PhD in Biostatistics (Basel, 3 years) (m/f/d)

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The Position

A healthier future. It's what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That's what makes us Roche.

This role is based in the Product Development Data Sciences department which is dedicated to providing world-class trial designs as well as statistical insights both from clinical trial and real-world data. We partner closely with experts from different functions within our company, academics, and Health Authorities to innovate and bring more safe and effective drugs to patients faster and at a lower cost to society. This role is part of our Biostatistics platform within Data Sciences.

The Opportunity:

As a PhD student in Biostatistics, you will work as part of the INVENTS project (https://invents-he.eu/), a collaborative initiative focused on developing innovative trial designs as well as models and simulations to support clinical development in rare diseases and paediatric indications.

Your time will be split between working at Roche in Basel and participating in the PhD program at one of the universities participating in INVENTS. The majority of time you are present on site in Basel, but you also participate in all aspects of the PhD program at the partner university. The choice of partner university and supervisor will be a discussion between you and Roche. You will be a full member of Roche Data Sciences and can participate in our seminars, trainings, and social events. You will also gain some experience in the study statistician role at Roche.

• This role is limited to 3 years plus a potential extension of 1 year. During this time you should submit your PhD thesis.

• Your thesis will propose innovative clinical trial designs utilising modelling & simulation techniques. Leveraging longitudinal data on intermediate endpoints available at interim analysis, your work will aim to inform or anticipate the final study outcome. You can incorporate historical or external data to enhance our understanding of the correlation between intermediate endpoints and the final clinical outcome. To achieve this, a Bayesian framework will be considered for your research.

• You will compare the statistical properties of the resulting trial designs with those of conventional trial designs. This analysis will contribute to the advancement of trial methodology and provide valuable insights for future clinical development.

• To further validate the newly developed methodology, you will have the opportunity to apply it to clinical data collected from thousands of patients in 15 studies evaluating the effect of tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and related paediatric and adult diseases. This practical application will allow you to contribute directly to real-world healthcare challenges and make a meaningful impact.

Who you are:

• You hold a Masters's degree (or equivalent) or are actively pursuing one in (bio-)statistics or another relevant field.

• Your PhD will be conducted in partnership with one of the universities participating in INVENTS, or an accredited university in Switzerland. You must meet the formal requirements to study at the chosen host university. Potential supervisors will be part of the interview process and can advise you on this.

• You are self-motivated and able to work independently, but also seek guidance and input when needed.

• You can communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds. English (written and spoken) is required while other languages may be helpful based on the chosen university partner.

Preferred:

• A strong background in in (bio-)statistics, especially in clinical trials

• Prior experience with longitudinal data analysis using programming languages such as R or Python

• Roche offers many learning opportunities as well as social events. You should be interested in participating in these additional opportunities that go beyond your PhD.

Application:

Application needs to include a CV and a motivation letter.

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we've become one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Basel is the headquarters of the Roche Group and one of its most important centres of pharmaceutical research. Over 10,700 employees from over 100 countries come together at our Basel/Kaiseraugst site, which is one of Roche`s largest sites. Read more.

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees also benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.