Download MAHIDOL UNIVERSITY - Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine

Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) is a medical research collaboration between
the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, the University of Oxford, and the Wellcome Trust
(UK). Our main research interests are the epidemiology, diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment of
malaria, scrub typhus, melioidosis, leptospirosis and other tropical infections which impose a
substantial disease burden on rural populations throughout this populous region. It’s objectives are to
conduct research in tropical diseases with the aim of supporting the identification and treatment of
these diseases in Thailand and other countries.
Our main administrative office and laboratories are embedded within the Faculty, though most of our
clinical studies and much of our laboratory work takes place in ‘up-country’ study sites. MORU is
looking for an enthusiastic person to join our team.
Mathematical or Economic Modeller (Trainee)
Train as an epidemiological or economic modeller with Mahidol-Oxford.
We are offering a training positions for talented individuals interested in public health and
epidemiology. Specifically, we offer training in two fields i) infectious disease mathematical modelling
and ii) heath economics, or a combination thereof. Trainees will join an international team of
researchers based primarily at Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU) in Bangkok,
Thailand. The trainees will join projects to model strategies for malaria elimination in Bangladesh,
Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia, where each country has parallel training posts. The aim is to train
individuals who will work with national disease control programmes and offer decision support analysis
on disease control options both during the course of the project (3 years) and beyond.
One trainee will be recruited in Myanmar and will be based in Yangon. Depending on training
requirements may spend some or all of the first year based at MORU in Bangkok, Thailand. Options
for formal training including Masters or PhD programmes will depend on the trainee.
Mathematical Modelling
This uses detailed understanding of the biology, clinical aspects and epidemiology of infectious
disease to build computer-based mechanistic models of disease transmission in populations. These
models can be used to forecast future disease burden and to simulate the effects of possible disease
control interventions.
Healthcare Economic Evaluation
Economic evaluation or cost effectiveness analysis aims to understand how benefits of a health
programme or technology compare with the resources required to implement it. Healthcare economic
evaluation seeks to answer the question “How can healthcare funds make the maximum
improvements to health for the amount of money that is available? These are complimentary fields
and mathematical models can also be developed for economic evaluation and combined with
mechanistic mathematical models.
Responsibilities:







Understand the background of the studied disease from literature review and published
journals
Work in collaboration to develop model equations which describes the epidemiology of the
disease and test the model
Work in collaboration to validate the model using existing data
Maintain detailed records of the developing methods, results and discussions and report on
progress both verbally and in writing as required
Take part in the research related activities in MORU and present research results in progress
meetings, journal clubs and conferences
Prepare to publish the work in an international journal
Performs tasks as required by the supervisor
Qualifications:
 Relevant undergraduate degree in public health or epidemiology or applied mathematics or
computer programming
 Enthusiastic and able to work in a team
 Excellent communication skills in Myanmar and proven ability in English
 Ability to take responsibility for project workflow
 Myanmar national
Desired Criteria:
 Postgraduate degree or equivalent in mathematical modelling or health economics or
epidemiology
 Experience in database design and database maintenance
 Proven ability in numerical programming in R, C++ or Berkeley Madonna
 Proven ability to follow programming and code documentation best practice
 Publication record in mathematical modelling, health economics, epidemiology or a related
subject
Salary will be competitive and depend on the experience of the applicant. To apply please send a CV
and covering letter to [email protected]. Deadline for applications is 23rd January 2015.
Interviews 28-30th January 2015 in Yangon.