PhD Candidate Biostatistics in Hematologic Malignancies

Job description

HOVON and the Department of Biostatistics at Erasmus Medical Center (Erasmus University Rotterdam) are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate in biostatistics for an exciting, fully funded 4-year research position. The focus of the project is on validating minimal residual disease (MRD) as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials for patients with hematologic malignancies.

MRD is increasingly used to assess treatment efficacy, yet its validity as a predictor for long-term outcomes remains unclear. Your research will address this critical question by combining joint models for longitudinal and time-to-event data, surrogate endpoint validation, and causal inference. There is also room to explore machine learning techniques to enhance or extend existing approaches.

This PhD position is a collaborative initiative between HOVON - a leading cooperative group for clinical studies in hematology - and Erasmus MC’s Department of Biostatistics, a top-tier research environment. You will gain hands-on experience in both cutting-edge statistical methodology and its direct application to clinical trials.

The position is full-time for 4 years, starting in September 2025 (earlier start possible). While the primary focus is research, you will also contribute up to 10% of your time to statistical consulting activities for HOVON - giving you valuable exposure to real-world clinical research settings.

Throughout the project, you will present your findings at international conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals, working toward the completion of your PhD.

Work environment

The Department of Biostatistics at Erasmus MC is internationally recognized for its innovative research in statistical methodology, with expertise in areas such as longitudinal and survival data, correlated and missing data, causal inference, Bayesian methods, and novel clinical trial designs.

HOVON (Hemato Oncology Foundation for Adults in the Netherlands) is a leading foundation dedicated to improving clinical research in hematologic malignancies. Its activities span multicenter clinical trials, biomarker and translational research, and the development of disease-specific clinical guidelines. HOVON is a central group for collaboration between hematologists, statisticians, and researchers across the Netherlands and beyond.

This PhD project is a joint initiative between these two organizations, offering a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of methodological innovation and clinical application. You will collaborate with experts in both biostatistics and clinical hematology, contributing to research that has direct impact on the design and interpretation of cancer trials.

Qualifications and skills

• You are a highly motivated and creative junior researcher. 
• You have obtained your MSc in the field of Statistics, Biostatistics, or a related field. 
• Knowledge of mixed effects models, survival analysis, Bayesian statistics, R/Python, and C++ will be considered a plus. 
• You have the ability to conduct innovative research, both as an independent researcher and as a strong team player.
• You are accurate and thorough and have a good command of the English language, both verbally and in writing. 
• Dutch language proficiency is advantageous.

Before you apply please check our conditions for employment.

Terms of employment

• A temporary contract for 48 months.
• A gross monthly salary of up to €3,108 (OIO scale) for a full working week of 36 hours.
• Part-time working from home is possible.
• 4x9 is possible.
• A 13th month which we pay out in November and a personal travel budget.
• A pension insurance with the ABP. We cover about 2/3 of the monthly contribution.
• Sports facilities at Erasmus MC. And do you have a flat tyre? Our bicycle mechanic will be happy to repair it.

More information

For more information about this position, please contact dr. Erik van Werkhoven (e.vanwerkhoven@erasmusmc.nl) or Prof. dr. Dimitris Rizopoulos (d.rizopoulos@erasmusmc.nl).

No agencies please.