Industrial PhD student: Novel modeling approaches in drug development

The Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre (FCC), Mathematical Sciences at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg, and AstraZeneca, are recruiting an industrial PhD student for a collaborative project on advanced modeling methods for drug development.

Information about the project
We are looking for a highly motivated individual to join us in an exciting project working closely with the pharmaceutical industry to develop state-of-the-art modeling and simulation methodology. Modeling and simulation is a crucial part of the drug development process and extensively used to make quantitative decisions across the entire value-chain for drug projects from early drug discovery to the late phases of clinical development. Respiratory drug development (e.g., in asthma) has several specific challenges, including the need for long term clinical trials in large number of patients to detect meaningful effects on clinical outcome. In the quest for more efficient clinical drug development in respiratory diseases, novel model-based approaches and informative use of collected data in clinical trials are needed.

In this PhD project, the student will develop novel methods for analyzing frequent-sampled, home-based measurements in clinical studies. We will exploit techniques from machine learning such as probabilistic modeling, particle filters, and Markov chain methods for learning dynamical systems, as well as nonlinear mixed effects modeling and time-to-event modeling to ultimately provide new insights and knowledge about treatment effects and disease progression in respiratory patient populations. Several different aspects of model-based analysis of home-based measurements will be investigated in the proposed PhD project, where the main objective is to develop modeling methodology to support improved study designs, increased understanding of disease progression, and novel clinical endpoints.

The project will be performed in close collaboration between the Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre (supervisor Mats Jirstrand), the Department of Mathematical Sciences (supervisor Philip Gerlee) at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg, and the industrial partner AstraZeneca (supervisor Jacob Leander). The PhD student will be employed by Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre and enrolled to the graduate school in Applied Mathematics and Statistics within the Department of Mathematical Sciences. In addition, there will be opportunities for shorter or longer visits to the AstraZeneca site in Mölndal during the course of the project, which will be key to the close collaboration and exchange of ideas and knowledge.

Major responsibilities
As a PhD student you will be part of an international research environment while you expand your knowledge of the field and write your thesis. You will work together with a team of researchers and engineers with a thorough understanding of both applied mathematics and pharmaceutical applications. You are a team player with strong interest in industrial applications, but are also expected to work autonomously, to develop your own ideas and communicate results to the scientific community. The PhD programme includes 4 years of studies (research and courses) and 0.5 years of teaching duties

Qualifications
Applicants must have a strong background in the mathematical sciences. A master's degree or a 4-year bachelor's degree or an equivalent competence is required at the beginning of the employment.

Concurrent method development and implementation of algorithms is integral to the applied reseach carried out at FCC and good programming skills (e.g., Python, R, Julia, Mathematica) are therefore required.

In your application you should include all relevant work such as bachelor's or master's thesis and articles (provide an English summary if necessary) that you have authored or co-authored. Evidence of mathematical problem solving skills is essential, besides course grades.

The PhD student will be part of an international research environment, and expected to present their findings in English. Thus, good English language and presentation skills are required

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment at the Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20220640 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files.

CV: (Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. 

Application deadline: January 8, 2023

For questions, please contact:
Mats Jirstrand, Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre, mats.jirstrand@fcc.chalmers.se
Philip Gerlee, Mathematical Sciences, division of applied mathematics and statistics, gerlee@chalmers.se
Jacob Leander, Associate Director Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, jacob.leander@astrazeneca.com
Johan Tykesson, Mathematical Sciences, division of analysis and probability theory, johant@chalmers.se

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***