MS/PhD assistantship opportunity in applied Bayesian statistics at the Univ. of Florida

Dr. Denis Valle, Assistant Professor in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation at the University of Florida (UF), is seeking a MS/PhD graduate research assistant with strong interest in statistical modeling applications.

Dr. Valle is affiliated with the Tropical Conservation and Development program (http://www.tcd.ufl.edu/) and the Emerging Pathogens Institute (http://www.epi.ufl.edu/) at UF. Research in Dr. Valle’s group focuses on tackling important applied problems in environmental sciences and malaria epidemiology by creating and using innovative Bayesian statistical models. Examples of ongoing research projects can be found at http://denisvalle.weebly.com. Given the wide range of problems tackled by this group, there is considerable flexibility regarding the specific scientific application. Nevertheless, this position will involve the development and application of novel Bayesian models and interactive tools to aid decision-making.

Applicants are expected to be highly motivated, independent, able to successful communicate research results (i.e., through publications), and enthusiastic about computational and Bayesian methods. Prospective students with strong experience in computer programming (e.g., R, Python, or MatLab) and with great writing skills are particularly encouraged to apply. Requirements for prospective students include:
• Competitive GPA/GRE scores (>50% percentile)
• BS or MS degree
• The candidate must meet the formal admission requirements for the University of Florida and the School of Forest Resources and Conservation. (http://sfrc.ufl.edu/academics/how-to-apply/)

This position will be located at the UF campus in Gainesville, FL. Duties include writing and presenting result of research in scientific conferences, searching and applying for additional sources of funding, and assisting other students within the team on statistical analyses. If interested, please email the items listed below to drvalle@ufl.edu:
• One page cover letter describing prior research experience (if any), career goals and interests, and how they align with those from the Valle lab. Letters that explicitly provide evidence for high motivation and reliability are strongly preferred.
• CV with contact information and contact information for three academic references
• GRE scores

Start Date: August (2019)

The application deadline is Jan. 30th, 2019

Information about the University of Florida: The University of Florida (http://www.ufl.edu) is among the top 10 U.S. public universities, according to the 2018 U.S. News & World Report rankings. UF is a Land-Grant, Sea- Grant, and Space-Grant institution, encompassing virtually all academic and professional disciplines, with an enrollment of more than 50,000 students.

The University of Florida is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.