LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE & TROPICAL MEDICINE
(University of London)
Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health
Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Cancer Research UK Cancer Survival Group
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Research Assistant
We seek to recruit a talented scientist to undertake a position designed to offer
epidemiological and statistical analysis of cancer survival in England for use in
national publications, in collaboration with the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
which provides the funding for this post.
The successful applicant will be part of the Cancer Survival Group, an expanding
research group (professor, senior lecturer, three lecturers and four research
fellows, with 3 other scientists and doctoral students) under Professor Michel
Coleman and Dr Bernard Rachet at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine.
The post-holder will have a high level of personal motivation and initiative, and
will be expected to develop close collaboration with the ONS Cancer Team. S/he
will be expected to play a full role in the development of new projects within the
Cancer Survival Group, and to help develop the scientific methods to carry them
out.
This is a full-time position, available now and funded (in the first instance) until 31
March 2013. The salary will be on the Academic Pathway, Grade 5 with salary
range of £31,065 - £35,661 per annum, inclusive. You will be part of the
Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology (Head, Professor
Isabel dos Santos Silva) within the Faculty of Epidemiology and Population
Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Prospective
candidates seeking further information may wish to contact Prof. Michel Coleman
(michel.coleman@lshtm.ac.uk).
Applications should be made on-line via our website http://jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. The
reference for this post is CSG10. Online applications will be accepted by the
automated system until midnight of the closing date. Applications should include
the names and email contacts of 2 referees who can be contacted immediately if
you are shortlisted. Any queries regarding the application process may be
addressed to jobs@lshtm.ac.uk.
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is committed to being an
equal opportunities employer.
FURTHER PARTICULARS
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 nonEuropean countries. The largest growth has been in distance learning students
(>40% over 3 years), though the London-based 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. 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 five research departments.
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Department of Population Studies
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Department of Medical Statistics
Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Department of Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research
The Faculty has a teaching programme consisting of nine 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), Public Health Nutrition, Reproductive &
Sexual Health Research, Veterinary Epidemiology (run jointly with the Royal
Veterinary College), and the Distance Learning courses in Epidemiology and
Clinical Trials. The Faculty also has approximately 150 research students
studying for an MPhil, PhD or DrPH degree. The Head of Faculty is Professor
Laura Rodrigues.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology is the main
focus of research on the epidemiology of non-communicable diseases at the
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. While most of our studies have
been in the UK or other high income countries, we have a growing programme of
research on non-communicable diseases in low and middle income countries,
including India and parts of the former Soviet Union. Research interests range
from genetic susceptibility to disease, through metabolic and endocrine disease
mechanisms to personal behaviours and the population health effects of changes
in national diets and drinking behaviours. Themes include determinants of ethnic
variation in disease risk; adverse drug reactions; epidemiology of ageing; foetal
and childhood origins of adult disease; determinants of reproductive outcomes;
cardiovascular disease; growth factors and cancer risk; natural history of genital
human papillomavirus (HPV); time trends in cancer survival; non-communicable
diseases in low and middle income countries. The department has considerable
methodological strength and experience, particularly in the analysis of genetic
association studies and the conduct and analysis of large-scale longitudinal
cohort and record-linkage studies. We work closely with colleagues in other
departments and faculties and have excellent collaborative links with researchers
in other institutions around the world. Funding comes from a wide variety of
sources including the Medical Research Council, the Wellcome Trust and Cancer
Research UK. The Department head is Professor Isabel dos Santos Silva.
Cancer Research UK Cancer Survival Group
The post-holder will be part of the Cancer Research UK Cancer Survival Group
within the Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology. The
research of the Group is designed to describe, quantify and explain local,
national, international and socio-economic differences and inequalities in cancer
survival. The results help policy-makers to target investment in cancer services to
improve survival and reduce inequalities. The Group has shown that socioeconomic inequalities in survival in England were increasing up to 2001, a finding
that has had important policy implications. Geographic differences in survival are
being explored within the UK and, in the EUROCARE and CONCORD projects, in
collaboration with cancer registries and research institutions in more than 30
countries worldwide.
The Group has a close collaboration with the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
on a range of projects, analysing and publishing trends and socio-demographic
patterns in cancer survival for all the major cancers by age, sex and socioeconomic status in England. Current projects include examination of cancer
incidence, mortality and survival trends among South Asians, the largest ethnic
minority in Britain.
Geographic differences in survival are being explored within the UK and
internationally, in the EUROCARE and CONCORD projects.
The Group is actively involved in methodological innovation in survival analysis,
and participates in the European network MESURE. Statistical software and other
tools for cancer survival analysis developed by the Group have become widely
used, and are freely accessible via its webpages. More information about the
Cancer Survival Group and its research can be found at:
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/eph/ncde/cancersurvival/
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post:
Research Assistant (Full –time)
Responsible to:
Prof Michel Coleman and Dr Bernard Rachet
Grade:
Academic Pathway AP5 – Research Assistant
This post has been designed to offer epidemiological and statistical analysis of
cancer survival in England for use in national publications, in collaboration with
the Office for National Statistics (ONS) which provides the funding for this post.
The successful applicant will be part of the Cancer Survival Group, an expanding
research group (professor, senior lecturer, three lecturers and four research
fellows, with 3 other scientists and doctoral students) under Professor Michel
Coleman and Dr Bernard Rachet at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine.
The post-holder will have a high level of personal motivation and initiative, and
will be expected to develop close collaboration with the ONS Cancer Team. S/he
will be expected to play a full role in the development of new projects within the
Cancer Survival Group, and to help develop the scientific methods to carry them
out.
The Cancer Research UK Cancer Survival Group is part of the Department of
Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology (Head, Professor Isabel Santos)
within the Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health at the London School of
Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (Head, Professor Laura Rodrigues).
Under the supervision of Professor Coleman and Dr Rachet, and in collaboration
with other epidemiologists and statisticians working in the Cancer Research UK
Cancer Survival Group and at ONS, the post-holder will be expected to:

Carry out cancer survival analyses and publish trends and socio-demographic
patterns in cancer survival for all the common cancers in England by age, sex,
geographic region and socio-economic (deprivation) status, by using the latest
techniques as these evolve.

Be the first point of contact for information on the portfolio of projects on which
the Cancer Survival Group and ONS collaborate.

Develop a close working relationship with ONS and ensure the efficient
interchange of data and results, including coordinating and leading monthly
meetings.

Contribute to the development of new research ideas.

Update custom statistical programs already developed by the Cancer Survival
Group to integrate additional features.

Update national life tables for inter-censal years and when new census data
become available.

Prepare and clean the cancer data for analysis, and document the procedures
used.

Assist in training the Cancer Team at ONS in the use of new cancer survival
analysis methods.

Contribute to preparing publications, reports and slide presentations.

Seek opportunities to make oral or poster presentations at scientific
conferences, and assist colleagues with such presentations as appropriate.

Participate actively in meetings of the Cancer Survival Group.

Attend business and scientific meetings of the Department of NonCommunicable Disease Epidemiology and other meetings, seminars,
workshops etc, as necessary

Contribute to the Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health’s teaching
programme.
Person Specification
Essential attributes

A Masters degree in epidemiology, statistics, public health or demography.

An excellent understanding of the concepts of epidemiology, particularly
survival and mortality.

Ability to draft clear and concise reports and to collaborate and communicate
effectively with colleagues.

Proven experience of importing and cleaning large datasets, of evaluating
data quality and of resolving problems with data suppliers.

Proven ability to work as a collaborative team member, to work effectively
under pressure and to meet tight project deadlines.

High standard of computer literacy in word-processing, spreadsheets and
presentation software.
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Ability to present scientific material clearly to a professional audience.
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Ability and motivation to work autonomously with minimal supervision.
Desirable attributes

Research experience in epidemiology or biostatistics.

Experience in the creation and use of life tables
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Experience in programming in STATA or specialised software.
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Experience in developing statistical models to analyse complex data sets.
SALARY AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT
The appointment is available now and is currently funded until 31 March 2013 (in
the first instance). The appointment will be made on LSHTM’s Academic Pathway
scale, £31,065 - £35,661 per annum, inclusive. The post will be subject to the
LSHTM terms and conditions of service. Membership of the USS Pension
Scheme is available.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should be made on-line at our website at http://jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. The
reference for this post is CSG10. Online applications will be accepted by the
automated system until midnight on of the closing date. Applications should
include the names and email contacts of 2 referees who can be contacted
immediately if shortlisted. Any queries regarding the application process may be
addressed to jobs@lshtm.ac.uk.
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.
Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview
date it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is committed to being an
equal opportunities employer.