Job responsibilities
- Assess, develop and apply appropriate mathematical and statistical modelling methods to address a range of emerging infectious disease threats and help inform effective control strategies.
- Abstract and analyse relevant qualitative and quantitative data from various sources for use in these models.
- 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, if required.
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality 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.
Essential Criteria:
- First degree in a discipline involving high mathematical or statistical content or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
- Demonstrable practical postgraduate experience in applying one or more of the techniques in the core skills below.
- Well-developed skills in producing computer code from mathematics and/or algometric description (preferably Python, but any mainstream language acceptable).
- 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.
- Be willing to apply for and obtain UK security clearance
Desirable criteria:
- Higher degree (preferably PhD) or substantially equivalent experience in the application of mathematical modelling or statistics, especially in microbiology or biological sciences.
- Demonstrable practical post-doctoral (or equivalent) experience in applying several techniques in the core skills below.
- Experience working in a Unix / Linux environment
- Experience with HPC or cloud environments
- Experience with software development process (version control, unit testing, continuous integration, etc.)
- Experience of managing the day-to-day running of projects
Core skills
Mathematical modelling 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.
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
Processing and use of remotely sensed data
Selection Process
Stage 1: Application & Sift
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement / Statement of Suitability in no more than 750 words. We will be assessing essential criteria at sift.
This should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the Essential criteria or the Desirable criteria (outlined in the person specification section).
You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history. This will be used in the sifting process and will be scored
.
Stage 2 Technical assessment stage
There will also be a technical assessment for those who pass the application stage where you will be expected to demonstrate your ability to problem solve using code and to explain the code you produce.
Stage 3 Interview stage
For those who pas technical assessment there will be a single round of interviews
This vacancy is using Success Profiles. During the interview we will assess your behaviours, strengths, ability, experience, and technical skills.
You will be asked to prepare and present a 10-minute presentation. The subject of the presentation will be sent to you prior to interview.
Behaviours to be assessed:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Reserve List:
Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.
If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.
DBS - People working with government systems must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed for this role is BPSS however there may be a requirement for this role to be SC cleared and you should familiarise yourself with the criteria of security clearance.
This role is Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants. Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Government baseline personnel security standard
Its important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:
- life sentences
- arson
- sexual offences
- hate and terror offences
Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role
Contact Details Sophie.Rigney@reed.com
