantic normalisation of the data resources for subsequent interpretation.
In the context of the registry and biobank for autism and neurodevelopmental disorders, we are seeking post-doctoral researchers that would engage into research concerned with epidemiological studies, data analytics, and prediction of outcomes based on specific data for autistic patients and their families.  It is the overall goal to determine predictive parameters for the predisposition and even the early recognition of autism. This research requires novel hypotheses, analysis of large amounts of data (also in collaboration with the American and Danish sites) and the systematic analysis of all relevant data resources.
The Insight Centre for Data Analytics at the National University of Ireland, Galway, invites applications for a Post-doctoral position in the area of data modelling, statistical models, development of prediction models, and genetics research. The Post-doctoral fellow will be hosted by the Insight Centre for Data Analytics and the Irish Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research at NUI Galway. The selected fellow will be embedded in international collaborations and European research projects. The fellow will be enabled to publish in high impact international conferences and journals and to participate in world leading research. The post-doctoral fellows will be supported by the Marie Curie Assistid EU Cofund programme (www.assistid.eu<http://www.assistid.eu>).


Eligibility

*        PhD Degree in Bioinformatics, Population Genetics, Statistics, Data Analytics, Computer Science, or Information Technology.

*        Good knowledge of data modelling principles, for example machine learning, statistics for data analysis, population genetics, bioinformatics

*        Good background in Java, Python or R programming

*        Strong interest in analyzing epidemiological data and its integration with public reference data resources

*        Alternative skills: semantic web technologies, data analytics, machine learning

*        Applicants from any country in the world can apply for Incoming Fellowships provided that at the time of the deadline for submission of proposals, they shall not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Republic of Ireland for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the deadline for submission date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.



Salary:

Incoming fellowships will be on a contract basis for a maximum period of 2 years full-time equivalent. Remuneration will be in line with the Marie Curie Assistid EU Cofund programme http://www.assistid.eu/application-procedure/frequently-asked-questions.php

For further information on the financial aspects please contact the ASSISTID Programme manager Sheeona Gorman at sgorman@respect.ie<mailto:sheeonagorman@rcsi.ie>



Start date: Position is available from 1st of January 2016.


Application procedure
Informal enquiries about these positions may be made to:
Dr. Geraldine Leader

National University of Ireland, Galway
geraldine.leader@nuigalway.ie<mailto:geraldine.leader@nuigalway.ie>

Prof. Dr. Dietrich Rebholz-Schuhmann
Insight Centre for Data Analytics

NUI Galway, The DERI building

IDA Business Park, Lower Dangan

Galway, IRELAND

Email: rebholz@insight-centre.org<mailto:rebholz@insight-centre.org>

When applying, please use the same email addresses above and put "Post-doctoral Position in Autism" in the subject line of your email. Fellows are requested to submit (1) a cover letter explaining your intentions, and (2) a CV (in PDF format) giving details on your academic degrees, working experiences and IT skills (maximum 2 pages). It is difficult but still advantageous, if you can write a paragraph (e.g. in the cover letter, or extra), what ambitions in the Post-doctoral position appeal most to you.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm 30th of October 2015.
National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer.
Interviews will be carried out towards middle and end of November via skype conference call, and the position can be filled without much delay if required. We expect the successful fellow to start at the earliest possible date, ideally towards the early months of 2016.

INSIGHT Centre for Data Analytics (previously DERI http://deri.ie/) http://www.insight-centre.org/ is a leading research institute in Semantic Web/Linked Data technologies that offers a stimulating, dynamic and multi-cultural research environment, excellent ties to research-groups worldwide, close collaboration with industrial partners and up-to-date infrastructure and resources.



This project has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement PCOFUND-GA-2013-608728 ASSISTID is coordinated by the DOCTRID Research Institute (comprised of 15 university and Higher Education Institutions in Ireland, USA and UK) and is cofunded by RESPECT charity and the European Commission.

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Regards,

Ratnesh Sahay, PhD

Research Unit Leader

Semantics in eHealth and Life Sciences (SeLS)

Insight Centre for Data Analytics

NUI Galway, The DERI building

IDA Business Park, Lower Dangan

Galway, IRELAND

Tel: + 353 91 495253

Fax: + 353 91 495541

Web: http://sels.insight-centre.org/
Web: http://www.ratneshsahay.org/