Job responsibilities
This role would typically be suitable for someone with a few years postgraduate experience or someone looking for a postdoctoral type role. As postholder you would, in conversation with your line-manager, be expected to lead research and development of the teams work under the HPRU. Depending on the level of demand on the team you may supervise short-term placement students and interns or PhDs within the HPRU. You would bring mathematical / technical expertise to ensure that scientific and other outputs are produced in a timely way.
The teams work-packages currently comprise:
Source-term estimation locating pathogen sources from case data. In-host dynamics how a pathogen behaves inside the human body. Model frameworks high level code for the rapid production of models. Neural networks for model emulation and machine vision using the power of inferential tools to speed up models and to detect health threats.
The specific projects under the HPRU likely assigned to this role, either directly or in collaboration with others in the team, being:
Applied records of traumatic events and mass injury surveillance
This aims to create a global database of non-fatal injuries, including sequelae (e.g. disease, deprivation) and probability of survival. Focussing especially on disadvantaged communities, we will explore the long-term burden of disease, psychosocial sequelae and socioeconomic hardship of survivors of a major incident.
Syndromic surveillance of injury and correlates of community resilience
This project will look at the syndromic surveillance of injuries and observe how these may predict incoming demand on the health system and will: characterise the nature and seasonality of such reports, investigate linkable statistics to help drive causal inference, look into the differential of report types between different types of medical unit.
Essential Criteria.
We will be assessing your demonstrated ability to think critically about the world and break problems down into pieces that are amenable to quantitative representation (mathematical or statistical modelling).
You should be expecting to show the panel examples of where you have done this previously and what the outcomes of your work was.
- 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 ( Mathematics, Statistical modelling, Modelling, Data analysis) 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.
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 expert in some sections and know little about others.
Mathematics
Constructing, using, and solving ODE and/or PDE systems. Numerical analysis. Approximation theory. Operation research including linear and non-linear optimisation Functional analysis. Dimensional analysis.
Statistical modelling
Frequentist analysis (e.g., ANOVA, GLM, LMEM, etc.). Bayesian statistics and analysis. Probability distribution theory. Stochastic simulation. Monte Carlo simulation. Neural networks and/or machine learning (e.g., Random Forest, SVM, etc.)
Modelling
Mechanistic modelling. Predictive modelling. Compartmental disease modelling. Meta-population (patch) modelling. Individual based modelling. Network or next generation modelling. Integrated epidemiology and macro-economic modelling. Spatio-temporal modelling. Sensitivity analysis. Demographic modelling. Parameter estimation. Uncertainty analysis.
Data analysis
Data cleaning. Processing and use of remotely sensed data.
Software
Set and analyse software requirements. Formulation and implementation of unit and system tests Produce code suitable for distribution on domain/language specific platforms (e.g., CRAN / PyPI).
Stage 1: Application & Sift
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours and Experience.
At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential listed in the job advert.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement / Supporting Statement in no more than 750 words. Note: Healthjobs UK has a word limit in this section of 1500 words in the form but only the first 750 words will be scored. You should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the Essential criteria (outlined in the person specification / job description).
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 against the same criteria. Please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form with as much relevant detail as possible.
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.
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.
- Demonstrablepractical postgraduate experience in applying one or more of the techniques in the core skills above.
Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of:
1. Meets all essential criteria2. Meets most essential criteria3. Meets no essential criteria
Should we longlist, we will take though only those who meet all essential criteria.
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 (120 minutes)
There will 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. This typically consists of a set problem, 90 minutes to formulate a solution and a 15-minute Q&A session with a panel where you explain your solution.
Candidates who pass the technical assessment stage will be invited to a remote interview.
Stage 3: Interview (success profiles)
You will be invited to a remote interview.
For this round we are using published interview questions. That is, you will be given the lead questions 48 hours before the interview so that you may give a considered answer and best reflect your strengths. You should expect unscripted follow-up questions based on your answers and to probe your knowledge.
Interviews will be held week commencing 22nd September, 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:
o Working together
o Communicating and influencing
o Changing and improving
Previous Skills and Experience: technical skills and ability
You will be asked to prepare and present a 7-minute presentation. The subject of this will be How mathematical modelling may be used to improve response to public health emergencies.
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 Homebased.
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 Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An enhanced DBS is required.
