Download Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
(University of London)
Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health
Research Fellow in Mathematical Modelling
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 around 3500 students
from 100+ countries following 24 taught masters courses delivered either in London or
through distance learning, and about 400 undertaking a research degree. Over 40% of
these students are from non-European countries. Alumni are working in more than 180
countries. The School has about 1600 staff drawn from over 74 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 four research departments.
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Department of Medical Statistics
Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology
Department of Population Health
The Faculty has a teaching programme consisting of ten 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),
Nutrition for Global Health, Reproductive & Sexual Health Research, Veterinary
Epidemiology (run jointly with the Royal Veterinary College), Global Mental Health (run
jointly with Kings College London - Institute of Psychiatry) 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 Dean of Faculty is Professor John Edmunds.
THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology conducts research on the
epidemiology and control of infectious diseases of public health importance. It also
conducts research on maternal and neonatal health. Work is carried out in low, middle
and high income countries, including the United Kingdom. Research ranges from
ecological studies of variations in disease frequency in different populations, through
observational case-control and cohort studies to define risk factors for disease, to
randomized controlled trials to test the impact of specific preventive and curative
interventions.
The Head of Department is Professor Carine Ronsmans.
The Vaccine Centre
The Vaccine Centre at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a newly
formed consortium of over 100 scientists based at the school and among its partner
institutions with a common interest in research and training on vaccines. The Centre
encompasses a tremendous breadth of vaccine research from vaccine design and
immunological characterisation through clinical trials, and on to epidemiological
evaluation, vaccine safety, economic modelling, social science and policy analysis.
Centre scientists work in over 50 different countries worldwide and contribute to some
of the principal global networks of vaccine investigation. The portfolio of current
projects includes research on vaccines to control malaria, tuberculosis, pneumococcal
and meningococcal diseases, influenza, measles, HPV, rotavirus, Hib, Hepatitis B,
sleeping sickness and traveller’s diarrhoea as well as veterinary pathogens. The Centre
also aims to enhance the teaching of vaccine research skills spread across the School’s
post-graduate training programmes and in the short course for the Epidemiological
Evaluation of Vaccines run each July.
Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases (CMMID)
The Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases is a multidisciplinary
grouping of epidemiologists, mathematicians, economists, statisticians and clinicians
from across all three faculties of the LSHTM. Research focuses on understanding and
predicting the epidemiology of infectious diseases so that more effective control
programmes can be devised. Researchers are developing and applying mathematical
models to a range of infections including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,
HPV, tuberculosis, hepatitis C, influenza, rotavirus, measles, varicella, pneumococcal
disease, Hib, malaria and sleeping sickness. More fundamental research includes
developing methods to measure underlying contact patterns, sampling hard-to-reach
populations (such as drug users), efficiently fitting complex mathematical models to
data, and the integration of epidemiological models with economic analyses. CMMID
runs the flusurvey, an online influenza surveillance platform. CMMID is actively engaged
in developing links with other modelling groups; members of the CMMID include
mathematical modellers working at Public Health England (formerly the HPA) and the
Royal Veterinary College.
THE POST
The post holder will be a member of both the Vaccine Centre and the Centre for the
Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases. He/she will be based within the
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology. He/she will design and apply
mathematical models of vaccination and nutrition to inform the Lives Saved Tool (LiST)
as well as potentially work on other modelling projects. The person appointed will
prepare research findings both for policy makers as well as for scientific publication.
He/she will be based in London.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post:
Research Fellow in Mathematical Modelling
Responsible to:
Mark Jit (Senior Lecturer in Vaccine Epidemiology) and
Simon Cousens (Professor of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics)
Grade:
Academic pathway grade 6 (£37,106-£42,139)
Key Responsibilities
The post-holder will be expected to:
1. Develop models of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases, as well as of
the impact of vaccination, nutritional interventions and other policies.
2. Understand the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) and adapt it in collaboration with other
developers in order to integrate more sophisticated models of vaccination and
nutrition.
3. Compile, analyse and interpret relevant epidemiological and administrative data
on disease burden, vaccine delivery and other key indicators in order to inform
mathematical models.
4. Develop novel modelling techniques in order to capture complex effects in
infectious disease epidemiology in models that can be used in a variety of
settings.
5. Write academic papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
6. Communicate model results in both reports and oral presentations to
stakeholders.
7. Participate and present research findings at international meetings and
conferences, to both modellers and non-modellers.
8. Contribute to teaching postgraduate courses on infectious disease modelling and
epidemiology at LSHTM, including the production of teaching materials as
necessary, and participation in other relevant training activities and other
appropriate teaching within the Faculty.
9. Tutor MSc students, as appropriate.
10. Undertake other duties as may be required by his/her line manager.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The ideal candidate would possess the following characteristics, although it is
recognised that potential applicants might fulfil each of these criteria to a greater or
lesser extent:
Essential qualifications and skills
1. Undergraduate degree in a scientific and/or quantitative subject.
2. Higher degree in mathematical modelling, statistics, health economics,
epidemiology or closely related field with a substantial modelling component.
3. Practical experience in the design and analysis of mathematical models to
address real-world problems, ideally in an epidemiological field.
4. Familiarity with suitable programming languages such as R and/or C/C++.
5. Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
6. Ability to work independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary scientific
team.
7. Good written and oral communication skills in English.
Desirable qualifications and skills
1. PhD in mathematical modelling or closely related field.
2. Good publication record in relevant subject areas.
3. Familiarity with infectious disease epidemiology and vaccination and child
survival programmes, particularly in low and middle income countries.
4. Experience in writing grant applications.
SALARY AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT
The appointment will be made on LSHTM’s Academic scale grade 6 (£37,106-£42,139)
depending on qualifications and experience. The appointment will be for one year
initially, with the possibility of further extension, subject to suitable funding being
secured. The post will be subject to the LSHTM terms and conditions of service.
Membership of the USS pension scheme is available.
ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION
The School will comply with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, which
requires all employees to provide documentary evidence of their legal right to work in this
country prior to commencing employment. Please be aware that you will be required to
bring your passport (and visa if applicable) to interview so that it can be copied and
verified. For posts requiring a recognised degree level or equivalent qualification, and
where there is no suitable UK or European Economic Area candidate, the School will take
the necessary steps to secure UK Border Agency permission for a foreign national to take
up employment.
Should a candidate require a Certificate of Sponsorship in order to take up a post they will
need to meet the UK Border Agency Tier 2 Points Based Criteria. A self-assessment tool can
be
found
on
the
UK
Border
Agency
website
at:
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/pointscalculator.
A candidate may also be required to undertake an English Language test prior to
commencing work at the School. Details of Home Office approved tests can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-for-uk-visaapproved-english-language-tests.
Further information on the eligibility criteria for Certificates of Sponsorship can be found
at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers/points.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should be made on-line at our website at jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. The closing date
is 10pm, Tuesday 21 October 2014 and the reference for this post is SCRF1. 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 2703.
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.