Research Associate

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £32,546 to £35,116 with potential progression once in post to £39,355

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to August 2028

About the Project:

Novel GM interventions for mosquito control could represent a step change in progressing towards elimination of the world’s most harmful vector-borne diseases, including malaria and dengue. However, conducting field trials of such interventions is challenging due to complex logistics and uncertain outcomes. We aim to develop novel methodological strategies that can reduce the resource requirements to rigorously evaluate new and uncertain community-level interventions in infectious disease control. A key component relates to harnessing advanced mechanistic disease transmission models to improve prediction of clinical trial outcomes (e.g. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-53065-z). Given the uncertainty associated with intervention outcomes, we also aim to explore adaptive trial designs to enable studies to start small and refine their design as they progress. We will work closely with co-investigators from the Ifakara Health Institute (Tanzania) to ensure the methods are feasible and implementable in disease-endemic settings, and to improve impact. The project will involve a series of stakeholder engagement workshops, with opportunities for travel to Tanzania.

Role Summary

• Work with the study investigators (Prof. Sam Watson (University of Birmingham), Dr Penelope Hancock (Imperial College London) and Prof. Fredros Okumu (University of Glasgow/Ifakara Health Institute) to develop and test new methods for trial design and analysis. 
• Developing statistical models and code to run the proposed methods.
• Developing and running simulation-based analyses of the new methods.
• Contribute to generating academic publications and reports.
• Contribute to public and stakeholder engagement workshops 

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Contribute to the development, documentation, and testing of new statistical methods.
• Develop code to run and evaluate statistical models, with the support of project supervisors.
• Support writing of research outputs for academic and lay audiences, and contribute to the development and running of stakeholder engagement activities in African countries.
• Disseminate research findings for publication, including research seminars and conferences.
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration.

Person Specification

• BSc (Hons)/Masters level (Grade 6) applicants with a strong relevant skill set will also be considered.
• Strong mathematical and quantitative skills. Experience in the implementation of mathematical or statistical models and model fitting is desirable but not essential.
• Familiarity or experience of using Stata, R, Python, or similar. Knowledge of C++ would be advantageous but not essential.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly.
• Excellent ability to work as a team and independently including co-ordinating own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort.

Informal enquiries to Samuel Watson, email: S.I.Watson@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

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We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

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