netherlands cancer institute vacatures

The Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology is a new nationwide research hospital concentrating healthcare, research, and education with regard to cancer in children and is located in the Utrecht Science Park. The institute aims to provide the highest level of care for all children with cancer and has the ambition to cure all children of cancer with optimal quality of life. The center brings together the best possible care and scientific research, creating a unique interdisciplinary institute for pediatric oncology in Europe.

Research project
Socioeconomic status (SES), the relative position of an individual or family in society, is associated with both prevalence and survival of cancer in adults. However, the relationship between SES and childhood cancer (with the exception of leukemia) has been less frequently investigated with inconsistent results. Differences in prevalence of childhood cancer between SES levels may provide clues to environmental or lifestyle factors that play a role in the etiology. In addition, SES might also influence survival of childhood cancer. Results from previous studies indicate that the association between SES and survival of childhood cancer depends on the type of cancer, the methods used to estimated SES, and socio-cultural aspects. So far, the influence of clinical factors such as disease stage and therapy on the association has hardly been investigated in Europe and there are few studies that also studied the effect of SES over time.

In this project, we want to investigate the association between SES and the incidence and survival of childhood cancer in the Netherlands over time. Where possible, we want to determine estimates separately for (sub)types of childhood cancer. For the incidence and survival analyses, we take into account mortality rates of the SES groups in the background population. In addition, we want to determine whether disease stage and therapy influence the potential effect of SES on the chance of survival. To achieve this, population-based data on all childhood tumors from 2010-2022 are available from the Netherlands Cancer Registration (NKR), together with postcode-based information on SES.

About the Karim-Kos group
The research group “Childhood Cancer Epidemiology and Outcomes”, led by Dr. ir. Henrike Karim-Kos, focusses on analyzing childhood cancer statistics. By looking at these statistics, we aim to expand our knowledge about the incidence of childhood cancer, its spread in the population, possible causes, and prognosis.

Your position
As an intern, you get the chance to work on this project under supervision. The project is in its starting phase and offers enough room for your own input and ideas. You will write a plan for the data analysis and perform this in R or possibly in STATA. At the end of your internship, you have written a scientific report in which you answer your research questions. The internship takes at least 4 – 6 months.

Your profile
We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated MSc student in Epidemiology, Biomedical sciences, Medicine, Health Sciences, or related study programs. You have expertise in data analysis and analytical epidemiology, or are willing to learn more

This is a full-time internship, requiring a minimum availability of four days per week.

We are looking for a motivated student who is available to start at short notice.

This vacancy will remain open until a suitable candidate has been selected.

Acquisitie naar aanleiding van deze vacature wordt niet op prijs gesteld.