LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE & TROPICAL MEDICINE
FACULTY OF EPIDEMIOLOGY & POPULATION HEALTH
CHAIR/READERSHIP IN MATERNAL, REPRODUCTIVE AND CHILD
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Research in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health is a major strength at the
LSHTM and is coordinated via the MARCH Centre for maternal, reproductive and child
health. We are seeking an outstanding individual to lead the MARCH Centre and to
conduct research of the highest quality in one or more of the areas of reproductive,
maternal, newborn or child epidemiology.
As MARCH director, the appointee will provide strategic leadership, develop and extend
our thriving research programme, maximize and integrate the School’s diverse
intellectual resources in research and training, and increase our visibility in the field. The
appointee will also develop, obtain funds for and publish their own research.
THE SCHOOL
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is one of Europe’s leading schools
of Public Health and a leading postgraduate institution worldwide for research and
postgraduate education in global health.
Part of the University of London, the London School is the largest institution of its kind in
Europe with a remarkable depth and breadth of expertise encompassing many
disciplines. The School was ranked one of the top 3 research institutions in the country
in the Times Higher Education’s 'table of excellence', which is based on the 2008
Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). 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 almost 4000 students
from 100+ countries following 22 taught masters courses delivered either in London
(~650) or through distance learning (~2700), and undertaking research degree training
(~400). Over 40% of these students are from non-European countries. The largest
growth has been in distance learning students (>40% over 3 years), though the Londonbased student population (where accommodation limits growth) is at its highest level
ever. Alumni are working in more than 180 countries. The School has about 1500 staff
drawn from over 60 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.
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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.
The commitment of staff to methodological rigour, innovative thinking and policy
relevance will ensure that the School continues to occupy a leadership position in
national and global health, adapting quickly to new challenges and opportunities.
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.
THE FACULTY
The Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health (EPH) houses a large group of
epidemiologists, demographers, statisticians and nutritionists working on issues of major
public health importance in the UK and globally. EPH has approximately 330 staff
members organised into four research departments.
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Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Department of Medical Statistics
Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology
Department of Population Health
EPH research on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health problems mostly
takes place within the Departments of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (where the
Maternal and Neonatal group is based), of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology
(mostly reproductive epidemiology) and Department of Population Health (mostly child
and reproductive health, and nutrition).
The faculty has a teaching programme consisting of ten MSc courses: Epidemiology,
Demography and Health, Medical Statistics, Public Health in Developing Countries (run
jointly with the Faculties of Infectious & Tropical Diseases and Public Health & Policy),
Nutrition for Global Health, Reproductive & Sexual Health Research, Veterinary
Epidemiology (run jointly with the Royal Veterinary College), Global Mental Health (run
jointly with Kings College London - Institute of Psychiatry) and the Distance Learning
courses in Epidemiology and Clinical Trials. The Faculty also has approximately 149
research students studying for an MPhil, PhD or DrPH degree. The Dean of Faculty is
Professor Laura Rodrigues.
THE MARCH CENTRE
Reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health problems are major contributors to illhealth worldwide, and are the focus of two of the eight Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs 4&5). Research in this area is a major strength within the three faculties
(Epidemiology & Population Health, Infectious & Tropical Diseases and Public Health &
Policy), and staff and students involved in such work represent one of the largest and
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most productive research groups in the world. We conduct studies in low, middle and
high income countries and currently have over 80 multidisciplinary research studies which
cover themes including: family planning, sexual health, infertility, growth and development
during pregnancy, maternal morbidity, newborn health, nutrition, health systems and
treatment for infectious disease in pregnancy and early life.
In 2009, the Centre in Maternal, Reproductive and Child Health Research (MARCH)
(http://march.lshtm.ac.uk/) was created across the 3 faculties of LSHTM to formalise the
many research relationships within the School and to improve the visibility of the
School’s collective expertise and knowledge externally. Since then over 160 staff and
research degree students have joined MARCH, over 17 million pounds funding was
obtained in grants, and numerous events and activities have been held. Researchers
collaborate widely both within and outside the UK, and have been involved in producing
several of the case studies for the REF assessment. Projects and publications are very
well-regarded and recognised as representing cutting-edge research in the area.
MARCH is well represented in national and international funding and advisory
committees.
The LSHTM has a strategy to focus investment on areas critical to the School’s mission
which involve cross-cutting collaborations across faculties and departments to add new
depth and breadth to School Centres, research interest groups, and partnerships.
Maternal, reproductive and child health is one of six areas prioritised for greater
strengthening. Earlier this year, MARCH was selected as one of four Centres to receive
additional LSHTM resources. One of the requirements for the enhanced Centre status is
a Director who must be able to devote substantial amounts of time and energy to the
Centre.
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THE POST
Background
The post could be held in either of the Departments of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
(IDE), Non Communicable Disease Epidemiology (NCDE) or Population Health (PH)
depending on the appointee’s research area of interest. Extensive collaboration with
members of staff in other Faculties is expected, particularly in the role of MARCH Centre
Director. The candidate will take a leading role in a MARCH research area, and will also
lead the MARCH Centre.
Job Description
The specific roles of the post are:
Research
 To conduct internationally recognized research in at least one key area of
reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health epidemiology
 To secure funding to support this work
 To publish in high impact journals
 To enhance research impact by active involvement in conferences, workshops
seminars and working the media, funders and policy makers
MARCH Centre
To direct the School-wide MARCH Centre and increase the external profile of School
research in the area by:
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Promoting the development at LSHTM of innovative, collaborative and multidisciplinary research programmes
Coordinating responses to large calls for research funding in maternal,
reproductive and child health and strengthening applications i
Supporting communication networks and providing a coordinating function
among LSHTM researchers
Building strategic research partnerships elsewhere in the UK and overseas
Facilitating the exchange of information and the creation of collaborations among
faculty and students working in reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health
science at LSHTM.
Teaching
 To facilitate teaching and training initiatives
 To expand training on reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health targeted
to students both inside and outside LSHTM.
 To teach on our postgraduate teaching programme, including supervision of PhD
and MSc students
Citizenship
 To contribute to general activities of the Department, Faculty and School that
help to promote the mission of the School
 To contribute to the management of the Department and Faculty
 To contribute to international research through external committee membership
and other appropriate external activities.
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Person Specification
Essential
 Established international reputation in research in one of the areas of
reproductive, maternal, newborn and child epidemiology, including substantive
high quality publications in peer-reviewed journals
 Record of raising substantial research funds
 Evidence of a capacity to work collaboratively with other researchers and to
provide constructive intellectual leadership, including across disciplines
 High level of communication skills and competence in public relations
 Ability to lead and manage multi-disciplinary scientific groups
 Experience of post-graduate teaching or research supervision
Desirable
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Research in more than one area of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child
health
PhD
Substantial research experience in a resource-poor setting
SALARY AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The post is funded by the School on a permanent contract and is available immediately.
Annual leave entitlement is 30 working days per year. In addition to this there are 6
fixed-date "Director's Days". Membership of the USS Pension Scheme is also available.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should be made on-line via our website at jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. The reference
for this post is MARCH. Online applications will be accepted by the automated system
until midnight of the closing date. Any queries regarding the application process may be
addressed to jobs@lshtm.ac.uk.
Short listed candidates will be invited to give a seminar at the School.
The supporting statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience and
training meet each of the selection criteria. Please provide one or more paragraphs
addressing each criterion. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection
process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will
not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as “Please see attached CV”
will not be considered acceptable. Applications should include the names and email
contacts of 3 referees who can be contacted immediately if short-listed
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is committed to being an equal
opportunities employer
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