Statistician

In accordance with the Trust/Research Academic Staff Agreement , this position has an approximate appointment of three years and offers a comprehensive benefits package found at Faculty & Staff Benefits and annual salary range of $58,210 to $80,050.

Location - North campus

Department summary

The Kidney Health Research Group is a non-profit research organization housed in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. The Kidney Health Research Group performs cutting edge research that improves the care and quality of life for people living with kidney disease and risk factors associated with kidney disease. The Kidney Health Research Group serves as a consulting body to many internal and external investigators. These investigators are medical, public health, epidemiological and health economic experts. As such, the Kidney Health Research Group hires experts in mathematical statistics in order to complement the expertise of the investigators. Together these collaborative endeavors produce peer-reviewed publications from their clinical research which lays the foundation underpinning clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based policy making

Position summary

This position provides statistical consulting to clinical investigators using administrative data, meta-analysis, cohort studies and randomized trials. This position performs data management, quality assurance and implements all statistical aspects, design and analysis, of the clinical research studies. Clinical research manuscripts are co-written between the statistical expert and the investigator. The statistical skills and expertise required for this position are unique and complement the expertise of the investigators. This position must demonstrate practical statistical knowledge, experience and expertise, and present evidence of applying good statistical theory and methods to practical and to communicate results

Duties:

1.  Researches high-level complex statistical aspects of the design, and modelling and non-modelling techniques

• Determines the appropriate statistical techniques/methodology to use based on literature searches and reviews

2.  Develops advanced statistical elements of grant proposals and contracts. Develops data collection protocols and research standards 

• Drafts and/or critically revises appropriate proposal sections; sample size calculation, statistical methods, study design

3.  Data management 

• Collaborates on the specifications of the design of the database and the data elements
• Merges and cleans datasets, provides input into additional data requirements and restrictions

4.  Study design

• Implements the statistical components and collaborates in the methodological components in the design of studies: randomized trials (parallel or cross-over, factorial, cluster), cohort studies, nested cohort studies, case-control, survey sampling (cross-sectional, longitudinal), etc

5.  Statistical analyses

• Designs and implements statistical procedures: generalized linear models (logistic, linear,

Poisson, negative Binomial, binomial, etc), mixed models (random effects, Generalized Estimating Equations), meta-analysis (weighted least squares, maximum likelihood, restricted maximum likelihood, meta-regression, network analysis, indirect comparisons), longitudinal analysis (repeated measures, mixed models, etc), variance imputation (i.e., single and multiple imputation), spline regression, time-to-event (non-parametric (Kaplan Meier), semi-parametric (Cox regression), parametric (log-logistic, log-normal, Weibull), non-modelling techniques, factor analysis (principle components, k-nearest neighbours, multinomial regression, etc), etc

6.  Consultations 

7.  Collaborates with on- and off-site subject-specialists and methodologists. Manuscripts, reports, presentations and grant proposals

• Primarily drafts and/or critically revises methodology and results sections for publications/presentations/grant proposal, prepares tables and graphs, critically reviews conclusions and other elements of the document with a high degree of autonomy and independence
• Summarizes, analyzes and organizes data for publication. Participates in the writing of research papers, the preparation of presentations and/or other publications
• Assists in the preparation of research grant applications and contract proposals

Minimum Qualification

• Masters or PhD in Statistics
• Potential for professional accreditation with the Statistical Society of Canada
• Strong written and oral communication skills

Preferred Qualification

• Courses in machine learning and software engineering would be an asset

Note: Online applications are accepted until midnight Mountain Standard Time of the closing date.