Imperial College, London
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics
School of Public Health

Research Associate in Environmental Statistics
Salary Range £26,860 - £39,130 per annum

Priority consideration will be given to staff at risk of redundancy

Applications are invited for a Research Associate in Environmental Statistics to join the Biostatistics research group within the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the St Mary’s campus. The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics is based within the newly created School of Public Health. 

The post holder will help in the planning and development of a general Bayesian profile-based modelling framework to examine patterns of air pollution exposures and relate these patterns to socio-economic characteristics and health outcomes. You will work under the supervision of Dr John Molitor and Professor Sylvia Richardson and ideally will have experience working on projects in the field of environmental epidemiology. 

Applicants should hold a PhD degree in Statistics or a related quantitative subject. Knowledge of basic statistical analysis techniques and of statistical packages such as R are required. Experience in using modern statistical modelling techniques, especially Bayesian hierarchical models and multi-level modelling are essential. Knowledge of GIS techniques, ArcGIS and some knowledge of epidemiology and/or environmental science and measurement error methods would be an advantage. Applicants should be motivated, well organised and able to work effectively as part of a team.

This full time post is for a fixed-term 2 years.

For informal enquiries please contact Dr John Molitor ([log in to unmask]) or Professor Sylvia Richardson ([log in to unmask]).

Our preferred method of application is online via our website http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/employment. Please complete and upload an application form as directed. 

Reference number: SM145-10

Closing date: 6th of September, 2010.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity.  We are also an Athena Silver SWAN Award winner and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.




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IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:		Research Associate in Environmental Statistics (SM145-10)

Division:		School of Public Health

Department:		Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Job Family / Level:		Research and Education Family, Level B

Salary Range:		£26,860 - £39,130 per annum

Contract Duration:		Full time for a fixed-term of two years

Reporting to:			Dr John Molitor and Professor Sylvia Richardson

Location:			St Mary’s Campus, Paddington, London


1. Summary of Research Project and Research Environment

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious Research Associate to work in the field of Environmental Statistics in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Imperial College.

The applicant will join a team of internationally recognised experts in Environmental Epidemiology and Biostatisics, working on the development of new, advanced multi-pollutant methods for investigating the health effects of gaseous and particulate air pollution exposures, including metal components of particulate matter.  These new methods will be used to examine the combined effects of these pollutants on health outcomes and associations with deprivation. The methods will be developed and applied as part of the new MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health at Imperial College London and King's College London (http://www.environment-health.ac.uk/). A main objective of the Centre is the development of appropriate tools to study environment and health problems, with particular emphasis on the health effects of air pollution. 
  
The post holder will have expertise in modern statistical modelling techniques including Bayesian multi-level spatial modelling, along with a general knowledge of standard frequentist statistical methods.  Expertise in statistical software such as R and WinBUGS is also required, as is the ability to write custom computer programs. Experience in the use of GIS software, such as ArcGIS, would also be an advantage. Applicants should hold a PhD degree in Statistics or a related quantitative subject and ideally have experience working on projects in the field of environmental epidemiology.  The post holder will be supervised by Dr John Molitor and Prof Sylvia Richardson. Applicants should be motivated, well organised and able to work effectively as part of a team.

2. Summary of Post

As part of a recently awarded MRC grant, we plan to develop a general Bayesian profile-based modelling framework to examine patterns of air pollution exposures and relate these patterns to socio-economic characteristics and health outcomes.

Our overall approach is to cluster joint patterns of air pollution exposures, denoted as an air pollution profiles, utilizing recently developed powerful Bayesian dimension-reduction and clustering techniques to characterize the pollutant patterns.  Inference is then based on the joint pattern of pollution exposures.  

We propose to formulate the model in a Bayesian context, and as such all components of the modelling framework will be fitted jointly using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods.

We will demonstrate the benefit of using multi-pollutant profiling methods to characterize patterns of air pollution exposures and relate these exposure patterns to indicators of health and socio-economic status using data from the Office for National Statistics. There will be three areas of applications:

•	Characterization of patterns of air pollution exposure in London.
•	Associating patterns of exposure with measures of health and deprivation.
•	Characterizing levels of metals in particulate matter obtained from roadside monitors available at 16 sites throughout London.

3. Key Responsibilities

•	To play a key role in developing and applying new methodology under the supervision of Dr John Molitor and Professor Sylvia Richardson
•	To interact closely with the other researchers at Imperial College
•	To carry out substantive analyses using the methods developed 
•	To write papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals
•	To present the results of your research at conferences and other meetings

4. Other Duties
 
•	To contribute to the teaching on the MSc in Modern Epidemiology
•	To comply with relevant College policies, including Financial Regulations, Equal Opportunities Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy, Health and Safety Policy, Information Systems Security Policy and Intellectual Property Rights and Register of Interests Policies
•	Other responsibilities appropriate to an appointment at this level as required by Professor Paul Elliott, Head of Department of Epidemiology and Public Health


Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and so the post holder may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

The post holder is expected to observe and comply with all College policies and regulations, for example Health and Safety, Data Protection etc.

Imperial College is committed to equality of opportunity and to eliminating discrimination.  All employees are expected to adhere to the principles set out in our Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy, Promoting Race Equality Policy and Disability Policy and all other relevant guidance/practice frameworks.





 
PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

Essential 
•	PhD in statistics or a related quantitative subject

Knowledge

Essential
•	Knowledge of basic statistical analysis techniques
•	Some knowledge of Bayesian methods and hierarchical modelling
•	Knowledge of the statistical packages R 

Desirable

•	Knowledge of GIS techniques and  ArcGIS
•	Some knowledge of epidemiology and/or environmental science and measurement error methods

Experience 

Essential
•	Experience of using modern statistical modelling techniques, especially Bayesian hierarchical models, multi-level modelling.

Skills

Essential
•	Strong skills in data analysis
•	Excellent writing skills and ability to co-write papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals 
•	Ability to prioritise tasks and organise work effectively to meet deadlines
•	Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively, both in person and via telephone/email, with staff from a range of disciplines, and to mentor applied scientists
•	Ability to present information effectively to meetings, give positive input to discussion at meetings
•	Ability to teach to a non-specialist audience
•	Ability to work well independently and as part of a team
•	Ability to work with a minimum of supervision
•	Excellent organisational skills
•	A meticulous approach and attention to detail

Other
•	An interest and willingness to learn new skills quickly


 
APPLICATION GUIDANCE

Please read the person specification carefully and describe, as part of your application, how much you feel you meet each of the criteria. 

If you attach a CV it should include the following information:

Applicant’s full name, private address and private telephone number
A confidential fax number and e-mail address, where possible
Degrees (including University and dates)
Past and present posts
List of publications
Brief description of future research plans
Names, addresses and, email, fax numbers, of three referees.

Thank you for your interest in this post. We look forward to receiving your application.

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