The Central Science Laboratory (CSL) is an Executive Agency of the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).  The Agency
provides policy advice and technical support underpinned by high quality
R&D to help DEFRA and other customers safeguard food supplies, protect
consumers and the environment.  CSL has two vacancies (1 permanent, 1 
casual) for risk analysts based in York.  (Closing date 29/May.)

York posts: (http://www.csl.gov.uk/jobs/PDF/csp2636.pdf)

Purpose of the Job:
To carry out quantitative (or probabilistic) risk assessments using a 
range of statistical and mathematical techniques, and contribute to the 
development of new approaches. The assessments will estimate levels of 
risk to human health and the environment from chemicals and other 
stressors, and will include quantification of uncertainty.

The post holder will be required to work closely with scientists in the 
disciplines relating to the assessments (e.g. food science, ecology) and 
with other modellers, statisticians and computing staff as appropriate. 
The post holder will also be required to contribute to meetings with 
customers and seeking new business in the risk assessment area.

The development of sound, science-based approaches to risk assessment 
and risk management is a high priority for national governments, the 
European Commission and industry. CSL is at the forefront of developing 
probabilistic methods for assessing environmental risks of pesticides in 
Europe  and is rapidly applying similar approaches in other areas of its 
work, from wildlife management to food safety. The new post holder will 
play a key role in the continued expansion of this work and development 
of new approaches. She or he will report to the leader of CSL’s Risk 
Analysis team but will work closely with a range of staff in other teams 
in CSL, as appropriate for individual projects.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:
·     To work with scientists and customers to formulate assessment problems.
·     To assemble and use data provided by scientists and customers.
·     To build and run statistical/mathematical models and quantify the 
uncertainty associated with predictions.
·     To produce reports and presentations to communicate results effectively.

Qualifications/Skills/Experience:

Essential:
A degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject such as 
statistics, mathematics or science with a strong statistics/mathematics 
component and at least three years experience in the application of 
statistics or mathematics in a relevant science area.   Candidates 
without a degree would need to have a minimum of six years relevant 
experience.

The following are also essential:
·     Ability to communicate statistical and mathematical ideas to 
non-statisticians.
·     Ability to rapidly appreciate the essence of scientific and policy 
questions, and propose appropriate modelling approaches to address them.
·     Ability to understand the scientific principles behind data from lab 
or field experiments and surveys.
·     Proven ability to produce clear and effective reports and/or 
scientific papers.
·     Excellent computing skills (including common Windows office software, 
Word and Excel).
·     Excellent interpersonal skills and team-working. Self-motivation and 
the ability to work unsupervised. Flexible approach to working in a busy 
and often varied work environment.

Desirable:
·     Experience or qualifications in the application of 
statistical/mathematical methods to risk assessment in any field and/or 
a strong interest in doing this in the fields of food safety and 
environmental science.
·     Experience with relevant software e.g. Crystal Ball, @Risk, Genstat, 
Matlab, WinBugs, Analytica, Riskcalc.
·     Knowledge of Bayesian methods, stochastic modelling, sensitivity 
analysis, fuzzy mathematics.

Special factors to be considered:
The work may involve some travel (including international) to visit 
customers and to attend meetings, particularly for collaborative 
projects. This may occasionally be required at short notice.

For further details, salary information, etc and an application form,
see http://www.csl.gov.uk/jobs/

Please call Andy Hart on +44 (0)1904 462053 should you wish to discuss
the post informally.

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Alistair Murray  MA, MSc, CStat         Phone:  +44 (0)1904 462092
Senior Biostatistician/WEMA             GTN:    5129 2092
Central Science Laboratory              Fax:    +44 (0)1904 462111
Sand Hutton                             Email:  [log in to unmask]
York YO41 1LZ                           Web:    http://www.csl.gov.uk
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