Apologies for inadvertently sending the advert 
formatted. Follows a plain text version:

The following post was advertised in the Guardian 
on tuesday. I am  copying this announcement to 
allstat, public-health, health-services-research 
and evidence-based-health lists. If anyone knows 
of  another eminently suitable list it should go 
to please let me know.

Department of Public Health and Epidemiology
The University of Birmingham

Research Associate / Fellow (Research Methodology)

Job Description

1. Introduction

The DPHE wishes to recruit suitable individual(s) 
to work with Professor Richard Lilford, NHS 
Director of Methodology and Clinical Trial 
Advisor.

One function is to provide support in his role of 
identifying research methodology issues with 
policy implications, and developing policy 
discussion documents for consideration by 
appropriate NHS R&D policy making bodies. In the 
past, this has on occasions entailed publication 
of related academic papers, and the work has been 
both varied and stimulating.  Examples of 
'trials' issues tackled over the past two years 
are: NHS good practice guidelines for clinical 
trials; After planned recruitment, before 
results; Effects of RCTs on patients; Flexible 
Commissioning; Ethics and Cluster RCTs; How to 
assess fast-changing technologies; Barriers to 
good RCTs; Archiving of research data; Trials and 
database studies. With the recent appointment of 
Professor Lilford as NHS Director of Methodology, 
the 'issues' will not be limited to trials, but 
will encompass research methodology more 
generally. While particular issues tackled in the 
future will in part be determined by external 
factors, there is always likely to be an excess 
of available issues - so the interests and 
expertise of recruit(s) will be an important 
consideration in determining the work program.

A second function is simply to work with 
Professor Lilford (and others) on specific 
methodological research or policy projects. One 
early task will be to draft a summary of the 
types and particular characteristics and problems 
of methodological research.

2. Job Summary

Jointly with David Braunholtz (senior research 
fellow), and as directed by the DM/CTA:

* Identify important methodological issues 
relevant to research methodology 'policy' 
(loosely defined). One important source of these 
is monographs arising from the NHS Health 
Technology Assessment Methodology Programme. 
Others are brought to the attention of the DM/CTA 
and may need urgent attention. The general 
research methodology literature is another source.

* Research and develop policy discussion papers 
on issues prioritised by the NHS Methodology 
Group and DM/CTA. This may involve a limited 
amount of literature searching and reading, 
correspondence and discussion with experts, 
conducting workshops, writing discussion and 
academic papers. 

* Participate in general departmental activities 
(including some teaching in small groups)

* Undertake research and other academic duties as 
required by and agreed with Professor Lilford, to 
include drafting a paper setting out the types 
and particular characteristics and problems of 
methodological research.

3. Main Duties 

3.1 Acquiring broad knowledge of the ways in 
which clinical trials (and other research 
studies) are planned, conducted, and reported 'in 
the real world'.

3.2 Conduct systematic, routine searches for 
research raising or bearing on methodology policy 
'issues'.

3.3 Conduct literature searches, and acquire 
relevant literature.

3.4 Organise meetings and (occasionally) 
workshops.

3.5 Discuss policy issues in correspondence, 
conversation, at meetings.

3.6 Draft discussion and academic papers.

3.7 Maintain a computer and paper database of 
references. 

3.8 Contribute to departmental activities - in 
particular some small group teaching of 
undergraduate medical students.

4. Personal Attributes

Required:
High level of initiative, intellect, and 
flexibility.
Interest in research methods (in particular in 
clinical trials) in health.
Ability to write clearly and concisely.
Ability to understand mathematical / statistical 
ideas.
A good first-degree

Desirable:
Experience in health services research
Experience of systematic literature searching
Proven ability to draft papers/reports
Higher degree

Note:
We are deliberately not specifying any particular 
academic background for these posts, as an 
ability to learn fast, pick up ideas quickly, 
think and argue logically, and write well are all 
much more important than any 'background' 
knowledge.

5. Pay and Conditions:

We welcome applicants who wish to work full time, 
but we can be very flexible, and the post may 
also suitable for job-share or other part-time 
basis, or for secondment. Salary according to 
age, qualifications, and experience, starting in 
the range £16286 - £18915 pro rata. The post is 
available full time until 31 May 2002 (or for a 
shorter period). The DPHE is expanding, and in 
the past has been successful at winning new 
research and other contracts and so re-employing 
members on fixed term contracts.

At present, staff on short fixed term contracts 
at Birmingham are required to sign away their 
rights to redundancy payments, but are permitted 
to keep their rights in respect of unfair 
dismissal.

Appointee(s) will be located physically, as well 
as academically, in the Research Methodology 
Unit, led by Professor Richard Lilford, and will 
be accountable to David Braunholtz (Senior 
Research Fellow, Medical Statistician). A 
recently purchased PC will be provided, with 
access to the Internet, and extensive electronic 
journal and bibliographic databases, hopefully in 
an informal, friendly office shared by all 
members of the Unit as at present. A closely 
related methodology project in the Unit is 
looking at subgroup analyses in trials (Josie 
Sandercock and Sandy MacRae (p/t)). Some funds 
are available for attending relevant seminars and 
conferences. If appropriate, appointee(s) will be 
encouraged to register for a higher degree.


Informal enquiries to David Braunholtz (see 
below).

Application forms and further particulars are 
available from:

Director of Staffing Services, The University of 
Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT
Tel: Fiona on (0121) 414 7044, or E-mail: 
[log in to unmask]
Web:   http://www.bham.ac.uk/personnel/

Please quote reference M18293/00

Closing date for receipt of applications: 
21/3/2000 





David Braunholtz
Department of Public Health & Epidemiology
Public Health Building
University of Birmingham
Birmingham B15 2TT
E-Mail:  [log in to unmask]
Tel: 0121-414-7495
FAX: 0121-414-7878


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