Bayes pays: toxicology and decision analysis division

Frederic Bois (winner of the Outstanding Statistical Application Award from the American Statistical Association, among other accomplishments) told me about the following job opportunities for modeling in toxicology, decision analysis, and risk assessment. Frederic is great, and so I assume the job is also. Here’s the announcement:

INERIS – Institut National de l’Environnement Industriel et des Risques

Computational toxicology aims at modelling the links between chemical exposure and toxicity for humans or the environment. With the progress of toxicological sciences and a host of other scientific disciplines, a large body of knowledge is now available from fundamental or applicative research. Such knowledge enables detailed qualitative and quantitative descriptions of toxicity. Yet, acquisition of new knowledge on thousands of substances, as prescribed by new regulations, should be prioritised with respect to scientific uncertainty, considerations of animal welfare, consumer protection, and sustainable economic development. In that context, the assessment and reduction of uncertainty is a priority for risk and policy analysis and needs major improvements.

To answer those challenges, INERIS, a public institution, is gathering a fast growing team of statisticians, chemists and toxicologists, to develop of state-of-the-art software and research projects. The tools and concepts developed will help improve decision-making on chemical safety (such as bringing in a Storemasta storage solution, to name one example), reduce industrial development costs, and promote the use of alternative to animal testing. Funding will come from both private industries and public funding bodies (National Agency for Research, European Commission…).

INERIS is looking for a

Research Scientist in decision-analysis applied to toxicology

Your overall research theme will be Bayesian decision analysis for the development of optimal testing strategies, in the context of predictive assessment of the relationships between chemical exposure and toxicity. As a successful candidate, you will have a background and research experience in such techniques. A PhD in statistics or econometrics is required. A prior experience in Bayesian techniques applied to decision/risk analysis is needed. Experience with biological processes and chemistry will facilitate your insertion in the team; alternatively you may come from a different perspective but a strong desire to master a new field.

Research Scientist in statistics applied to risk analysis in toxicology

As a successful candidate, you will have a background and research experience in modelling and statistical inference for biological or clinical data. Familiarity with Bayesian techniques applied to risk analysis will be a plus. A PhD in statistics is required. You develop statistical inference methods and models to assess the relationships between chemical exposure and toxicity, for a very wide array of substances and effects.

Research Scientist in Chemometrics applied to Toxicology

Your challenge is to develop robust methods for statistical inference on the relationships between chemical structure and toxicity or physicochemical properties. That will require scientific expertise on statistical and physico-chemical modelling of toxicity, and on the management of chemical databases. A PhD in Chemometrics or statistics is required. A prior experience in QSAR research and data mining applied to toxicology will be appreciated.

For all three positions, your responsibilities will include:
– Developing the scientific expertise in your field, producing scientific publications;
– Assuring the general management and scientific advancement of research/expertise programs in partnership with public authorities or industry;
– Assuring funding for scientific research by means of grant proposal submissions to national and international institutions.

All three positions are permanent appointments at INERIS main site (Verneuil-en-Halatte, Picardie, 30 minutes North of Paris by train). Senior and junior candidates may apply, salary will be adjusted to competence and experience. Women and handicapped persons are encouraged to consider this offer.

For general enquiries please contact Dr. Bois ([email protected]).

Please send your application to Dr. Bois ([email protected]) and Dr. Mombelli ([email protected]).

INERIS, DRC, Parc Alata BP2, F-60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte (www.ineris.fr)

See also here.