Postdoc position - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

Postdoctoral position in Infectious Disease epidemiology

The Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, is looking for a research associate (postdoc) on a 2-year position. The associate will be active in a research project aiming at elucidating the risk of acute complications and identifying vulnerable individuals at risk of acute complications following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and Influenza.

Project

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Puumala virus (PUUV) and Influenza viruses all infect via inhalation of the virus, either by virus-contaminated droplets; virus-contaminated bank vole excreta or from aerosol. PUUV is an orthohantavirus, and endemic in Northern Sweden and Eurasia. PUUV causes a mild viral hemorrhagic fever and the disease is characterized by fever, renal dysfunction, and capillary leakage with increased risk for thromboembolic complications. We previously showed that HFRS is a risk factor for acute cardiovascular events and venous thrombosis (Connolly-Andersen et al., Circulation 2014; Clin Infect Dis 2018). However, the risk for other acute complications is currently unknown.

COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and is a newly emerging pandemic disease and has had a massive impact on population morbidity and fatality, economy and general day-to-day living. As for PUUV-caused HFRS, there is no vaccine (yet) and currently no validated or approved clinical treatment. COVID-19, is characterized by a range of symptoms ranging from fever, cough to acute respiratory failure, ARDS, with onset of infiltrates bilaterally leading to hypoxia and pulmonary edema.  Some known risk factors for COVID-19 related complications include older age, underlying chronic diseases (cardiovascular, lung, hypertension, diabetes, obesity). In addition, it seems that COVID-19 patients are at increased risk of thrombosis.

Influenza viruses cause a respiratory disease ranging from mild symptoms limited to the upper respiratory tract to severe, even fatal, pneumonia in the lower respiratory tract that is either caused by the virus itself or a secondary bacterial infection. Though the disease is characterized by respiratory symptoms, other organs can be involved such as the central nervous system, eyes, and the kidneys. One of the most potentially fatal complications during Influenza is ARDS. Influenza is also a risk factor for AMI, stroke and venous thromboembolism; and influenza vaccination lowers all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death. However, the actual risk for ARDS, kidney failure and bleeding following influenza is unknown.

In this project, we will use data from Swedish National Registers and statistical and epidemiological methods to quantify the risk of acute complications following three virally caused diseases, and identify vulnerable patient groups based on data from all diagnosed individuals in Sweden.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for carrying out research as part of the Fors Connolly research group.

You will:

• - Identify and select relevant international classification of disease (ICD) diagnosis codes from ICD-8 to ICD-11 from registers
• - Identify and select relevant pharmaceuticals according to Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) codes from registers
• - Identify interventions according to Classification of Surgical Procedures from registers
• - Perform statistical and epidemiological analysis (e.g. self-controlled case series method, binary logistic regression, case-control studies)
• - Write scientific manuscripts to be published in international journals
• - Participate and contribute to scientific group meetings involving the groups and their collaborators.
• - Contribute as appropriate to the publication of research findings.
• - Participate in training and supervision of scientists and research students.

Selection criteria

In the first place applicants who have completed a doctoral degree no more than three years before the application deadline are considered. Though if the candidate has expertise within this area, it may be possible to employ the candidate even if the doctoral degree was completed more than three years ago.

The successful candidate should have a PhD in public health, statistics or epidemiology with focus on working with register-data and clinical diseases or pharmacology, or related disciplines.

Expertise is required within statistics and epidemiology. Previous experience with the statistical programs R, SPSS, STATA, SAS or others is a strong asset. Furthermore, experience with Swedish register data is also an asset.

Ability to independently plan experiments, execute statistical and epidemiological analysis, and summarize results in English is a requirement.

It is expected that the candidate can conduct research in a highly independent manner. In addition, the candidate should have documented good ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment at the interface between epidemiology and medicine and to cooperate with other research groups.

Research environment

This postdoc project will be carried out in a highly interdisciplinary environment. The fellow will be active in the group of Anne-Marie Fors Connolly (née Connolly-Andersen) at the Department of Clinical Microbiology. Her group focuses on cardiovascular complications following HFRS from molecular interactions to population-based epidemiological studies. In particular, a main focus is on the contribution of endothelial cells to HFRS pathogenesis. 

Position summary

Full time position, two years – start according to agreement

Application

The application should contain:

• In one A4 page highlight your specific qualifications and motivation for the position
• Attested copy of PhD certificate 
• Curriculum Vitae include full list of publications
• Letters of recommendation and name of at least 2 reference persons.

The application is made electronically. Last day to apply is: 2020-10-07.

For questions, please contact: Anne-Marie Fors Connolly, Department of Clinical Microbiology

E-mail: anne-marie.fors.connolly@umu.se  

We welcome your application!