The project is a collaborative effort of the laboratories of Paediatrics and Neurology (Prof. Wevers, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre) and Analytical Chemistry / Chemometrics (Prof. Buydens, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen).

Complex data are currently being measured at an ever increasing rate, to the extent that the data analysis has become the rate-limiting step.

In this project, you will set up and improve data analysis strategies, using chemometrics and multivariate statistics to analyse large numbers of NMR spectra of patients with metabolic diseases. The aims of the analyses include quality control, biomarker identification and disease classification.

Requirements
You should have an MSc degree in the life sciences, chemistry, or a related discipline, with a demonstrable interest in data analysis. Candidates with a background in applied statistics and an interest in the natural sciences will also be considered.
Knowledge of NMR and metabolomics, as well as experience in Matlab or R, is a strong advantage.

Organization
The department of Analytical Chemistry / Chemometrics is part of the Research Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM). It is specialized in multivariate analysis of spectroscopic and chromatographic data. It is involved in several national and international collaboration research projects, with both academia and industry. More information about the department can be found at http://www.ru.nl/science/analyticalchemistry/

The Laboratory of Paediatrics and Neurology is a mixed function laboratory (patient care and research) of the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre. The laboratory is specialized in genetic and metabolic disease. It uses proton NMR spectroscopy of body fluids to diagnose children with metabolic disorders and applies a metabolomics strategy to find biomarkers for specific diseases and unravel their aetiological background.

Website: http://www.ru.nl/science/analyticalchemistry

Conditions of employment
Maximum employment: 1,0 fte
Maximum salary per month, based on a fulltime employment: € 2,612 gross/month
Starting with € 2,042 per month; the salary will increase to € 2,612 per month in the fourth year. PhD scale.

Additional conditions of employment
You will be appointed as a PhD student for a period of four years. Your performance will be evaluated after 18 months. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years.

Additional Information
Prof. Lutgarde Buydens
Telephone: +31 24 3653192
E-mail: l.buydens@science.ru.nl

Application
You can apply for the job (mention the vacancy number 62.04.09) before 31 May 2009 by sending your application -preferably by email- to:

RU Nijmegen, FNWI, P&O, mrs. A. Schroder
P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, NL
Telephone: +31 24 3652764
E-mail: pz@science.ru.nl