PhD position in Statistics (survival analysis)

Vacancy number: 16189
Job type: PhD positions
Parttime in hours minus: 38
Parttime in hours max: 38
Location: Leiden
Closing date: 3/20/26

The Mathematical Institute is looking for a PhD candidate in Statistics to join the NWO project “DynoSurv: flexible statistical models for the dynamic prediction of survival outcomes in complex longitudinal studies” under the supervision of dr. Mirko Signorelli.

What you will do

The Mathematical Institute of Leiden University invites applications for a PhD position in Statistics (survival analysis). This 4-year position is part of a research project on the development of new statistical methods for the dynamic prediction of time-to-event (survival) outcomes in complex longitudinal studies, led by dr. Mirko Signorelli and funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

As PhD student, you will become a member of the DynoSurv research team, and work on the development of new statistical methods and software for dynamic prediction together with the other team members. Specifically, this position will primarily focus on strategies to best deal with complex survival outcomes (e.g., competing risks and interval censoring) and on the development of statistical software in the R programming language.

You will also become a member of the Statistics group at the Mathematical Institute, an active and growing group of researchers in biostatistics, mathematical statistics and computational statistics.

Where you will work

The Mathematical Institute (MI) is one of the eight institutes within the Faculty of Science, and has a strong international orientation. The institute's mission is to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge by developing and applying high-quality mathematics and statistics, while offering educational math and statistics programs in a friendly and intellectually stimulating environment. We are dedicated to expanding the frontiers of mathematical knowledge and applying our expertise to solve challenges in other sciences, society, and industry.

The Faculty of Science is located in the middle of the Leiden Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s top 5 hubs for life sciences research and health innovation. The park hosts a vibrant ecosystem of 573 research institutes, startups, and global companies, fostering collaboration and cutting-edge scientific development. Just beyond the park lies the city of Leiden: a historic university town known for its charming canals, rich cultural life, and academic excellence. With Leiden University at its heart, the city offers a dynamic and international environment that blends tradition with innovation, making it an inspiring place to live and work.

For more information about the Mathematical Institute, see .

What you bring

The successful candidate is expected to have:

• A master in statistics, (applied) mathematics, machine learning or a closely-related quantitive discipline (to be completed before the start date of the PhD position);
• Knowledge of, and experience with, statistical methods and applications;
• Good or excellent programming skills in R;
• Good or excellent written and spoken English;
• Good or excellent organizational skills.

In addition, the following skills are desirable (but not required):

• A background in survival analysis (as evidenced, for example, by relevant coursework and research or thesis projects);
• Experience in the development of statistical methods and/or statistical software.

Start date of the position: April - September 2026.

What we offer

We offer a full-time appointment of initially one year. After a positive evaluation of the progress of the research, personal capabilities and compatibility, the appointment will be extended for another three years. This contract falls under the CLA of Dutch Universities.

Contract details:

• A salary between €3059 - €3881 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (PhD student);
• A holiday allowance (8% of the gross yearly salary), an end-of-year bonus (8,3% of the gross yearly salary), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP;
• Funding to travel to and attend international conferences throughout your PhD;
• Reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel;
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop.

What we find important

Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential.

Want to apply or find out more?

To apply for this vacancy, click on the application button, enter the requested information, and make sure to upload the following documents:

• Completed application form
• Curriculum vitae (max 3 pages)
• Letter of motivation (max 1.5 pages)
• Transcripts of bachelor and master’s studies (list of courses and grades to date)
• A copy of your Master’s thesis (this could be a draft, or if not available a project description)
• A copy of your Bachelor’s thesis (if relevant for the vacancy)

Applications are open until March 20, 2026. We will review applications on a rolling basis, with interim reviews on January 15, February 10 and March 2. Depending on the number of suitable candidates identified during these interim reviews, we may begin interviews before the deadline and potentially offer the position before the application period closes. Therefore, we encourage you to not wait until the final deadline, but to submit your application as soon as you think it is complete and ready.