Epidemiologist or biostatician to Support Mpox and Ebola Outbreak Research in Africa and Europe

Department of Clinical Science – Clinical Emerging Infectious Diseases

Introduction --> see pdf

The unit of Laurens Liesenborghs specializes in multidisciplinary outbreak research, clinical epidemiology and clinical trials. They are now looking for a biostatistician or epidemiologist to join a multidisciplinary team of 3 clinicians, a biologist, an epidemiologist, and a lab specialist.

Your main responsibilities

• Analyzing and interpreting clinical and epidemiological data from ongoing cohort studies and outbreak investigations.
• Designing and conducting epidemiological and clinical studies on mpox in collaboration with international partners.
• Contributing to grant writing and the development of new research projects within the group.
• Coordinating research activities in Belgium and, with support of collaborating institutions, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other partner sites.
• Supporting outbreak investigations and field research, including occasional travel to study sites when needed.
• Leading and contributing to scientific publications, conference presentations, and research reports.
• Supervising junior researchers, students (PhD, master) and research assistants involved in the project.
• Gradually developing an independent research portfolio aligned with the group’s research priorities and global health objectives.

Required qualifications and key competencies

• You have a master’s diploma in epidemiology, biostatistics, or a related discipline.
• Having a PhD is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in clinical research, epidemiology, or infectious disease research.
• Strong data analysis skills (e.g., R, Stata, Python, or similar statistical software).
• Proven ability to publish scientific work in peer-reviewed journals.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Good oral communication skills in French, enabling effective interaction and collaboration with partners in francophone settings.
• Strong cross-cultural competencies and ability to work effectively in international research collaborations.
• Ability to work independently, as well as in multidisciplinary and international teams.
• Willingness to travel and participate in field research in low-resource settings, including sub-Saharan Africa.
• Flexible, pragmatic, and solution-oriented, with the ability to work under time pressure and manage complex or challenging situations.
• Experience with grant writing and research funding applications.