LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE & TROPICAL MEDICINE
DEPARTMENT OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Cancer Research UK Cancer Survival Group
Research Fellow in Epidemiology
We seek to recruit a talented scientist to undertake a research project examining
mammographic screening, timely diagnosis and inequalities in breast cancer
survival, in a collaborative project funded by the National Awareness and Early
Diagnosis Initiative. You will join the Cancer Survival Group who are based at the
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. This is an expanding research
group including one professor, a senior lecturer, 3 lecturers and four research
fellows, with five other scientists and doctoral students. You will work in close
collaboration with the staff of the West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit, based
at the University of Birmingham.
The purpose of the research project is to examine the effectiveness of
mammographic screening for reducing inequalities in survival. The research will
also look at whether screening mammography leads to ‘cure’ for breast cancer
patients with a view to developing guidance on how the concept of population
‘cure’ might be used to promote timely diagnosis and screening uptake.
Additionally, the disease pathway between first reported symptom and final
outcome in a small sample of breast cancer patients will be examined.
You are an enthusiastic epidemiologist looking for new opportunities and a
chance to address challenging research questions in cancer epidemiology. You
have a PhD (or equivalent) and proven post-doctoral research experience in
epidemiology. You have a track record which shows that you have the capacity to
learn new methodologies, develop statistical models and analyse complex data
sets. You are a self-motivated individual with excellent inter-personal skills. You
are capable of working both in a team as well as on your own.
This is a new full-time position, available from 1 March 2012 to 28 February 2014.
The salary will be on the Academic Pathway, Grade 6 with a starting salary of
£35,511 per annum (inclusive of London weighting) and will be subject to LSHTM
terms and conditions. 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 Dr Laura Woods (laura.woods@lshtm.ac.uk) to arrange an
informal discussion.
Applications should be made on-line via our website jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. The
reference for this post is CSG9. 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. This post closes at 11.00pm on Friday 2 March 2012.
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is committed to being an
equal opportunities employer
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
(University of London)
Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health
Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology
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 1400 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
The School's mission is to improve health in the UK and worldwide through
excellence in public and global health research, teaching and knowledge
translation, working in partnership.
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 149 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 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 socio-economic
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. With the Childhood
Cancer Research Group and the UK Clinical Trials Service Unit in Oxford, we
have shown that childhood leukaemia incidence increased over much of the 20th
century, and survival rose steadily since the 1960s.
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 Fellow in Epidemiology
Responsible to:
Dr Laura Woods & Dr Bernard Rachet
Grade:
Academic Pathway – Research Fellow
We are seeking an epidemiologist work on a new project examining the impact of
screening upon breast cancer survival. The successful applicant will have a PhD
(or equivalent) and proven post-doctoral research experience in epidemiology, an
excellent understanding of survival analysis, and the capacity to implement new
approaches in STATA and to develop statistical models to analyse complex data
sets. S/he will be expected to undertake independent research and to contribute
to research grant proposals.
Under the supervision of Dr Laura Woods and Dr Bernard Rachet, and in
collaboration with other epidemiologists and statisticians working in the Cancer
Research UK Cancer Survival Group the post-holder will be expected to:

Liaise regularly, in person, with the collaborating staff at the West Midlands
Cancer Intelligence Unit, based at the University of Birmingham.

Clean, manage and analyse complex linked data sets.

Carry out relative survival analyses and excess hazard modelling under
supervision.

Contribute to the development of new research ideas and to grant applications
in collaboration with colleagues.

Work on other cancer epidemiology projects compatible with the Cancer
Research UK-funded cancer survival programme.

Write scientific papers for peer-reviewed publications.
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Make oral or poster presentations at scientific conferences, and assist
colleagues with such presentations as appropriate.

Participate in meetings of the Cancer Survival Group.

Attend meetings of the Department of Non-Communicable Disease
Epidemiology and other meetings (seminars, workshops etc) as necessary.

Contribute to the teaching programme in the Faculty of Epidemiology and
Population Health.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential attributes

PhD or equivalent degree and proven experience of post-doctoral research in
epidemiology.

A good understanding of the concepts of biostatistics and epidemiology, and
in particular of the theory of survival models.

Significant experience in the use of modern statistical packages, preferably
STATA.

Experience in developing statistical models to analyse complex data sets and
proven ability to learn new methodologies.

Proven ability to work both as a collaborative team member and independently
as an individual, to work effectively under pressure and to meet tight project
deadlines.

Ability to present scientific material clearly to a professional audience.

Publications
experience.

Excellent inter-personal skills.
in
peer-reviewed
journals
commensurate
with
research
Desirable attributes

A research background and practical experience in cancer survival analysis
would be an advantage.

Ability to develop and deliver teaching.
SALARY AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT
This is a new full-time position, available from 1 March 2012 to 28 February 2014.
The salary will be on the Academic Pathway, Grade 6 with a starting salary of
£35,511 per annum inclusive and will be subject to LSHTM terms and conditions.
Membership of the USS Pension Scheme is available.
The post-holder will be a member of the Department of Non-communicable
Disease Epidemiology (Head: Professor Isabel dos Santos Silva) in the Faculty of
Epidemiology and Population Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical
Medicine.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should be made on-line at our website at jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. The
closing date is XXXX and the reference for this post is CSG9. 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.