Geostatistical Specialist/Modeller
Health Protection Agency, Salisbury
£28,313 to £37,326 p.a.
Remote sensing skills preferable

To apply please go to www.hpa.org.uk/careers
Closing date: 10/07/08

The Microbial Risk Assessment (MRA) team within the Health Protection 
Agency (HPA) currently has a vacancy requiring a candidate with a PhD (or 
a substantively equivalent level and extent of experience) in a relevant 
numerate discipline that has involved the extensive development and use of 
advanced geospatial statistical tools and GIS to better understand health 
or environmental data. Building on existing work and working closely with 
colleagues within MRA, the role will make major contributions to the 
development of MRA’s geostatisical analysis capability, particularly in 
application to infectious disease risk assessment and mapping. Primary 
areas of interest concern the potential risks posed by emerging infectious 
disease threats especially those that are zoonotic or vector borne and the 
potential future impacts that might occur as a consequence of changes in 
climate, weather, land use, animal and human movements, and trade. Other 
areas of interest include the potential influence human demographics and 
population movements may have in respect to modelling the spread and 
control of a wider range of infectious disease threats.

The HPA is an independent body that protects the health and well-being of 
everyone in England and Wales. The Agency plays a critical role in 
protecting people from infectious diseases and in preventing harm when 
hazards involving chemicals, poisons or radiation occur. We also prepare 
for new and emerging threats, such as a bio-terrorist attack or a virulent 
new strain of pathogen.
The MRA team is a multidisciplinary group of mathematical modellers, 
infectious disease biologists, epidemiologists, geographic information 
system (GIS) and IT development specialists that provides a range of 
underpinning research, and technical and scientific support to assist in 
emergency preparedness and response operations. This includes developing 
evidence-based risk assessments to help advise the Department of Health, 
Health Protection Agency and related sister agencies and departments on 
policy, contingency planning and public health countermeasures ahead of 
time for new and (re-)emerging infectious disease threats, including those 
posed by bioterrorism. The group also develops and provides specialist 
systems to help with training exercises and real-time outbreak management 
and control based on its recognized capabilities in GIS, data analysis, 
visualisation and modelling. 

With excellent computer literacy and proficiency in the application of GIS 
and geospatial statistical software to the interpretation of data you will 
be able to produce formal reports and peer-reviewed scientific research 
papers. With either a strong interest in or current knowledge of 
infectious disease processes you will be able to work in a team and 
collaborate effectively with key groups within and outside the Agency. 
Previous experience of working with remote sensing data would be an 
advantage. The successful candidate will be encouraged to apply for UK 
Security Clearance.

The Health Protection Agency is an equal opportunities employer.

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