Research Associate- Horizon Scanning and Evidence Synthesis

Company description:

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

Job description:

The Role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced researcher to join a large multi-disciplinary team, contributing to the delivery of the National Institute for Health Care Research (NIHR) Innovation Observatory (IO), and Evidence Synthesis Group, both hosted within the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University.

As part of a large multi-disciplinary team, you will contribute to the delivery of the National Institute for Health Care Research (NIHR) Innovation Observatory (IO), and Evidence Synthesis Group, both hosted within the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University.

Supporting searching, monitoring and reporting of health care innovations; the development of novel methodologies and AI tools; delivering a variety of outputs including technology reports; developing rapid evidence synthesis (narrative and meta-analytic); scoping review methods and outputs, and supporting the translation of intelligence/data through the use of dashboards and novel visualizations. We are particularly interested in candidates with an interest in med-tech and/or diagnostics.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of research role profiles. These profiles set out firstly the generic competences and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level

This role is fixed term until 31 March 2026.

For informal queries please contact Prof Dawn Craig (Dawn.Craig@ncl.ac.uk)

Key Accountabilities

• Deliver Innovation Observatory research across its research programmes, determining appropriate methodologies and plans for research projects, with advice and support as required.
• Complete research projects within agreed timelines, meeting project milestones and to an appropriate standard.
• Undertake the interrogation and analysis of regulatory pathways and innovation intelligence to facilitate discussion, study and reporting.
• Lead in the development of new methodological approaches for evidence identification, retrieval and synthesis.
• Exploit and advance Artificial Intelligence tools and methods (machine learning, data mining) to support identification, extraction and visualisation of data.
• Lead on the development and delivery of training and advice, liaising with other groups and organisations.
• Undertake and lead technology reports, rapid evidence synthesis, pipeline analysis, and scoping reviews to our stakeholders and for academic publication.
• Proactive in the development of new methodologies in the fields of data intelligence, evidence synthesis, horizon scanning, futures, and foresight.
• Shape the ongoing development of a suite of internally facing AI tools and externally facing platforms that facilitate data identification, collation and sharing.
• Attend meetings with National Stakeholders and other events appropriate to projects and the Innovation Observatory.
• Lead on preparing and writing of research papers for publication and disseminate the findings at conferences and seminars.
• Carry out administrative tasks and other duties to support the Innovation Observatory/Evidence Synthesis Group as required by the Director (IO) or Dean (NUPHSI).

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