Postdoc: 'The genetic architecture of internalizing and functional disorders'

Internalizing and functional disorders are highly comorbid and run strongly in families, but common genetic and environmental pathways are understudied. Our project investigates common and unique genetic and environmental risk factors for these disorders in data from 167.729 participants of Lifelines, a longitudinal multigenerational population-based cohort in the Netherlands. In our multidisciplinary and international team, we have a position (1 year, 0,8 fte) available for a Postdoctoral Fellow with a strong background in statistical molecular genetics. This multidisciplinary project combines knowledge and methods from molecular genetics, epidemiology, and psychiatry to investigate causal mechanisms of internalizing and functional disorders.

Job description
- You will perform research on this project, a.o. by performing epidemiological and complex genetic analyses.
- You will report your results in high quality scientific journals.
- You will work in an enthusiastic multidisciplinary research team including experts from relevant different backgrounds (e.g. genetics, psychiatry, epidemiology).
- You will co-supervise predoctoral and doctoral students.

This project is for a motivated candidate holding a PhD degree in behavioral genetics, statistical genetics, or biostatistics (or equivalent disciplines) with:
- expertise in human genetics demonstrated by multiple scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals, and a PhD degree;
- performing state-of-the-art molecular genetics analyses including, but not limited to, GWAS and polygenic risk scores and following the development of new computational methods;
- affinity with epidemiological analyses and data cleaning/quality control of both phenotypic and genetic data;
- experience with working with high dimensional data in different programming languages such as R and Python on a high performance cluster;
- capacity to program and document in a Linux computing environment;
- good communicative and organizational skills;
- appreciating the challenge to investigate the genetic architecture of psychiatric and functional disorders, including the interplay of genes and environment;
- excellent ability to express yourself in oral and written English;
- capacities as a team player who can also work independently and has perseverance.

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. The UMCG can provide you with the vaccination, should it be required for your position.
In case of specific professions a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ is required.

We offer a postdoctoral position for a period of one year (28,8 hours a week / 0,8 fte). This project is a collaboration with Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics and funding is available for short-term research visits to this institute.
Your salary will be a maximum of € 5.088 gross per month (scale 10), depending on your qualifications and relevant experience, based on a full-time appointment.
In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

This vacancy for a talented Postdoctoral Fellow is available at the Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion regulation (ICPE) of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). The ICPE performs high-quality research on common mental disorders at the crossroads of various disciplines, and offers attractive career perspectives for motivated, gifted Postdoctoral Fellows who are driven by curiosity and have a strong interest in multidisciplinary research.
The ICPE is part of the University Center of Psychiatry (UCP) of the UMCG. The UCP offers state of the art and innovative treatments to psychiatric patients, and has competitive research programs. The UCP includes about 450 employees who work in psychiatric health care, research, or both. The UCP offers excellent training for psychiatrists, psychologists, and other disciplines.

Dr. Hanna van Loo, h.van.loo@umcg.nl, telefoonnummer: (050) 361 0930