Biostatistician

Job Purpose

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the largest UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) registered clinical trials units in the country. The Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit (CRCTU) is based in the Institute of Cancer & Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham and specialises in running cancer clinical trials. The Unit has an extensive portfolio of phase I, II and III clinical trials in adults and children covering a wide range of disease sites.

The Unit employs a multidisciplinary team of over 170 staff including statisticians, systematic reviewers, trial management staff, research nurses, monitors, programmers, administrators and IT staff. The CRCTU receives substantial core funding from Cancer Research UK and additional funding from other charities, government and pharmaceutical companies.

The post holder will provide statistical expertise and advice on the design, conduct and analysis of Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit’s (CRCTU) clinical trials and allied research. Biostatisticians play a central role in the Unit, actively liaising with clinical investigators, contributing to the design and conduct of clinical trials, being responsible for interim and final analysis of clinical trial data and having a key role in the presentation and publication of results. As academic members of the University, Biostatisticians contribute to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Person Specification

• The individual suitable for this post would have some experience or specific qualifications in medical statistics and would be capable of working with minimal supervision as a statistician on trials relating to a number of the key disease areas covered by the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit within a fairly short time of appointment.
• MSc or PhD in Statistics OR a relevant higher degree with experience (at least 2 years) of working as an applied medical statistician.
• Knowledge of survival analysis and statistical modelling.
• Knowledge of statistical packages.
• Knowledge of clinical trials.
• An ability to impart statistical concepts to non-statisticians.
• An ability to work well both on own initiative and within a team.
• Evidence of good inter-personal, verbal and written communication skills.
• A flexible attitude and an ability to organise work to meet deadlines while handling more than one task at a time.