Download Job Description

LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE
(University of London)
DEPARTMENT OF EPIDEMIOLOGY & POPULATION HEALTH
Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology Unit
Lecturer in statistical epidemiology
We wish to appoint an epidemiologist with strong statistical skills or a medical
statistician to undertake a range of work utilising electronic health records. The areas
of research will largely be in disease aetiology and in drug effects. The research
focus will be varied and will in part depend on the interests of the postholder.
However, a proven interest in cardiovascular disease would be particularly welcome.
Previous experience of clinical trials would also be an advantage.
The post is funded by the Wellcome Trust and will mainly involve the analysis of
electronic health records such as the General Practice Research Database (GPRD)
and the Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP). The overall aim of the
work will be to capitalise on new opportunities for research utilising computerised
health data. The work will involve close collaboration with colleagues at University
College London and elsewhere.
The appointment will commence 1st October 2010 and is currently funded for 23
months. The starting salary is £41,312 per annum (on LSHTM’s lecturer scale). The
post is based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in central
London. Informal enquires about the post are welcome and should be addressed to
Professor Liam Smeeth (email: [email protected]).
Applications should be made on-line via our website jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. The reference
for this post is JS11. Applications should also include a CV and 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 [email protected]. Closing
date for the receipt of applications is 26 July 2010. Any queries regarding the
application process may be address to [email protected]. Please quote reference
JS11.
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 Britain's national school 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), ahead of the London School of
Economics, Oxford, Imperial and University College, London. The institution also
achieved the largest increase in ranking compared with 2001 of any of the top 10
institutions in the RAE rankings. 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 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 1300 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, molecular biologists and
immunologists. At any one time around 80 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
m£60 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 contribute to the improvement of health worldwide through
the pursuit of excellence in research, postgraduate teaching and advanced training
in national and international public health and tropical medicine, and through
informing policy and practice in these areas.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Department 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 294 staff members organised into five research units.





Centre for Population Studies
Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Unit
Medical Statistics Unit
Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology Unit
Nutrition and Public Health Intervention Research Unit
The Department has a teaching programme consisting of nine MSc courses:
Epidemiology, Demography and Health, Medical Statistics, Public Health in
Developing Countries (run jointly with the Departments 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 Department also has approximately 149 research students studying for
an MPhil, PhD or DrPH degree. The Department Head is Professor Laura
Rodrigues.
THE UNIT
THE NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY UNIT (NCDEU)
The unit 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 unit 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 units and
departments 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 Unit Head is Professor Isabel dos Santos Silva.
THE POST
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post: Lecturer in statistical epidemiology
Responsible to: Professor Liam Smeeth
Grade: Lecturer (grade 7)
Responsibilities
Research
-
-
Undertake analysis of electronic health records, focussing on drug effects and
disease aetiology. This will include planning analytical protocols, extraction
and preparation of data, and undertaking analyses.
Lead and contribute to peer reviewed publications.
Identify and develop collaborative working relationships with external
researchers working in related fields.
Present research findings to internal and external audiences
Contribute to, and with appropriate supervision to lead, funding applications
Teaching
-
Take an organisational role in the School's programme of teaching
Develop new teaching materials (lectures and workshops) in the post-holders
own areas of expertise
Contribute to the teaching of epidemiological and statistical methods for our
post-graduate students and short courses
Undertake appropriate training in teaching methods as required by the School
Citizenship
-
-
Advise and supervise less experienced research staff (both LSHTM staff and
external collaborators) in analytical techniques, data handling and study
design
Contribute to general activities of the Unit, Department and School that help to
promote the objectives of the School
Contribute to the management of the Unit and the Department as appropriate
Contribute to international research through collaboration and other
appropriate external activities
Any other duties that may be required which are consistent with the nature and grade
of the post.
Person specification
Essential qualifications and skills
1. A relevant post-graduate degree at Masters level (e.g. medical statistics or
epidemiology with a substantial quantitative component).
2. A PhD in a relevant area (or to have submitted a PhD thesis by the advertised
start date of the post)
3. Excellent data processing skills
4. Experience of analysing large scale datasets derived from electronic health
records using multivariate regression techniques
5. Ability to work well as part of a team
6. Detailed knowledge of Stata
7. Proven track record of leading peer reviewed publications
8. Experience of teaching at the post-graduate level
Desirable qualifications and skills
1. Interest in cardiovascular disease
2. Interest in research methodology
3. Previous experience in clinical trials
4. Previous experience in data linkage
SALARY AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT
The appointment will commence 1st October 2010 and is currently funded for 23
months. The starting salary is £41,312 per annum (on LSHTM’s lecturer scale). The
post will be subject to the LSHTM terms and conditions of service. Membership of
the USS Scheme is available. The School's retirement date is 30 September
following the 65th birthday. It is the School's policy not to appoint candidates aged 65
or over.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should be made on-line at our website at jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. The closing
date is 26 July 2010 and the reference for this post is JS11. Online applications will
be accepted by the automated system until midnight on of the closing date. Any
queries regarding the application process may be addressed to [email protected] or
telephone 0207 927 2173. Informal enquires about the post itself are welcome and
should be addressed to Professor Liam Smeeth (e mail: [email protected]).
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.