Birmingham, West Midlands (England), B2 4BH : London, London (region), E14 4PU : Liverpool, North West England, L3 1DS : Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber, LS1 4PL : London, London (region), NW9 5EQ : Didcot, South East England, OX11 0RQ : Idmiston, South West England, SP4 0JG
Job Summary
The Epidemiological Insight Team in UKHSA is recruiting an SEO Mathematical Modeller/Research Software Engineer to support a National Institute for Health and Care Research-funded Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU). The Health Analytics and Modelling HPRU brings together world-leading health analytics and modelling groups to better prepare the UK for future health protection threats and addresses research priorities across a wide range of disease areas, including improving preparedness and response to novel outbreaks and other public health emergencies. The research unit's key goals are to use state-of-the-art techniques from computer science, statistics, epidemiology, and economics to analyse data collected by the UKHSA, NHS, and other health partners to forecast disease, produce computer simulations of different policies (like vaccination or testing), and consider the costs and effects on the economy.
Job Description
Your role will be to develop our internal software applications - Disease Wiki and Disease Parameters Database. Working with HPRU project partners at Imperial College London and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine you will help leverage synergies between our independent initiatives to produce easily accessible and centralised databases of epidemiological and modelling parameter estimates for multiple infectious pathogens with epidemic potential. As the project develops we expect the focus to shift from model parameters to high performance model frameworks (examples would be PyGOM, ODIN or JUNE) and how they may 1. be made more accessible 2. could take advantage of modern GPU technologies 3. what is required to be able to pass model specification between systems and institutions.
Working as part of an integrated multidisciplinary team (epidemiologists, mathematical modellers, data scientists, and public health experts) and with external collaborators, you will be a team player with excellent mathematical background, have a good understanding of modern programming techniques including API development and software packaging. You should also have excellent report writing skills and an awareness of modelling infectious disease processes. Your role will be to explore and define best practice knowledge transfer between institutions including parameter synthesis, data interchange, and development of guidelines and/or a DSL for epidemiological model reporting.
The Main Duties And Responsibilities Of The Role Include:
* Assess, develop and apply appropriate methods to facilitate the interchange of data and code across a range of emerging infectious disease threats.
* Abstract and analyse relevant qualitative and quantitative data from various sources for use.
* Communicate with experts in other disciplines to ensure that they understand required input data and the output from your work (including limitations and uncertainty on analyses performed).
* Enhance the science base in this field and promote the epidemic modelling capabilities developed within the team through peer-reviewed publication of findings and presentations at conferences and workshops.
* Work closely with other members of UKHSA in the integration and dissemination of the above tools and data to provide core UKHSA capabilities.
* Communicate with other team members on scientific and operational issues and liaise with other experts both internally and externally.
* Assist in the funding applications, where appropriate.
* Provide specialist technical reports based on the work above, as required.
Your role will be to develop our internal software applications - Disease Wiki and Disease Parameters Database. Working with HPRU project partners at Imperial College London and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine you will help leverage synergies between our independent initiatives to produce easily accessible and centralised databases of epidemiological and modelling parameter estimates for multiple infectious pathogens with epidemic potential. As the project develops we expect the focus to shift from model parameters to high performance model frameworks (examples would be PyGOM, ODIN or JUNE) and how they may 1. be made more accessible 2. could take advantage of modern GPU technologies 3. what is required to be able to pass model specification between systems and institutions.
Working as part of an integrated multidisciplinary team (epidemiologists, mathematical modellers, data scientists, and public health experts) and with external collaborators, you will be a team player with excellent mathematical background, have a good understanding of modern programming techniques including API development and software packaging. You should also have excellent report writing skills and an awareness of modelling infectious disease processes. Your role will be to explore and define best practice knowledge transfer between institutions including parameter synthesis, data interchange, and development of guidelines and/or a DSL for epidemiological model reporting.
The Main Duties And Responsibilities Of The Role Include:
* Assess, develop and apply appropriate methods to facilitate the interchange of data and code across a range of emerging infectious disease threats.
* Abstract and analyse relevant qualitative and quantitative data from various sources for use.
* Communicate with experts in other disciplines to ensure that they understand required input data and the output from your work (including limitations and uncertainty on analyses performed).
* Enhance the science base in this field and promote the epidemic modelling capabilities developed within the team through peer-reviewed publication of findings and presentations at conferences and workshops.
* Work closely with other members of UKHSA in the integration and dissemination of the above tools and data to provide core UKHSA capabilities.
* Communicate with other team members on scientific and operational issues and liaise with other experts both internally and externally.
* Assist in the funding applications, where appropriate.
* Provide specialist technical reports based on the work above, as required.
Person specification
* First degree in a discipline involving high mathematical or statistical content or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
* Higher degree (preferably PhD) or substantially equivalent experience in: the application of research focused computer code or mathematical modelling or statistics to problems in health (human, animal, or plant), microbiology or biological sciences.
* Demonstrable practical postgraduate experience in applying one or more of the techniques in the core skills ( Software, Mathematics, Statistical modelling, Spatial analysis, Spatial analysis, Data analysis) below. Particular weight will be given to software skills.
* Experience with software development process (version control, unit testing, continuous integration, etc.)
* Excellent communication skills written, verbal, tele/videoconferencing.
* Able to work together with others to achieve goals (team player).
* An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to team management.
*Core Skills*
Mathematical modelling and Research Software Engineering is both a broad and deep field. It is expected that the post holder will bring some, but far from all, of the skills below to the team. It is expected that they will be more expert in some sections than others.
Software
* Set and analyse software requirements.
* Design scalable software can sustainably grow.
* Formulate and implement various types of tests so that software may be maintained.
* Automate operations of the integration and release process.
* Create source code building blocks that are documented and reusable.
* Able to produce code that is suitable for distribution on domain/language specific platforms (e.g., CRAN / PyPI).
Mathematics
* Constructing, using and solving ODE and/or PDE systems.
* Predictive modelling.
* Numerical methods.
* Linear programming / optimisation.
* Operational research.
* Functional analysis.
* Dimensional analysis.
Statistical modelling
* Standard frequentist analysis (e.g. ANOVA, GLM, LMEM, etc.).
* Bayesian statistics and analysis.
* Probability distribution theory.
* Stochastic simulation.
* Monte Carlo simulation.
Spatial analysis
* Mechanistic modelling.
* Compartmental disease modelling.
* Meta-population (patch) modelling.
* Individual based modelling.
* Network or next generation modelling.
* Spatio-temporal modelling.
* Sensitivity analysis.
* Host-vector modelling.
* Demographic modelling.
* Parameter estimation.
* Uncertainty analysis
Data analysis
* Data cleaning.
* Processing and use of remotely sensed data
Alongside your salary of £40,661, UK Health Security Agency contributes £11,779 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* Learning and development tailored to your role
* An environment with flexible working options
* A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
* A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Please visit our careers site for more information
Selection process details
Stage 1: Application & Sift
This vacancy is using
Success Profiles.
At Sift Stage You Will Be Assessed Against The Essential And Desirable Criteria Listed In The Job Advert.You Will Be Required To Complete An:
* Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application)
* Supporting Statement (up to 750 words) - this should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.
You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V. Please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible.
Your statement of suitability must be
no more than 750 words
.
If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift against the lead criteria of the essential criteria will be conducted.
* Demonstrable practical postgraduate experience in applying one or more of the techniques in the core skills above. Particular weight will be given to software skills.
Longlisting
: In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of:
* Meets all essential criteria
* Meets most essential criteria
* Meets no essential criteria
(We will take through pile 1)
Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Candidates who pass the sift stage will progress to a Technical assessment stage.
Stage 2: Technical assessment.
There will be a technical assessment prior to interview. This assessment will be based on converting a problem into code and discussing that solution with a panel.
Candidates who pass the technical assessment stage will progress to interview.
Stage 3: Interview (success profiles)
You will be invited to a remote interview.
Interviews will be held week commencing 29 September 2025, please note these dates are subject to change.
This vacancy is being assessed using
Success Profiles
. During the interview we will assess you against the below:
*Behaviours:*
* Working together
* Communicating and influencing
* Changing and improving
Previous Skills and Experience: technical skills and ability
You will be asked to prepare and present a 10-minute presentation. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records
External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our
Core HQ's.
We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQ's (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or at one of our
scientific campus sites
(Colindale, Porton and Chilton).
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Security Clearance.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Clearance
For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
Successful candidates must also meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).
Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here:
International Police check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Link Below:
Artificial intelligence and recruitment, Civil Service Careers
Internal Fraud check
If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant's personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
* UK nationals
* nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
* nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
* Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
* Name : Emma Bennett
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here.