Job title: Post-doctoral researcher
Job category: Research
Affiliation: University Medical Center Utrecht
Department: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care
Employment: 1.0 FTE, salary scale 11, temporary contract for 3 years; starting date after 1 March 2020
Application procedure: Please apply before 6 March 2020 via https://www.werkenbijumcutrecht.nl/vacatures/Paginas/post-doctoral-researcher%20(2020-0155).aspx

We offer:
Post-doctoral research position for 3 years for a project on prospects of HIV elimination among men who have sex with men in the Netherlands. The post-doctoral researcher will develop an individual-based mathematical model for performing simulation studies.

We ask:
The candidate should have successfully completed a PhD in applied mathematics, computer science, computational biology, theoretical epidemiology, or a similar discipline. Good programming skills and experience with infectious disease modelling are required.

Department information:
The Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care is part of the University Medical Center Utrecht. It carries out scientific research, provides education, and offers expertise and facilities in the area of clinical health sciences. The post-doctoral researcher will become a member of the Infection Dynamics group headed by Prof Mirjam Kretzschmar and will work closely with Dr Ganna Rozhnova. The research group consisting of several post-docs and PhD/master students has a strong focus on the application of mathematical modelling as a research tool for epidemiology and public health. On this project, the research group will collaborate with the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Soa Aids Nederland (STI AIDS Netherlands), Stichting HIV Monitoring (HIV Monitoring Foundation), GGD Amsterdam (Public Health Service Amsterdam), Amsterdam University Medical Centers and Hiv Vereniging (Dutch HIV Association).

Group webpage:
https://www.umcutrecht.nl/en/Research/Strategic-themes/Infection-Immunity/Research-Groups/Infectious-Disease-Modelling-Group-Kretzschmar

Job description:
Aidsfonds has awarded a research grant for the proposal “Prospects of HIV elimination among Dutch men who have sex with men (MSM) by targeted screening, partner notification, and immediate treatment initiation for acute HIV infection”. This project aims to provide guidance on the national implementation of targeted screening and immediate treatment initiation for acute HIV infection in the Netherlands. Through mathematical modelling and analysis of existing data, we will evaluate the potential effectiveness of this intervention and of the contribution of partner notification services offered to MSM with acute infection in achieving HIV elimination. The project findings will be formulated in a strategic report on the national implementation of these interventions. The post-doctoral researcher will develop and implement an individual-based mathematical model to perform simulation studies of HIV transmission among Dutch MSM. Data for informing the model will be provided by our project partners. The post-doctoral researcher will work as part of a multidisciplinary team that has long-standing experience in collaboration on the interface between mathematical modelling, epidemiology and public health. The researcher will also contribute to teaching activities of the department.

Job requirements:
Candidates applying for this position should have successfully completed a PhD in applied mathematics, computer science, computational biology, theoretical epidemiology, or a similar discipline. Good programming skills and experience with infectious disease modelling are requirements. Experience with individual-based models is an advantage. The candidate should have a broad interest in the application of mathematical methods to epidemiological and public health questions. He/she should be able to communicate well with researchers from other disciplines and should be eager to learn to solve problems on the interface of theoretical epidemiology and public health. The applicant is expected to write scientific papers on the results of the project and give presentations at national and international meetings.

If you would like to hear more about the project and the possibilities, please contact Ganna Rozhnova (primary contact person) or Mirjam Kretzschmar by email or phone

Dr Ganna Rozhnova
Assistant Professor
+31 683890206
g.rozhnova@umcutrecht.nl

Prof Mirjam Kretzschmar
Professor Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
+31 887568761
m.e.e.kretzschmar@umcutrecht.nl