DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH
FACULTY OF CLINICAL SCIENCES AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH /
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post: Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology or Prof of Epidemiology
Responsible to: Professor Shabbar Jaffar, Head of the Dept of International Public Health
Contract: Permanent
We have a vacancy for a Senior Lecturer or a Professor in Epidemiology. This is an exciting time to join the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). We are expanding with major new investment for new staff in both Faculties and in new buildings. This is a strategic core funded post as part of our expansion plans.
Our focus is on innovative rigorously counducted research studies to tackle the health problems of low resource countries with a particular focus in Africa. We are looking for mid to senior level epidemiologists to strengthen our clinical, public health or biological sciences research agenda. We are particularly keen to appoint epidemiologists with interests in antimicrobial resistance, vector borne diseases or non-communicable diseases in relation to infection, but will consider strong applicants from other areas.
Applicants can be clinical or non-clinical, but must have a postgraduate qualification in epidemiology or related field and experience in either intervention studies or population-based epidemiology. We are looking for applicants with a strong publication record who can demonstrate the ability to secure significant competitive grant income. He/she will be likely be based in the Department of International Public Health but will be expected to work across the four departments of LSTM, to travel periodically to field sites, and to contribute to the School’s teaching programme. Individuals with strong interests in vector borne diseases will have the option to be based in the Biological Sciences Faculty and will then be line-managed by the relevant head of department.
LSTM is at the forefront of disease control with excellent global networks. The institution has a collegial environment with highly motivated researchers from different disciplines working together in partnership. We have a strong mentorship culture with support for academic advancement. There are a number of senior epidemiologists, a large and growing clinical trials unit, and bioinformatic and mathematical modellers.
Further information and job description
LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE
LSTM is one of Europe’s leading postgraduate schools of global health and tropical medicine. Our mission is to reduce the burden of sickness and mortality in disease endemic countries through the delivery of effective interventions which improve human health and are relevant to the poorest communities. Our focus is on innovative rigorously conducted research studies. We have remarkable depth and breadth of expertise ranging from laboratory-based translational research around drug discovery to large-scale field-based studies evaluating implementation strategies of interventions of known efficacy. LSTM was ranked sixth on impact in the last national research assessment exercise.
The School has expanded considerably in recent years. Our research income comprises more than £50m per annum won through competitive grants, both here in the UK and internationally. We have about 400 staff based in Liverpool in a rich multicultural environment. We have internal competitive schemes that provide tenure and build the careers of talented junior researchers to ensure that LSTM stays at the forefront of global health research. We provide a supportive, conducive and friendly environment for our staff.
At LSTM, we have critical mass in multiple disciplines including clinical research, epidemiology, statistics, vector borne diseases, and global health. We have strong long-standing partnerships with researchers and health programmes in low and middle income countries. We work in over 100 countries.
Our strategic partnerships include the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome (MLW) Clinical Research Programme, the universities of Liverpool, Warwick and Lancaster and numerous overseas research partners in most low-middle income countries. We run various postgraduate courses and professional diplomas in tropical medicine and nursing.
THE FACULTY OF CLINICAL SCIENCES AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH
The faculty comprises about 200 staff working exclusively on health problems of low-resource settings, with a strong focus in Africa. Prof David Lalloo is the Head of the faculty. About 20 staff are clinically qualified and have joint NHS appointments.
The faculty is organised into two departments: Dept of Clinical Sciences and the Dept of International Public Health. There are strong collaborations between the two departments. To ensure active collaboration, the Dept of International Public Health includes several clinically qualified staff; likewise the Dept of Clinical Sciences houses the health economists. A review of office space is currently taking place to maximise the interactions between the two departments.
The faculty has a large and growing Clinical Trials Unit, that currently comprises 6 statisticians, 2 data managers and a governance team. The Unit is currently overseeing several major intervention studies ranging from clinical trials of diagnostics and drugs to evaluating different strategies for scaling up interventions of proven efficacy.
The person appointed will likely be housed in the Dept of International Public Health and will work across all 4 departments. Individuals with strong interests in vector borne diseases will have the option to be based in the Biological Sciences Faculty and will then be line-managed by the relevant head of department. We also consider the option of joint appointments between two departments.
THE FACULTY OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
The faculty comprises about 200 staff and is organised into two departments: Dept of Vector Biology and Dept of Parasitology. Prof Alister Craig is the Dean of Faculty. The faculty delivers cutting edge research that is responsive to the challenges of controlling vector borne diseases and parasites. It has a particularly strong focus on translational research in malaria and the Neglected Tropical Diseases. The Faculty’s research portfolio spans the spectrum of basic research through to implementation research with particular excellence in drug discovery and development and insecticide resistance.
THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH
The department brings together people from diverse professional backgrounds. Our portfolio includes large-scale research studies evaluating the scale-up of interventions of proven efficacy, clinical trials of new interventions and health systems research to inform policy and programming.
The department specialises in maternal and newborn health (one of the largest programmes in Europe); HIV and related co-infections, reproductive health; anaemia, blood transfusion and clinical laboratory systems; health systems development.Three new professors have been appointed in the last year: two epidemiologists with a focus in HIV-infection and a professor of maternal and newborn health. The Dept has major field research programmes in Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Sudan, and across Africa and Asia.
Our work focusses on addressing health priorities in low-resource settings. We recognise that infectious diseases will continue to have a high-burden in low-resource settings and cause major epidemics such as the recent Ebola and Zika outbreaks; but that non-communicable diseases and antimicrobial resistance are two major threats that could have massive detrimental health impacts in Africa. In recognition of this, the Dept staff and colleagues from other departments are planning large-scale research studies to address these health threats. Given our new appointments in epidemiology, we are also looking to develop more opportunities of joint working with our biology faculty, taking products from the discovery stages to large-scale population-based evaluation.
We are looking for someone who is either already of international standing in their field or has the potential to become a research leader at LSTM. The appointee will be expected to develop their own research areas over time and provide epidemiological support to existing field or clinic based research studies. He/she will be expected to write proposals and high quality research papers in their research areas with support and in collaboration with other colleagues. The applicant will be expected to contribute to our postgraduate teaching programmes and to the capacity development of researchers in epidemiology.
JOB DESCRIPTION
POST: Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology / Professor of Epidemiology
GRADE: Clinical or non-clinical
RESPONSIBLE TO: Professor Shabbar Jaffar
Head, Department of International Public Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences and International Public Health.
The main duties of the post will include:
1. To take forward and secure competitive funding for major new high priority research in international public health, ideally either i) antimicrobial resistance, ii) vector borne diseases, or iii) non-communicable diseases.
2. In collaboration with colleagues within LSTM, and externally, develop high priority research questions, and take the lead in writing proposals for funding.
3. Co-ordinate research activity in the research area, working with partners overseas and statisticians, data managers and other partners in LSTM and elsewhere in the UK.
4. Identify and produce high impact research papers in collaboration with partners.
5. Provide epidemiological support to other epidemiological and intervention studies within LSTM, either planned or underway.
6. Develop field sites and provide support in research methods.
7. Contribute to the School’s postgraduate teaching and research programme.
8. Contribute appropriately to the academic life of the Department, Faculty and the School.
9. Undertake other duties as may be required by the Head of the Department.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The ideal candidate should have the following characteristics, although it is recognised that potential applicants might fulfil some of these criteria to a greater or to a lesser extent:
Criteria / Competency / Essential / Desirable / AssessmentEducation & Training / Postgraduate qualification in epidemiology or medical statistics or equivalent / Essential / Application Form/CV
PhD or other equivalent degree in relevant discipline / Desirable
Experience / Substantial and relevant practical experience as an epidemiologist in biomedical research / Essential / Application Form,
Assessment
and Interview
Practical experience in the implementation and co-ordination of epidemiological studies or randomised trials / Essential
Strong publication record commensurate with experience, with papers in high impact clinical or epidemiological journals / Essential
Strong record of grant income including current grants either as principal applicant or as co-applicant. / Essential
Teaching experience at university level / Desirable
Experience of working in developing countries / Desirable
Knowledge / Knowledge of health and disease issues pertinent to low-resource settings. / Essential / Assessment and Interview
Skills & Abilities / Clear strategic thinking and vision to grow the research programme / Essential / Assessment and Interview
Proven ability to work as part of multidisciplinary team and to work independently / Essential
Excellent inter-personal skills and a willingness to work with others to overcome problems as and when they arise / Essential
Management and leadership / Experience of management in a research environment and clear potential to be a research leader. / Essential / Assessment and Interview
Essential
Special Aptitudes / Willingness to travel to field sites on a regular basis / Essential / Assessment and Interview
Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and provide mentorship to junior colleagues both at LSTM and overseas. / Essential
SALARY AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT
The appointment is permanent. The post will be subject to the LSTM terms and conditions of service. Membership of the USS pension scheme is available.
APPLICATIONS
Applications should be made on line via our website at http://www.lstmed.ac.uk/vacancies
The reference for this post is 654-16. Online applications will be accepted by the automated system until 12pm of the closing date, which is 20th February 2016. Any queries regarding the application process should be addressed to Mr David Barrett (). Applicants are invited to contact Professor Shabbar Jaffar () informally for academic queries.
The supporting statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience and training meet each of the selection criteria. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as "Please see attached CV" will not be considered acceptable. Your CV should also be attached to the online application.
It is hoped to hold the interviews the week commencing week commencing 13th March. Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date.
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