IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Research Associate (SM001-11)
School:
Public Health
Department:
MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling,
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Job Family/Level:
Academic and Research, Level B
Salary Range:
£26,860 - £34,130 per annum
Responsible to:
Dr Peter White,
Lecturer in Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial
College London, and
Head of the Modelling and Economics Unit, Health
Protection Agency
Key Working Relationships
(Internal):
Members of Department of Infectious Disease
Epidemiology
Key Working Relationships
(External):
Health Protection Agency Modelling & Economics
Unit
Location:
St Mary’s Hospital campus, Paddington
Contract:
Full time, for a fixed-term of 18 months
The Purpose of the Post
This post is an exciting opportunity to gain valuable experience at the interface of
theory and practice. The project will develop a mathematical model of TB
transmission and interventions such as screening and treatment using a variety of
approaches. The model will be applied in two contexts: (i) contributing to evaluation
of the London TB Find & Treat service for the Department of Health, and (ii)
contributing to health-economic evaluation of interventions against TB more
generally, for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Interventions need to be cost-effective, and a key component of the benefit of
screening and treatment is in averting infections. Calculation of numbers of infections
averted requires mathematical modelling.
The post-holder’s main responsibility will be development of a model of tuberculosis
transmission, and the impact of different screening and treatment algorithms. This
model will be used to better understand TB epidemiology and improve health service
interventions, in a multi-disciplinary collaboration involving Imperial College London
and the Health Protection Agency.
Infectious-disease epidemiology is a highly multi-disciplinary field, and this project will
give valuable experience in collaborating with clinicians, epidemiologists,
statisticians, health economists, and others. As mathematical modelling is becoming
increasingly used in policy-making there is increasing availability of funding for posts
and high-quality data for analysis. The post-holder will join a strong, multi-disciplinary
collaborative team, and will be well-placed to build a career as an independent
researcher in this exciting area.
The post holder will report to Dr Peter White, who has a joint appointment between
Imperial College London and the Health Protection Agency. The post holder will be
employed by Imperial College London (where Dr White is Lecturer in Infectious
Disease Epidemiology) and have an honorary appointment at the Health Protection
Agency (where Dr White is the Head of the Modelling and Economics Unit), and will
spend time in both institutions.
The MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling was founded in March 2007.
Its mission is to be an international resource and centre of excellence for research on
the epidemiological analysis and modelling of infectious diseases. The Centre builds
upon a world-leading research group in the Department of Infectious Disease
Epidemiology at Imperial College London, which hosts the UNAIDS Reference Group
on Estimates, Modelling and Projections of HIV.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is an independent body that protects the health
and well-being of everyone in England and Wales. The Agency plays a critical role in
protecting people from infectious diseases and in preventing harm when hazards
involving chemicals, poisons or radiation occur. HPA also prepares for new and
emerging threats, such as a bio-terrorist attack or virulent new strains of pathogens.
The Health Protection Agency at Colindale, North West London is an internationally
renowned centre of excellence for expertise, reference microbiology, research,
surveillance and epidemiology in relation to human health, working directly and
indirectly at the local, regional, national and international level.
The post may involve some travel for meetings in the UK (mostly London and
Manchester).
Key Responsibilities
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The development of a model of tuberculosis transmission and fitting to data.
Collaborating with statisticians, epidemiologists, health economists, clinicians
and others at collaborating institutions.
Attending meetings with study investigators and other staff involved in the
project.
Helping with dissemination of the study findings including presenting at
meetings and conferences, publication of research papers and web-based
dissemination.
Keeping up-to-date with developments in tuberculosis research and
modelling.
Contributing to the research strategy in the department for TB model
development.
Comply with relevant College policies, including Financial Regulations, Equal
Opportunities Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy, Health and Safety
Policy, Information Systems Security Policy and Intellectual Property Rights
and Register of Interests Policies.
Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and so the post holder may be required
to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key
responsibilities.
The post holder is expected to observe and comply with all College policies
and regulations, for example Health and Safety, Data Protection etc.
Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating
discrimination. All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out
in our Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality
Policy and Disability Policy and all other relevant guidance/practice
frameworks.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications
Essential
 A PhD or equivalent experience (including a postgraduate degree) in a
quantitative discipline such as infectious disease epidemiology, mathematics,
statistics, theoretical physics, computer science or population biology.
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
 Experience in mathematical modelling
 Knowledge of a programming language (ideally C / C++ or R but experience of
other languages, including e.g. Visual Basic, Java, Matlab, or Mathematica).
Desirable
 Experience in mathematical modelling of infectious diseases.
 Experience of conducting model-based economic evaluations.
 Publications in leading scientific journals.
 Knowledge of one or more statistical packages (e.g. R, Stata, SAS, etc)
Skills and Abilities
Essential
 Proven research skills.
 Ability to work both independently and in a multi-disciplinary team.
 Excellent verbal communication skills.
 Excellent written communication skills at the ability to write clearly and succinctly
for publication.
 Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills.
 Proven presentation skills.
 Excellent time management skills.
Other
Essential
 Ability to travel occasionally within the UK to attend meetings or conferences.
APPLICATION GUIDANCE
Please read the person specification carefully and describe, as part of your
application, how much you feel you meet each of the criteria.
If you attach a CV it should include the following information:
Applicant’s full name, private address and private telephone number
A confidential fax number and e-mail address, where possible
Degrees (including University and dates)
Past and present posts
List of publications
Brief description of future research plans
Names, addresses and, email, fax numbers, of three referees.
Thank you for your interest in this post. We look forward to receiving your application.