Research Associate in Public Health

Location: Charing Cross campus 

Job summary

Applications are invited for a Research Associate post within Imperial College London’s School of Public Health (SPH) within Department of Primary Care and Public Health, and specifically in the Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit. 

The appointee will participate in an ambitious project over two years to explore the interactions of English local governments with harmful commodity industries such as food which is considered unhealthy, alcohol, tobacco and gambling industries. The aim of the proposed work is to better understand the nature and extent of such interactions in local government, explore stakeholder views on this issue and the need for guidance, and present the evidence in the format of potential guiding principles for local authority interactions with corporations that market products that are damaging to health. The project utilises mixed methods and includes evidence synthesis, primary data collections from local authorities, data analysis and interviews with stakeholders.  

Duties and responsibilities 

The research project forms part of a wider work programme of applied public health research funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research Programme (SPHR). SPHR is a unique collaboration between eight leading academic centres of excellence in England. SPHR was established in 2012 and was renewed for five years in 2017. Imperial College London joined the SPHR in April 2017. SPHR’s remit is to conduct high quality research to build robust evidence for effective and cost-effective public health policy and practice to improve population health and reduce health inequalities. 

The project sits within the SPHR Places and Communities Programme’s Food systems sub-programme. In line with the programme’s aims, it specifically focuses on innovative and affordable place-centred policy options to improve local environments, health and reduce health inequalities. Working in close collaboration with our academic and practice partners and the public, we will develop data collection plans, produce research outputs and communicate findings through high quality research papers, policy briefing papers and presentations. 

Benefits for the post holder

• Supervision, management and input from academic team with expertise in research methods to evaluate public health policy in various countries and settings, assess health inequality impacts and influence policy and practice.
• Formal training in statistical skills, data handling and research methods (Imperial College London)
• Opportunities to work with key academic, practitioner and public stakeholders and join a wider collaborator network within SPHR and beyond
• Career development in academic public health 

Essential requirements

PhD or equivalent in population health, epidemiology, global health, biostatistics, or a related subject.  

Substantial experience with research undertaken in the field of population health. 

The successful candidate must have an exceptional aptitude for analytical and critical thinking about scientific problems; strong communication capabilities; motivation for problem solving; aptitude for interdisciplinary research and teamwork; and ability to work and learn independently. 

Further information

The post is full-time, fixed term until 31 March 2022. 

Should you have any queries please contact the Dr Eszter Vamos – e.vamos@imperial.ac.uk

For technical issues when applying online please email recruitment@imperial.ac.uk.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity, we are an Athena SWAN Silver Award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, a Disability Confident Employer and work in partnership with GIRES to promote respect for trans people.

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