Postdoctoral Research Scientist

Location: Pandemic Sciences Institute, New Richards Building, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LG

We are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Scientist to join the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R) Research and Policy Team at the Pandemic Sciences Institute, at the University of Oxford. 

You will be supporting the new Pandemic Preparedness Analytical Capacity and funding Tracking Programme (Pandemic PACT) team, within GloPID-R focused on generating evidence to inform clinical research prioritisation for high priority infectious diseases with epidemic and pandemic potential. 

You will be supporting the establishment of a Rapid Research Needs Appraisal (RRNA) platform, aimed at rapidly and robustly identifying gaps in the evidence base for high priority infectious diseases, using a methodology developed previously by our team in collaboration with Cochrane Response and Evidence Aid UK (doi: 10.1186/s12916-019-1338-1). You will be responsible for managing your own academic research and administrative activities, involving project management of the (RRNA project on a day-to-day basis, to coordinate multiple aspects of work in collaboration with internal and external collaborators to meet deadlines. You will work in collaboration with the wider team and external research collaborators based in other regions globally to establish a platform for carrying out RRNAs for high-priority diseases, and search and screen records for inclusion, and extract data relating to pre-defined clinical domains. Further, analyse and interpret data and write up results for reports and publications. 

It is essential that you hold a relevant PhD/DPhil (or close to completion) in a related topic, (medicine, public health, epidemiology, pharmacology, or microbiology), and have sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to work within the research programme. The focus is on identifying gaps in clinical evidence to inform clinical research priorities, a good knowledge and understanding of how to interpret clinical and diagnostic terminology and data is an advantage. You will have experience in using systematic review methodologies, and experience of managing research projects. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present findings at conferences and meetings and to write for publications are essential, along with sufficient expertise to conduct high-quality research programmes in this field. An understanding of global public health infectious disease and outbreak research response is necessary for this role. This work will be delivered in close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams including stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds. An ability to adapt to different contexts, uncertainty and change will be an advantage as outbreaks and priorities may change during the course of the project. 

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your online application. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post using examples of your skills and experience.

This position is offered full time on a fixed term contract until 31 July 2024 and is funded by the Wellcome.

Only applications received before 12 midday on 11th April 2023 will be considered. Please quote 163931 on all correspondence.

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