Job Description and Person Specification (HR5)
Vacancy Number: 498414WR /
Job Description
School/Academic Unit: / Geography and Environment
Post Title: / Senior Research Assistant/Research Fellow
Please enter Level under appropriate Career Pathway / ERE / TAE / MSA / CAO / R.Nurse / Clinical
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ERE & Clinical Posts: Please indicate the category / Academic Posts / Non-Academic Posts
Teaching & Research / Research
only / Teaching
only / Enterprise / Education Development
X
Posts Responsible to (and Level): / Dr Andy Tatem
Posts Responsible for (and Level):
Job Purpose:
To undertake research in accordance with the Norwegian Development Agency (NORAD) contract on maternal and newborn health geography in the East Africa region.
Key Accountabilities/Primary Responsibilities
  • Contribute to work on the design and development of approaches for the production of maternal and newborn health relevant maps and methods
  • Undertake the update and maintenance of existing multi-country birth and pregnancy distribution datasets, and provide input to the design of web resources for their open distribution
  • Provide programmatic support to national organizations and government departmentsin East Africa on mapping for maternal and newborn health.
  • Provide technical input to training programs to be run in East Africa
  • Regularly disseminate findings by contributing to the preparation of publication materials for refereed journals, presenting results at conferences, or exhibiting work at other appropriate events.
  • Carry out administrative tasks associated with specified research funding, for example risk assessment of research activities, organisation of project meetings and documentation. Implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely formal reporting and financial control.
/ % Time
50%
10%
10%
5%
20%
5%
Internal & External Relationships: (nature & purpose of relationships)
  • The role-holder will work under the supervision of Dr Andrew Tatem, Geography and Environment, and Professor Zoe Matthews, Social Statistics and Demography.He will provide direction and guidance for the research work to be undertaken.

Special Requirements:
The role-holder are likely to be expected to travel internationally occasionally during the period of employment to attend research meetings, undertake secondary data gathering and attend national and international conferences for the purpose of disseminating research results.
Person Specification
Criteria / Essential / Desirable / How to be assessed
Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:
Post-graduate degree (PhD or MSc) in aquantitative subject. Alternatively, industry experience will be considered.
Basic computer programming skills
Statistical background
Knowledge and experience of spatial statistical methods
Experience of working with demographic and household survey data
Basic GIS experience
Experience of dealing with large spatial datasets (satellite imagery, other raster-based data)
Knowledge and experience of working with maternal and newborn health related data
Experience of working with Bayesian statistical methods
Experience of teaching or running training courses in data analysis or computational/statistical methods / √
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√ / CV, cover letter, publications, interview
Planning and Organising:
Able to organise own research activities to deadline and quality standards
Able to plan and organise own workload in the absence of supervision / √
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Problem Solving and Initiative:
Proven ability to manage research projects, meeting defined milestones on time
Able to develop understanding of complex problems and apply in-depth knowledge to address them / √
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Management and Teamwork:
Work effectively in a team, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of others to help teamwork development / √
Communicating and Influencing:
Communicate new and complex information effectively, both verbally and in writing, engaging the interest and enthusiasm of the target audience
Able to present research results at group meetings and conferences
Able to write up research results for publication in leading peer-viewed journals
Work proactively with colleagues in other work areas/institutions, contributing specialist knowledge to achieve outcomes / √
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Other Skills and Behaviours:
Understanding of relevant Health & Safety issues
Positive attitude to colleagues / √
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Special Requirements:
Willingness to travel internationally to attend meetings and visit national statistical and health department offices in East Africa / √

Job Hazard Analysis Form - Appendix to Job and Person Specification

Please tick one of the following statements:

This post is an office-based job with routine office hazards e.g. use of VDU (if ticked, no further information needs to be supplied) / X
This post has some hazards other than routine office e.g. more than use of VDU

Please tick all those that apply, and put N/A if not applicable

Environmental Exposures / O* / F / C
Outside work
Extremes of temperature (eg fridge/ furnace)
Potential for exposure to body fluids ##
Noise (greater than 80 dba - 8 hrs twa) ##
Exposure to hazardous substances (eg solvents, liquids, dust, fumes, biohazards). Specify …………………………………………………………. ##
Frequent hand washing
Ionising radiation.
Equipment/Tools/Machines used
Food Handling ##
Driving university vehicles(e.g. car/van/LGV/PCV) ##
Use of latex gloves (note: prohibited unless specific clinical necessity) ##
Vibrating tools ( e.g. strimmers, hammer drill, lawnmowers) ##
Physical Abilities
Load manual handling.
Repetitive Crouching/Kneeling/Stooping
Repetitive Pulling/Pushing
Repetitive Lifting
Standing for prolonged periods
Repetitive Climbing i.e. steps, stools, ladders
Fine motor grips (e.g. pipetting)
Gross motor grips
Repetitive reaching below shoulder height
Repetitive reaching at shoulder height
Repetitive reaching above shoulder height
Psychosocial Issues
Face to face contact with public
Lone working
Shift work/night work/on call duties ##

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