Project description
Intensive longitudinal data (ILD) is a growing statistical research area. ILD are obtained by recording information in real time and real-settings via smartphone or wearable devices, for example. It is imperative to provide information about the amount of measurement error present when using these devices. Statistical methods to do so still lag behind the technological innovations.

During the PhD project, the candidate will develop an encompassing statistical framework using state-space models to assess the reliability for ILD. The development of this new framework involves mathematical derivations, simulating data to study the model properties and developing a user-friendly software package to fit the models.

Work environment
This project is part of a grant recently awarded within the Global PhD partnership program between KU Leuven and Maastricht University. This is a shared position between KU Leuven and Maastricht University. The PhD student will collaborate with other researchers internationally, will publish in peer reviewed journals and present the work on international conferences. A successful defense of the PhD will result in a joint or double diploma by the KU Leuven and Maastricht University.

Over the course of the four years, the PhD student will spend half of the time at the KU Leuven and half of the time at Maastricht University. The two universities are only a stone’s throw from each other.

At the KU Leuven, you will be part of the Research Group of Quantitative Psychology and Individual Differences (https://ppw.kuleuven.be/okp/about_us/). In Maastricht University, your place of employment will be the Department of Methodology and Statistics of the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) of the Maastricht University Medical Center (https://stat.mumc.maastrichtuniversity.nl/).

We are looking for highly motivated and enthusiastic candidates, with a degree in in Mathematics, Statistics, Psychometrics, (quantitative) Psychology, Biometrics or similar, excellent mathematical and computer programming skills (experience with Bayesian software is considered a plus), good communication and organizational skills, excellent level of English. Candidates should be willing to work in an interuniversity team of researchers, and should be open to an interdisciplinary perspective on their research topic.

The intended start date for this position is October 1, 2022. The candidate will receive a position for 4 years, starting with a 1 year appointment.

Your salary would be € 2.443,- gross per month in the first year up to € 3.122,- gross per month in the fourth year according to the PhD-candidate salary scale. An 8% holiday and an 8.3% year-end allowance is also provided. Each year an evaluation will take place.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 22,000 students and about 5,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.
For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl