Αναζητείται υποψήφιος/α PhD για έρευνα στη Βιοστατιστική, με έμφαση σε μεθόδους που αντιμετωπίζουν στατιστικά ζητήματα σε adaptive platform trials (APTs). Η θέση βρίσκεται στο Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (CEBU) του Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) και στο University of Melbourne (UoM).
Πληροφορίες για τη θέση:
PhD opportunity in Biostatistics (Melbourne, Australia)
We seek a PhD student in biostatistics to undertake research on methods that address statistical issues in adaptive platform trials (APTs) within the Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (CEBU) at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and the University of Melbourne (UoM). CEBU is a group within the MCRI and the Department of Paediatrics at the UoM that specialises in biostatistics, epidemiological methods and data management. We collaborate with a wide range of clinical and population health researchers and also conduct methodological research, to develop and strengthen the biostatistical methods underpinning modern health research and to develop future leaders in data science.
Our research for designing and analysing APTs has gained international recognition, establishing us as one of Australia’s leading centres for APT expertise. We are seeking an enthusiastic, well-trained individual with an undergraduate degree and an Honours or Master’s degree in statistics (or closely related discipline) to undertake a PhD project in APTs, supervised by Dr Chris Selman, Dr Melissa Middleton and Prof Katherine Lee. The focus of this PhD project will be on APTs that allow multiple research questions to be addressed simultaneously within a single overarching protocol. While APTs offer substantial benefits in terms of efficiency and flexibility, they also raise complex statistical challenges. Such challenges include biased estimation of the treatment effect given the early stopping rules, determining optimal stopping rules, and how best to handle missing data at pre-specified interim analyses or in APTs with non-concurrent controls. This PhD will focus on advancing and evaluating statistical methods to address one or more of these key methodological issues that arise in APTs. The research will involve using simulation experiments and case studies based on real-world trial data.
As a PhD student, you will have access to a network of experts in biostatistics within CEBU as well as via affiliation with the Victorian Centre for Biostatistics (ViCBiostat, www.vicbiostat.org.au), a centre for research led by biostatisticians at the MCRI, UoM and Monash University, and the Australian Trials Methodology (AusTriM) Research Network (https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/austrim/home), a National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence (NHMRC CRE) connecting biostatistical and methodological experts in trial design across the country. We will complement your research training with professional development opportunities such as working on current health research projects, mentoring from postdoctoral biostatisticians, and funding to assist with national and international conference attendance.
Requirements:
- Graduate scholarship through the UoM (https://scholarships.unimelb.edu.au/awards/graduate-research-scholarships).
- Expression of interest including: (i) interest in statistical methodology, (ii) CV, (iii) academic transcripts.
Value: $38,500 stipend per annum for up to 3.5 years (graduate scholarship). Part-time scholarships will be considered on a pro-rata basis.
Eligibility: Open to Australian/New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and international students (competitive).
Closing dates:
- Expression of Interest: 12th January 2026
- Graduate scholarship application: 31st January 2026
Contacts:
- Prof Katherine Lee: katherine.lee@mcri.edu.au
- Dr Chris Selman: chris.selman@mcri.edu.au
- Dr Melissa Middleton: melissa.middleton@mcri.edu.au
