Postdoctoral Research Associate

University College London Hospital; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious hospital in London is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to manage and analyze data from a cohort of children with rheumatic diseases. In this role, you will collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team and utilize advanced analytics methods to drive research in the field of medicine. Candidates should possess a Master's degree in a relevant area, with strong programming and analytical skills. This is a 12-month fixed term contract with opportunities for research and advancement.

Benefits

Interest-free season ticket loan

On-site accommodation

Free mental health support

Qualifications

• Experience in complex data analysis and research.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrable understanding of Equality and Diversity.

Responsibilities

• Integrate and manage data collected from the cohort.
• Work with Trusted Research Environment Provider.
• Conduct statistical analyses and advance analytics.

Skills

Advanced skills in UNIX/Linux environment

Scripting in Python

Excellent communication skills

Education

Masters in epidemiology, statistics, or relevant areas

PhD in relevant areas

Tools

Relational databases and SQL

Job description

The use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it, then they are required to declare this in their supporting statement.

Job overview

We are seeking experienced and motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to work on Professors Sen and Sofat's MRC funded work as part of the CAPE (Consortium Against Pain inEquality project). Professor Sofat leads a multi-disciplinary team of clinical, data and discovery scientists working in the field of medicine and therapeutics within the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics based in the Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology at Liverpool University. Professor Sen is based at UCLH and has built a cohort of children and young people with rheumatic diseases including inflammatory arthritis from whom study subjects have been recruited and where a clinical database and biological samples are held.

FTC for 12 months at Band 6

Main duties of the job

The aim of this one year post will be to integrate and manage the data that have been collected as part of the cohort to date. This post will also work closely with a Trusted Research Environment Provider to move the data and link it to other study level data and eventually to routine NHS data. In addition analyses from the data collected to date as well as emerging analyses from measures taken during the time period will be within the remit of this post, and applying standard statistical techniques with the opportunity of advanced analytics across multi-modal data as they emerge e.g. muliti-omics, imaging and wearables.

Working for our organisation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
• University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
• National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
• University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
• Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
• University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
• The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
• University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England - for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff - To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Masters in epidemiology, statistics, mathematics, computer science, physics, engineering, data science or other relevant areas (or other equivalent qualification)

Desirable criteria

• PhD in epidemiology, statistics, mathematics, computer science, physics, engineering, data science or other relevant areas (or other equivalent qualification)

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience and demonstrable success in research and or data sciences regardless of background experience (i.e. does not have to have health data background), but does need experience of complex data analysis

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Advanced skills in developing and implementing analysis within a UNIX/ Linux environment and scripting in at least one coding language (e.g. Perl, Python, BASH)

Desirable criteria

• To conduct predictive modelling using AI-based approaches, including advanced machine learning Advanced skills in relational databases and SQL or similar language(s)

Communication

Essential criteria

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal

Personal and People Development

Essential criteria

• Excellent time management and organisational skills and ability to make deadlines, producing high quality work with attention to detail

Desirable criteria

• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/ administration processes.

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

Essential criteria

• Demonstratable understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties (line managers to elaborate depending on the level of the post and to assess this essential criteria at interview)

At UCLH, we have a real 'One Team' ethos, and our values - safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.

At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.

We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.

Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage's staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.

We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.

We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.

This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.

Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.

Please note that if you are at present in a training position on the 2016 new junior doctor's contract and are applying for a Trust doctor role your salary will not be pay protected.

You will be placed on the appropriate point of the Trust Doctor pay scale based on your previous experience.

Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.

For further support on submitting an application please refer to the NLPSS Applicant Toolkit: https://royalfree.pagetiger.com/cuuomnr/1

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 536.3KB)
• Functional Requirements (PDF, 262.3KB)
• UCLH Values (PDF, 860.9KB)