I have been asked to forward the following job advert to the list.
Please contact Dr Lulu Bost (tel number below) if you would like more
information.

JOINT HEALTH SURVEYS UNIT
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCLMS
1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT
Social & Community Planning Research
35 Northampton Square, London EC1V OAX

STATISTICIAN

Introduction: The Health Surveys: The Health Survey for England is a
yearly national cross sectional survey funded by the Department of
Health.  Since 1994 the survey has been carried out by the Joint
Health Surveys Unit of University College London (UCL) and Social and
Community Planning Research (SCPR).  A random sample of approximately
13000 private households is taken from the postcode address file and
every adult and child aged two or over within the selected households
are eligible to take part.  The survey consists of an interview and a
nurse visit.  The 1995 to 1997 surveys' focus was on atopic illness
and accidents, while the 1998 is on cardiovascular disease and its
risk factors.  The first Scottish Health Survey (1995) was published
last year and the second one is currently in the field.  It focuses
on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors.  The sample consists
of approximately 7,800 adults and 2,000 children.

The Survey team at UCL, where the appointee will be based, currently
comprises of a medical epidemiologist, a research fellow in
epidemiology, a study field coordinator, a data assistant, a
secretary and this statistician post.  A senior lecturer has also
recently joined the team.  The SCPR team handles fieldwork, data
entry and data cleaning.  The UCL team is responsible for advising on
design and development of the surveys, training nursing staff, and
together with SCPR, analysing the data and writing a report for each
survey that is conducted.  At least one major report is published
each year.

Introduction: The Department: Epidemiology and Public Health houses a
number of research groups, including: the Whitehall II Study;
Eurodiab, investigating diabetes; Dental Public Health; the MRC
National Survey of Health and Development; the Centre for Health and
Society; the Joint Health Surveys Unit; and the ICRF Health Behaviour
Unit.  We  also house a Professor in Pharmaceutical and Health
Statistics and will be joined, from early 1999, by a Psychophysiology
Unit under Professor Andrew Steptoe.  Staff numbers have risen from
approximately sixty to one hundred and ten in the last five years,
whilst research student numbers have risen from eight to thirty-four
in the same period. For an outline of research areas within the
department please visit our web site at
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/epidemiology/. The Department runs several
seminar series, which to all members of staff are encouraged to
attend, and teaches on undergraduate and graduate programmes.

Tasks: The statistician's workload will include:

analysis of data and interpretation of results;
working with SCPR statisticians on the statistical approach and
content of the reports;
management of the data sets assisted by the data assistant at UCL and
with staff at SCPR;
assisting in writing and proof-reading the reports;
advising on study design;
statistical advice and advice on the use of SPSS to other members of
the team; and
assisting with analysis and writing for research purposes.

The statisticians in the department also run a statistical
consultancy clinic for the Medical School. Although not a significant
element of the workload, the appointee will have to contribute to the
clinic on a regular basis, as requested by the Stephen Senn,
Professor in Health and Pharmaceutical Statistics, who works within
the department.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be a graduate in a numerate
discipline with a grounding or qualification in medical statistics,
preferably an MSc in medical statistics.  Experience in the analysis
of large data sets and in the use of SPSS is highly desirable.
He/she must be capable of working on his/her own initiative and
effectively within a team.

Appointment: For a year in the first instance, with a six month
probationary period. Subject to the receipt of continued funding and
satisfactory performance, the post will be extended.  Salary in the
range stlg17,869 - stlg23,949 per annum, inclusive of London Weighting.
Appointment will be as soon as possible.

Applications: For an informal discussion contact Dr Lulu Bost on 0171
504 5647.  Applicants should send a full curriculum vitae (including
telephone number) and name and address of two referees with covering
letter to Ms Barbara Smith, Health Surveys Group, Department of
Epidemiology and Public Health, 1-19 Torrington Place, London WC1E
6BT.  Closing date: 9 October 1998. Candidates invited for interview
are likely to be contacted by  phone in the week of 12 October 1998,
with all interviews will be held on Thursday 22 October 1998.
References will be taken up for shortlisted candidates prior to
interview: please notify us if this might cause problems.



%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%