Research Associate/Senior Research Associate-Public Health Data/Epidemiologist/Medical Statistician - Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom - Newcastle University

Description

Salary:

Research Associate: £33,966 to £44,263 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Senior Research Associate £45,585 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 16 June 2024

The role

We are seeking a talented medical statistician/data scientist with a strong background in programming and statistical modelling of longitudinal cohort data and statistical analysis (e.g. in Stata, R, or SAS).

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated researcher in epidemiology/ data science/ statistics/ public health with a strong background in quantitative methods/ statistical analysis and programming.

This post will involve working on National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit, and Fuse, Centre for Translational Research in Public Health projects related to inequalities in mental health and related health outcomes. The focus will be on using routine health and care data (such as the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and hospital data) for public health policy and inequalities research.

This is an opportunity for an experienced researcher to apply and grow their quantitative skills applied to public health and health inequalities. We are particularly keen to recruit someone who can lead and support quantitative analyses, peer-reviewed publications, and other forms of dissemination, including presenting to policy makers, and practitioners. The research will be responsive to local and national public health policy priorities. Therefore, the ability to apply the right data and quantitative methods will be essential. Contributing to public & patient involvement and engagement (PPIE), and student supervision will be encouraged.

Experience and competence in using R or Stata or SAS is essential, along with excellent written and verbal communication skills and a PhD. The ability to handle, and analyse large, complex routine healthcare data, applying appropriate statistical methods will be essential. The role will involve activities, such as: data approval and acquisition, data preparation, programming, statistical/epidemiological analysis, and dissemination.

There will be opportunities to engage with stakeholders in policy organisations, local authorities and voluntary sector, through Fuse: Centre for Translational Public Health Research in North East England. The post will also benefit from collaborating with the Biostatistics Research Group in our Institute. The role and research environment are highly suited to career development opportunities.

You will have experience of research (Research Associate), and/or have initiated and taken responsibility for research projects acting as the Principal Investigator or as part of programme leadership (Senior Research Associate), in the field of public health, epidemiology, statistics or health services research and have experience publishing high-quality peer-reviewed articles.

You will work closely with the programme leadership team (Professor Sheena Ramsay, Emma Adams, and Professor Eileen Kaner), other team members, and contribute to the management of the wider programme of work and support the planning and coordination of activities.

To apply for the position, we will need your CV and a covering letter outlining how you are suitable for the role using examples to highlight how you meet the essential criteria in the knowledge, skills and experience as listed in the job description. One fixed term post is available full-time (or part-time) for up to 33 months, with the possibility of extension. Proposed start date of between July and September 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact: Sheena Ramsay Or Emma Adams

Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here:

Find out more about our Research Institutes here:

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.

Research Associate

Key Accountabilities

Including (but not limited to):

Data Analysis

• Clean and prepare datasets, involving programming, for quantitative analyses

• Perform epidemiological, and statistical/ quantitative analyses, including longitudinal analyses (e.g. Cox and other regression models)

Documentation

• Draft accessible summaries for different audiences, including the public and practice partners and policy-makers, preparing reports for funders

• Prepare papers for peer-reviewed publications, present findings at group meetings and conferences

• Prepare applications for data acquisition, and secure ethical and governance approvals

Communication

• Collaborate with all members of the research team and funder to deliver on the research

• Liaise with researchers in the team and external collaborators to gain input and keep them updated on the project.

• Liaise with funder and stakeholders to understand their expectations and keep them updated on the project.

Research

• Carry out research within agreed timelines, meeting project milestones and to an appropriate standard

• Contribute to the development of new projects and research proposals

• Undertake and/or support Patient and Public Involvement appropriate to the research

• Prepare research and dissemination activities (e.g. workshops) with collaborators and stakeholders

Ad hoc

• Support supervision of Master's student dissertations

• Wider contribution to the Institute and take on tasks as requested by the Dean

• Contribute to the wider activities related to this programme of work on the health of marginalised populations

• Develop an awareness of University structure, policies and procedures and relevant issues in the higher education, research, social and political environment

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Essential)

• Experience of managing/ curating research datasets and statistical programming

• Experience of undertaking statistical/ quantitative analyses, including, longitudinal analyses using routine healthcare or similar large/ complex data sources

• Evidence of skills and experience in using relevant software for data management, programming and analyses (i.e. SAS, Stata, R for quantitative methods)

• Ability to adhere to strict observation of data governance issues and data protection legislations

• Evidence of writing for peer-reviewed publications

• Evidence of presenting research findings at conferences and meetings

• Experience of applied public health, health or social care research

Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Desirable)

• Experience contributing to research grant proposals

• Experience working with routine healthcare data (e.g. CPRD, hospital data)

• Experience of managing less experienced staff

• Understanding and ability to undertake public/patient involvement and engagement

• Interest in health inequalities, ideally related to inequalities and marginalised populations

Attributes and Behaviors (Essential)

• Ability to carry out research with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail within agreed timelines, meeting project milestones and producing high-quality research

• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team, commanding the respect of collaborators from a range of disciplines and specialities (e.g. health, social care, voluntary sector)

• Excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills

• Willingness to build internal and external contacts and participate in networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for productive collaboration

• Commitment to personal development

Qualifications

• PhD related to public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, or data science

• A masters in statistics / data science or a closely related highly quantitative subject or equivalent professional qualification e.g. Chartered Statistician AND/OR relevant experience in data analyses.

• Chartered Statistician status (Desirable)

Senior Research Associate

Key Accountabilities

Including (but not limited to):

Data Analysis

• Lead cleaning and preparation of datasets, including programming, for quantitative analyses

• Perform epidemiological, and statistical/ quantitative analyses, including longitudinal analyses (e.g. Cox and other regression models) and advanced statistical analyses

Documentation

• Draft accessible summaries for different audiences, including the public and practice partners and policy-makers, preparing reports for funders

• Lead on preparation and writing of papers for peer-reviewed publications, and presenting findings at group meetings and conferences

• Lead on preparation of research and dissemination activities (e.g. workshops) with collaborators and stakeholders

• Independently develop applications for data acquisition and secure ethical and governance approvals

Communication

• Lead collaboration with all members of the research team and funder to deliver on the study protocols

• Liaise and establish links with other researchers and external collaborators for input on this research and related data approaches

• Take initiative to liaise with funder and collaborators to understand their expectations and keep them updated on the project.

Research

• Carry out research within agreed timelines, meeting project milestones and to a high standard

• Lead on and take initiative to contribute to the development of new projects and research proposals

• Undertake and/or support Patient and Public Involvement appropriate to the research

Ad hoc

• Contribute to the wider activities related to this programme of work on the health of marginalised populations

• Support supervision of Master's student dissertations

• Wider contribution to the Institute and take on tasks as requested by the Dean

• Develop an awareness of University structure, policies and procedures and relevant issues in the higher education, research, social and political environment

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Essential)

• Significant experience of managing/ curating research datasets and statistical programming

• Significant experience and independence of undertaking statistical/ quantitative analyses, including, longitudinal analyses using routine healthcare or similar large/ complex data sources

• Strong evidence of advanced skills and experience in using relevant software for data management, programming and analyses (i.e. SAS, Stata, R for quantitative methods)

• Experience of contributing to research grant proposals

• Ability to adhere to strict observation of data governance issues and data protection legislations

• Strong evidence of writing for peer-reviewed publications, many as lead author

• Evidence of presenting research findings at conferences and meetings

• Advanced experience of applied public health, health or social care research

Knowledge, Skills and Experience (Desirable)

• Experience working with routine healthcare data (e.g. CPRD, hospital data)

• Experience of managing less experienced staff

• Understanding and ability to undertake public/patient involvement and engagement

• Interest in health inequalities, ideally related to inequalities and marginalised populations

Attributes and Behaviors (Essential)

• Evidence of ability to carry out research with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail within agreed timelines, meeting project milestones and producing high-quality research

• Significant ability to work independently and as a member of a team, commanding the respect of collaborators from a range of disciplines and specialities (e.g. health, social care, voluntary sector)

• Excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills

• Willingness to build internal and external contacts and participate in networks for the exchange of information and to form relationships for productive collaboration

• Commitment to personal development

Qualifications

• A PhD related to public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, or data science

• A masters in statistics / data science or a closely related highly quantitative subject or equivalent professional qualification e.g. Chartered Statistician AND/OR relevant experience in data analyses.

• Chartered Statistician status (Desirable)

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

Requisition ID: 27048