LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE & TROPICAL MEDICINE
(University of London)
FACULTY OF INFECTIOUS AND TROPICAL DISEASES
CLINICAL RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
FURTHER PARTICULARS
1.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a world-leading centre for
research and postgraduate education in public health. Part of the University of
London, the School is the largest institution of its kind in Europe with a remarkable
depth and breadth of expertise encompassing many disciplines. The School was
recently cited as one of the top three institutions in the UK for research impact, and
one of the top five in the world for collaborative research (Leiden Rankings 2013). In
2009, the School became the first UK institution to win the Gates Award for Global
Health.
The School’s environment is a rich multicultural one: there are around 3500 students
from 100+ countries following 24 taught masters courses delivered either in London
or through distance learning, and about 400 undertaking a research degree. Over
40% of these students are from non-European countries. Alumni are working in more
than 180 countries. The School has about 1600 staff drawn from over 74
nationalities.
There are research collaborations with over 100 countries throughout the world,
utilizing our critical mass of multidisciplinary expertise which includes clinicians,
epidemiologists, statisticians, social scientists, economists, molecular biologists,
immunologists, ophthalmologists, anthropologists, virologists, pharmacologists and
nutritionists. At any one time around 100 School staff are based overseas,
particularly in Africa and Asia. We have a strong commitment to partnership with
institutions in low and middle income countries to support the development of
teaching and research capacity.
The School has expanded greatly in recent years. Its research funding now exceeds
£67M per annum, much of it from highly competitive national and international
sources. It is home to numerous multidisciplinary centres, research groups and
collaborative partnerships, in areas as diverse as malaria, tuberculosis, maternal,
adolescent, reproductive and child health, mathematical modelling, noncommunicable diseases, global mental health, epidemiology and evaluation of public
health interventions. Our research contributes to health policy and practice in the UK
and around the world.
Mission
To improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership
to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation
of knowledge into policy and practice.
Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases
The Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases encompasses all of the laboratorybased research in the School as well as that on the clinical and epidemiological
aspects of infectious and tropical diseases. It is headed by Brendan Wren, who is
Professor of Microbial Pathogenesis. The range of disciplines represented in the
faculty is very broad and inter-disciplinary research is a feature of much of our
activity. The spectrum of diseases studied is wide and there are major research
groups with a focus on malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases, vaccine development and evaluation, and vector biology and
disease control. The Faculty is organised into four large research departments
comprising: Pathogen Molecular Biology, Immunology and Infection, Disease
Control, and Clinical Research. There is close interaction between scientists in
different research teams. The Faculty has strong overseas links, which provide a
basis for field studies and international collaborations in developed and developing
countries. The teaching programme includes MSc courses, taught in-house and by
distance learning, which are modular in structure, a variety of short-courses and an
active doctoral programme (PhD and DrPH). For further information on the Faculty
see: http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/itd/index.html.
Department of Clinical Research (Head: Professor Philippe Mayaud)
The Department of Clinical Research addresses infectious diseases of major public
health importance in developing countries. Activities include trials of new therapies,
vaccines and educational interventions; the development of new diagnostic tests;
studies to elucidate the immunological and molecular correlates of pathogenesis and
protective immunity, and to identify genetic polymorphisms conferring protection or
susceptibility to infectious diseases; health services research which aims to identify
the most efficient and cost-effective way to deliver health care; and health policy
analysis. In addition to our many overseas collaborations, we have close links with
the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, in purpose-built accommodation on the main UCL
Hospital campus, five minutes walk from the School. The Wellcome Trust
Bloomsbury Centre for Global Health Research is based in the Department, and
supports Clinical Fellows at all levels, most of whom are based overseas.
The Department’s main research interests include HIV and related infections; in
particular, the interaction between HIV infection and tuberculosis, and other sexually
transmitted diseases; malaria; trachoma; leprosy; diagnostic tests for resource limited
settings; eye health; disability; and travel medicine.
Teaching
The School offers 19 one year full-time taught courses leading to the Master of
Science (MSc) degree of the University of London and the Diploma of the London
School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (DLSHTM). The Faculty of Infectious and
Tropical Diseases runs or contributes substantially to ten of these courses and the
“Immunology of Infectious Diseases” course is run from within the Department of
Immunology and Infection. In addition, the Faculty is responsible for the three-month
Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H), the Diploma in Tropical Nursing
and offers a range of specialist short courses lasting usually one or two weeks. Five
MSc courses are also offered by Distance-based Learning, including one on
Infectious Diseases.
Research Training
The School offers two doctoral training programmes. The MPhil/PhD degrees are
designed for those who wish to go on to a full time research career. The DrPH is
directed towards those who expect their careers to be more in the practice of public
health.
2.
JOB DESCRIPTION
POST:
Scientific officer in Clinical Research Laboratories
GRADE:
Scientific Officer (PSP4), part-time 0.6 FTE
DEPARTMENT:
Clinical Research
Responsible to:
Head of the Clinical Research Department
The post-holder will join the UK’s leading research groups working on two neglected
tropical diseases: trachoma, the most common infectious cause of blindness, and
leprosy. Our multidisciplinary research teams include clinicians, epidemiologists,
immunologists, geneticists and molecular biologists. We have research projects in
The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Tanzania, India and Nepal, and collaborate with
colleagues at Johns Hopkins University and the University of California at San
Francisco, among others. S/he will take part in our ongoing research projects and
will have an opportunity to contribute to publications in high impact international
scientific journals, and may have the opportunity to access further professional or
academic development through staff development courses, teaching and research.
The post holder is expected to ensure that the laboratory runs safely and efficiently
by taking responsibility for all aspects of the laboratory including equipment,
employees, research, safety, supplies, sample storage and archiving, software and
documentation.
The post holder will be expected to provide technical, organisational and managerial
support to the Clinical Research Department (CRD) laboratories, and to undertake
the following tasks:
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Processing of archived and newly collected samples from our overseas
research projects, including the performance of serological assays and
nucleic acid amplification tests
Providing laboratory support for members of Clinical Research Department
(CRD)
Supervising MSc students working in the laboratory
Ordering laboratory supplies
Shipping materials to and receiving samples from overseas collaborative
projects
Archiving and storage of samples collected in the field
Drafting SOPs of new techniques developed during the course of CRD
projects at the direction of the line manager.
Attending regular lab meetings to discuss research progress and work
planning with members of the group
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Observing School and Departmental Safety Guidelines relating to good
laboratory practices and the handling of pathogenic materials.
Contributing to the general running of the CRD by supporting research,
teaching and general laboratory administration
Undertaking other duties as may be required.
3.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
Qualifications, Skills and Knowledge:
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HNC or degree in a relevant area of biological sciences
Experience in general laboratory techniques
Experience of managing and monitoring an archive of biological samples
Familiarity with international standards for laboratory safety
Ability to record experimental details and analyse results
Ability to organise his/her own work
Ability and willingness to learn new laboratory skills
Ability to work to deadlines
Basic computer skills (Word, Excel)
A flexible approach to working hours
Experience in molecular biology techniques
Communication and interpersonal skills:
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4.
Ability to interact effectively with other members of CRD and with colleagues
using shared facilities
Ability to develop and maintain excellent relationships with all categories of staff
and students to ensure productive work together
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Willingness to assist in the training of students, visiting workers or new staff in the
laboratory
Ability to interact with international partners in a highly professional manner
SALARY AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT
The appointment will be part time, 3 days per week (21 hours), permanent and
available from 1st January 2015. Salary is on the Professional Support Pathway
(PSP4) from £27,685 to £31,493 per annum pro rata (inclusive of London Weighting).
Appointment of salary will normally be at the minimum of the grade. Annual leave
entitlement is 30 working days per year for all staff (pro-rata for part-time staff). In
addition to this there are 6 fixed-date "Director's Days".
5.
ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION
The School will comply with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, which
requires all employees to provide documentary evidence of their legal right to work in
this country prior to commencing employment. Candidates will be required to bring their
passport (and visa if applicable) to interview so that it can be copied and verified.
For support staff vacancies, it is not likely that the School would be able to make a
successful application for a Certificate of Sponsorship. For this type of post, it is
unlikely that we would be able to appoint an individual who is not currently eligible to
work in the UK.
Further information about Certificate of Sponsorship and eligibility to work in the UK,
can be found at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers/points
6.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should be made online via our website at http://jobs.lshtm.ac.uk The
reference for this post is DMSO14. Applications should also include the names and
email contacts of 2 referees who can be contacted immediately if shortlisted. Closing
date for the receipt of applications is 1st December 2014. Online applications will be
accepted by the automated system until 10pm on the closing date. Any queries
regarding the application process may be addressed to jobs@lshtm.ac.uk.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is committed to being an equal
opportunities employer