4-year PhD: Developing Mendelian randomization methods for late onset, time-to-event data

Background:
Mendelian randomization (MR) uses genetic data to probe questions of causality in epidemiology within the instrumental variable (IV) framework. Statistical methods for MR analysis are well developed and understood for continuous and, to at least some degree, for binary outcomes. Developing methods for time-to-event outcomes, such as all-cause mortality, has proved much more challenging.

The aim of this PhD will be to develop MR methods that are tailored to time-to-event data, by accounting for biases that accrue due to censoring over the life course. Additive hazard and frailty models will be investigated, as well as rank-preserving structural failure time models developed for IV analysis of clinical trials.

The PhD will also develop methods to investigate whether non-linear associations observed between health exposures and survival outcomes are: truly non-linear; a product of confounding; or a sign of invalid instruments. Local Average Treatment Effect and pleiotropy robust methods will be investigated for this purpose. Methods will be motivated by, and applied to, cohort data from the UK Biobank study and ALSPAC.
Candidate requirements:
Applications are welcome from high performing individuals who have, or are expected to obtain, a 2.i or higher degree (or equivalent) in Mathematics, Statistics or related quantitative discipline. Possession of a relevant research Masters degree or experience within medical research will be an advantage.
Funding:
This studentship is funded by the Medical Research Council. The studentship consists of full UK/EU tuition fees, as well as a Doctoral Stipend of £14,553p.a. for 2017/18 (updated each year) as well as £2000 per year for research costs and training. Only applicants from the EU and UK are eligible for this programme.

The PhD student will be supervised by Dr Jack Bowden and based within the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) at the University of Bristol, starting in October 2018. The IEU is an exciting, multi-disciplinary research environment that brings together world leading epidemiologists, statisticians, bioinformaticians, molecular biologists and psychologists to understand causal mechanisms of disease.
How to apply:
Please ensure you attach the relevant documents listed here (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/media/postgraduate/admissions-statements/2018/populationhealthsciencespgr.pdf) to your application. Please make an online application for this project at http://www.bris.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply choosing 'Faculty of Health Sciences/PhD in Population Health Sciences' as the programme.

Under ‘Funding’, identify MRC as your fee payer. Under Research Details, provide the names of project supervisor. Include these details (MRC and supervisor name) at the top of your Personal Statement.

Please provide a current CV, covering letter, description of how you would approach the project including background, aims, methods (no more than 2 pages), certified copies of degree certificates and transcripts, and two academic references.

Closing date will be 5pm, 21 March 2018.

Interviews will be held on 9th April 2018.

For further information on the project and how to apply please email Jack Bowden ([Email Address Removed])