University of Cambridge
Department of Public Health and Primary Care
MEDICAL STATISTICIANS
Applications are invited for two full-time Medical Statisticians in the University of Cambridge's
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, which was awarded a 5* top rating in the last
Research Assessment Exercise.
Both posts will equally provide the successful applicants with the perfect opportunity to embark
on a career in Medical Statistics. We anticipate that the combination of working with an
established, professional and highly skilled team in a stimulating, supportive and well-funded
environment will be the ideal first post for aspiring Medical Statisticians.
The General Practice and Primary Care Research Unit (GP & PCRU) and the
Centre for Applied Medical Statistics (CAMS) are both part of the Department of Public Health
and Primary Care, and are situated in the Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, located
adjacent to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. Both posts are two-year fixed term contracts
and are joint appointments with the GP & PCRU and CAMS. Time will be split 50/50 between
GP & PCRU and CAMS.
The purpose of these posts is to support planned and ongoing clinical trials and medical research
projects by working with the senior statisticians, clinical investigators and trial co-ordination staff.
This will include involvement in the design and statistical analyses of the trials, working with
investigators when applying for grant funding, and writing reports and papers for publication.
The post-holder will also have the opportunity to contribute to postgraduate teaching.
We are looking for two post-graduates (M.Sc. or above) in Medical Statistics or related subject.
Knowledge of statistical methods of design and analysis and one or more statistical analyses
packages (S-PLUS or SPSS) is essential. Previous practical experience in the design and
analysis of clinical trials would be advantageous.
Applicants must possess the ability and desire to work in a multi-disciplinary team and have
excellent communication skills to explain statistical concepts clearly to clinicians and researchers.
The successful candidates will receive a high level of support and on-the-job training, as a member
of an experienced and professional team.
Further information:
CAMS (http://www.phpc.cam.ac.uk/cams/index.htm) was established in 1996 in response to the
increasingly recognised need for high quality statistics within medical research, and comprises a
Director, Dr Chris Palmer and three statisticians in addition to the current vacancies.
Within CAMS, the main duties will be to act as statistical consultant and collaborator to clinical
researchers working in and around Cambridge, meaning that there is an attractive variety of people,
projects, disease areas and data sets to be encountered. Both posts will involve developing or
participating in short course teaching on statistical issues to audiences from primary care and other
health-related backgrounds. CAMS statisticians are involved in regular statistical reviewing of papers
submitted to The Lancet.
GP & PCRU (http://www.medschl.cam.ac.uk/gppcru/) designs and conducts programmes of research
that are predominantly multi-disciplinary, involving researchers in primary care, behavioural science,
epidemiology and statistics. Research projects include clinical trials of intervention programmes to
change physical activity and other lifestyle behaviours in the prevention and treatment of Type 2 diabetes,
a trial of the use of a hand-held scanner by GPs to assess suspicious moles, the development of computer-generated advice tools for smoking cessation, and observational studies within the palliative care and
education programmes. The posts will include the independent analyses of projects, and consulting
on project design at all stages with Unit personnel, who vary in research experience.
The Unit has a Senior Statistician, Dr Toby Prevost, who will work closely with the postholders.
The posts offer opportunities for personal development in consulting, collaborating, critical appraisal,
teaching and statistical methodology. The MRC Biostatistics Unit offers statistics seminars and
workshops, and is housed together with CAMS and GP & PCRU in the Institute of Public Health (http://www.iph.cam.ac.uk/reception/index.html).
Salary details:
The appointments will be at either Research Assistant or Research Associate level, depending on
qualifications and experience.
The salary scales are:
Research Assistant - £21,682-£24,403 or Research Associate £25,134-£32,796 per annum
HOW TO APPLY:
For informal enquiries about the posts, please contact
Dr Toby Prevost via [log in to unmask] or 01223 330593.
For a copy of the further particulars, including details of how to apply, please contact
Mrs Helen Ludford (Admin) [log in to unmask], (01223) 330320, GP & PCRU, Department
of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, Forvie Site, Cambridge CB2 0SR UK
CLOSING DATE: Monday 17 March 2008.
INTERVIEWS will be held on 7 and 8 April 2008.
The University is an equal opportunities employer.
The Institute of Public Health operates a no-smoking policy.
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