Researcher - Biostatistics & Data Analysis

Researcher - Biostatistics & Data Analysis

Job ID: 30484

ABOUT GHENT UNIVERSITY

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15,000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities. With its 11 faculties and more than 80 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

The Orthopaedics and Traumatology Research Group, in close collaboration with the Bone and Soft Tissue Infection Unit (BOSTIU) at Ghent University Hospital (UZ Gent), is conducting a prospective diagnostic accuracy study on chronic periprosthetic joint infections (PJI).

This research project compares various diagnostic methods, including conventional culture, targeted amplicon-NGS, synovial cell counting, and histopathology, while adhering to international diagnostic frameworks (EBJIS 2021, ICM 2018/2025).

Data collection has been completed, and the project is now in the analysis and publication phase. To help shape this phase, we are seeking a motivated scientific staff member to join our research team.

YOUR TASKS

• Manage, validate and clean the research database (REDCap) and convert it into analysis-ready datasets, in consultation with the data manager and clinical biologists.
• Perform diagnostic accuracy analyses in R (sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, ROC analysis, agreement statistics) with 95% confidence intervals, reported according to STARD 2015.
• Implement classification algorithms for the diagnostic frameworks and document the code reproducibly.
• Prepare publication-ready tables and figures and contribute to the writing of scientific manuscripts.
• Work closely with a multidisciplinary team of orthopaedic surgeons, microbiologists, clinical biologists, an infectious diseases physician, a pathologist and the Biostatistics Unit.
• Comply strictly with data protection regulations (GDPR), working exclusively with pseudonymised data.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You hold a Master’s degree in biomedical sciences, (bioscience) engineering, statistics or data science, bioinformatics, epidemiology, pharmaceutical sciences or a related field, obtained no later than the start date.
• Demonstrable experience with R (or an equivalent statistical programming environment) and a sound knowledge of statistics.
• Accurate and structured: you handle data carefully and document your work.
• Good written and spoken English; fluency in Dutch is an asset.
• Able to work independently within a tight timeframe while collaborating constructively in a team.
• Assets: experience with REDCap or clinical databases; diagnostic study methodology (STARD, ROC and agreement statistics); medical microbiology or infectious diseases; scientific writing.
• Recent graduates are encouraged to apply.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• We offer you a contract of definite duration for a period of 6 months
• Your contract will start on 1/01/2027 at the earliest.
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits .

As Ghent University maintains an equal opportunities and diversity policy, everyone is encouraged to apply for this position.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Dr Joke Schuermans ( joke.schuermans@uzgent.be, +32 9 332 57 18). Important: do NOT send your application by email, but apply online. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview in the week of 23 November 2026, possibly including a short practical assignment.

Do you have a question regarding the online application process? Please read the FAQ or contact us via selecties@ugent.be.