The role
This post offers an excellent opportunity for a Senior Research Associate or Research Fellow to join a multi-disciplinary research team of mathematical modelers, epidemiologists and health economists based in Population Health Sciences in Bristol Medical School. This post is funded by a Wellcome Trust Discovery Award focussed on improving our understanding of the global impact of structural factors (homelessness, violence, stigma, and incarceration) on the transmission of HIV among key population groups (people who inject drugs, female sex workers and men who have sex with men). The postholder will use skills in systematic reviews and meta-analyses to synthesise existing evidence on the effect of structural factors on different HIV outcomes, and will conduct statistical analyses of longitudinal datasets to better understand the effect of structural factors on HIV outcomes. There is a global focus to the work with many of the existing datasets and analyses being from lower- and middle-income countries.
The post is full-time and available until 31/03/2028 in the first instance, although it may be extended.
Hybrid working is available, and this is to be agreed, but flexible.
What will you be doing?
The post will involve undertaking: (1) systematic reviews and meta-analyses; and (2) detailed epidemiological analyses of longitudinal individual-level datasets, primarily using survival analysis, but potentially including methods such as mediation analysis and target trial emulation. These analyses will focus on evaluating the impact of exposure to different structural factors on different HIV outcomes (incidence or prevalence of infection, risk behaviours, uptake of prevention and treatment interventions) among specific population groups. Other related infectious diseases (hepatitis C virus, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis) and health outcomes (mortality, quality of life) may also be considered. It is expected that these analyses will result in standalone journal papers, some of which you will take the lead in writing. There may also be opportunities to be involved in related mathematical modelling projects, as well as data analyses to help parameterise and calibrate such models. There may also be the opportunity to collaborate on projects which focus on other infections and population groups - including undertaking systematic reviews, epidemiological analyses, mathematical modelling and cost-effectiveness analyses.
You should apply if
We are looking for applicants with in-depth experience in undertaking systematic reviews and meta-analyses, as well as epidemiological analyses using advanced statistical methods, with a focus on infectious diseases. It is essential that you have skills in undertaking systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and statistical analyses of longitudinal epidemiological datasets (using STATA, R or similar packages), possibly with skills in using causal methods. Work on infectious diseases is essential, preferably HIV. You will have strong IT and communication skills and work effectively within a team environment that includes non-statisticians.