Post:Research Assistant/Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Description

Post:Research Assistant/Postdoctoral Research Associate

Responsible to:Eve Worrall

Summary of role:To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to carry out cost effectiveness analyses of alternative interventions to reduce malaria in Burkina Faso

The Department of Vector Biology at LSTM is a center of excellence in the study of insecticide resistance and its management. We have been awarded a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award grant for 3 years to identify ways of improving the efficacy of malaria prevention in an insecticide resistant Africa.

Impressive reductions in malaria have occurred throughout sub-Saharan Africa over the past 12 years. However progress has not been geographically uniform and there are some high-burden countries where, despite good coverage with long lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs), parasite prevalence rates and mortality from malaria remain obstinately high. Burkina Faso falls into this category. Despite two successful national LLIN distribution campaigns 60 % of children are persistently infected with malaria. Increased resistance to the pyrethroid insecticides used in LLINs and extensive transmission by mosquitoes biting outside the home, or at times when people are not protected by LLINs, are likely reducing the impact of LLINs but the relative importance of these poorly characterised vector factors, in relation to other human or health system factors has never been determined. This project will collect extensive empirical data and use models of malaria transmission to quantify the level of protection provided by LLINs in an insecticide resistant Africa. Via a detailedunderstanding of the factors limiting the efficacy of current tools we will identify the most cost effective, complementary interventions that would drive malaria transmission towards zero.

The post holder will collect, collate andanalysedata to estimate the economic cost of delivering alternative malaria control interventions in Burkina Faso. Then in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team s/he will develop cost effectiveness estimates for alternative malaria intervention packages. The output from this work will be of critical importance for advising country programmes and donors on strategies to maintain vector control in the face of increasing insecticide resistance.

The successful candidate will be educated to MSc level or above in economics with an enthusiasm for applying economics to complex real world problems. They will have experience of economic evaluation, preferably cost effectiveness analysis, and working in a developing country context. The ability to understand complex trade-offs and clearly articulate these to guide-decision making is essential. Experience with mathematical models and informing policy at national or global level is desired but not essential. The candidate must be able to work productively as part of a multi-cultural, multidisciplinary team. A working knowledge of French will be essential for this role, as is a passion for using economics to improve human health.

The post will be based in Liverpool with visits to the study site in Burkina Faso.

Duties and responsibilities

• Collect, collate and analyse data on the cost of delivering malaria control interventions in Burkina Faso

• Use these data to develop realistic cost models to estimate the cost of delivering alternative packages of malaria control interventions at different spatial and temporal scales.

• Liaise closely with the epidemiologists, entomologists and mathematicians to estimate the public health benefit of alternative packages of interventions and incorporate this into a cost effectiveness model

• Write up work for publication in peer reviewed journals

• Disseminate findings to a range of stakeholders (national, global policy makers and scientists)

• Identify and pursue opportunities to develop similar/related research projects or provide technical assistance in health economics

• Responsible for working in an ethical and safe manner adhering to local and legal requirements

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role

PERSON SPECIFICATION: Research Assistant / Post-doctoral Research Associate

Criteria / Competency / Essential/
Desirable / Assessment
Education & Training / Appointment at Research Assistant Level
Masters degree in economics (including health economics, agricultural economics, development economics etc) / E / Application Form/CV
Education & Training / Appointment at Post-Doctoral Research Associate Level
PhD in health economics or related discipline with substantial applied economics component preferably in developing country context / E
Experience / Experience of collecting and analyzing cost data and constructing cost effectiveness models preferably using DALYs
Well-developed research skills with the ability to present research findings in oral and written format
Proven ability to produce reports and other technical documents (e.g., peer reviewed publications, WHO documents)
Ability to generate technical presentations and documents and represent the team at international meetings
Experience of working on vector borne/communicable diseases and with mathematical models
Published in peer reviewed journals
Experience of working with multi-disciplinary teams
Experience/knowledge of health systems in developing countries
Experience of working with policy makers at global or national level / E
E
E
E
D
D
E
D
D / Application Form, Assessment and Interview
Skills & Abilities / Ability to interface directly with country partners, policy makers and funding agencies
Demonstrable analytical skills with proven ability with relevant software/modelling packages
Excellent organisational ability and attention to detail
Tenacious with ability to demonstrate assertiveness and tact
Strong interpersonal skills and experience in building working relationships with people at all levels
Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to relate to a wide range of disciplines and cultures
French speaker / E
E
E
E
E
E
E / Assessment and Interview
Knowledge / Knowledge of malaria or other vector born/infectious diseases
Understanding of principles of economic evaluation as applied to resource allocation in health/public policy
Understanding of malaria policy and financing / D
E
D / Assessment and Interview
Special Aptitude / Able to work without detailed supervision and under pressure to deadlines
Good problem solving skills and ability to take initiative
Ability to network, build and maintain external partnerships/relationships
Passionate about the role of economics in public health / E
E
E
E / Application Form/CV and Interview
Interests / International Health
Application of economics to complex problems / E
E
Circumstances / Full time
Fixed term 36 month contract
Willingness and ability to travel to Africa (Burkina Faso)