Senior Statistician at South African Medical Research Council

Job Description

• The Biostatistics Research Unit (BRU) of the SAMRC is an active research entity that collaborates with health and medical researchers from the SAMRC, universities, other research institutions and international agencies. Statisticians in the Biostatistics Research Unit provide statistical support on design, analysis and reporting, to collaborative national and international projects in the SAMRC research portfolio. These range from surveys, epidemiological studies to randomised controlled and clinical trials.  Statistical methodological development as well as the training and supervision of researchers and junior staff, is also done. The SAMRC BRU offers a challenging biostatistics career in health and clinical research within a dynamic environment. The Unit has a number of methodological research programs such as longitudinal data analysis, innovation in the design and analysis of clinical trials, and spatial data analysis.  The successful candidate will have an individual research portfolio and contribute to these programs.

Responsibilities:

• Research- Peer reviewed journal articles or book chapters, technical report.
• Working on and coordinating all statistical aspects of one or more projects as study statistician.
• Evidence of use of more complex data analysis techniques.
• Write-up study design, sample size and analysis plan of proposals.
• Oversee all aspects of the study such as design, data management, analysis and interpretation of results.
• Transform data into formats that are clean and suitable for analysis.
• Carry out independent computing in a timeous manner.
• Conduct complex statistical analysis.
• Attendance of advanced methodological training.
• Poster or oral presentations at local or international conferences or at external meetings where own research is presented by the statistician.
• Statistical support of Masters or PhD students.
• Assist in teaching a Biostatistics course.
• Develop course material
• Contribution to management of the Unit or SAMRC through meeting organisation or participation in committees, reviews and organisational processes
• Assistance with Unit reporting processes, organising academic days, journal clubs, etc

Duration of the contract:

• Permanent

Remuneration:

•  R 933 300 per annum (cost-to-company)

Job Requirements
Core Requirements:

• Hold a MSc in statistics, biostatistics, or biometry
• At least 5 years’ experience in a clinical and health research environment
• Evidence of strong academic background and peer-reviewed ISI publication record, with at least 7 ISI publications and at least 4 presentations at conferences or meetings
• Registered for a PhD, proposal written and accepted by the University
• At least 5 hours of teaching/training

Advantageous:

• Experience working with epidemiology and public health research groups and centers.

Closing Date:

2 January 2026