Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
Division of Primary Care and Population Health Sciences

Statistician - RA1B / RA1A


This is an exciting opportunity for a statistician to join INTERMAP, an
international research programme on macro- and micronutrient intakes and
blood pressure, based in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
(web site: http://www.med.ic.ac.uk/df/dfhm/index.htm).
The INTERMAP database holds extensive and unique repeated standardised data
on 4,700 individuals across four countries (UK, USA, Japan and China),
including four dietary 24-hour recalls, two 24-hour urine collections, eight
blood pressure measurements, 12 pulse readings, two height and weight
measurements, and questionnaire data. Informal enquiries to Professor Paul
Elliott; email: [log in to unmask], telephone: +44 (0) 171 594 3328.

The appointment will be on the Research Assistant/Research Associate scale
RA1B / RA1A in the range £18,420 - 22,003 p.a., inclusive of London
Allowance. The appointment will be for three years in the first instance,
with a probationary review at six months.

Job description/further particulars follow. Applications: send CV and
covering letter to Simon Sheffield (phone: +44 (0)171 594 3317, fax: +44 (0)
171 402 2150), Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial
College School of Medicine, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG. Closing date 1
February 2000.

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Job Description and Further Particulars:

The Department:

The Department has around sixty staff, and has an excellent track record of
securing high levels of programme and research grant funding across its
three main areas of work. These are Environmental Epidemiology & Small-Area
Health Statistics (including the government-funded Small Area Health
Statistics Unit), Reproductive Epidemiology & Sexual Health, and
Cardiovascular Epidemiology - including the INTERMAP programme. The
Department is currently located in offices in South Wharf Road on the St.
Mary’s (Paddington) site.

The INTERMAP Study:

The Department is the Data Coordinating Centre for the INTERMAP study on
macro- and micronutrient intakes and blood pressure, which is being carried
out among 4700 men and women in four countries (UK, US, Japan, China). For
the 4,700 individuals, high quality standardised data have been collected in
a series of four visits over a 4-6 week period: four 24-hour dietary
recalls, two 24-hour urine collections, eight blood pressure measurements,
12 pulse readings, two height and weight measurements, and questionnaire
data.

The study has for the last five years had support (through June 30, 2000)
from the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Following a highly
rated assessment of the programme’s work, it is expected that funding will
be continued from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2004. The London Coordinating
Centre (LCC) has long-term responsibility for data management and analysis
of the extensive and unique INTERMAP database.

Other Nutritional and cardiovascular diseases epidemiology. The Department
holds and continues to analyse the extensive database from the international
cooperative INTERSALT study of urinary electrolyte excretion, blood pressure
and other factors which was carried out among over 10,000 individuals in 52
centres and 32 countries worldwide. Other work includes analysis of the
Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults, and methodological work on
the problem of errors-in-variables of dietary variables.

Job Summary: the post covers the following key areas:

· Statistical Analysis and program development: the post-holder will use the
SAS (or equivalent) statistical software, and special programs written by
Professor Alan Dyer, to manage and produce descriptive and analytical
statistics on the large INTERMAP database. The post-holder will contribute
to the analysis of the INTERMAP, INTERSALT, Adult Nutrition Survey and other
databases in close collaboration with Professor Jeremiah Stamler, INTERMAP
International Co-Principal Investigator, and Professors Alan Dyer and Kiang
Liu, Principal Statisticians, at the Joint International Coordinating
Centre, Northwestern University, Chicago, and Professor Paul Elliott,
International Co-Principal Investigator, at the London Coordinating Centre,
Imperial College, London.

· Other tasks: as required by Professor Paul Elliott, Head, Department of
Epidemiology and Public Health.

Training:
Where necessary the candidate will receive external and/or internal training
in the use of appropriate computing systems and software, including use of
SAS.

Person Specification:

· appropriate MSc, or PhD or equivalent research experience
· experience in the use of SAS or equivalent statistical software
· ability to prioritise jobs and organise work effectively
· a proactive self-starter with ability to learn new skills quickly
· able to work with a minimum of supervision
· good, proven inter-personal communication skills
· able to work effectively with staff of all grades
· appropriate computing/technical skills


Terms and Conditions: The appointment will be on the Research
Assistant/Research Associate scale RA1B / RA1A in the range £18,420 -
22,003, inclusive of London Allowance. The appointment will be for three
years in the first instance, with a probationary review at six months.




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