Research Fellow (Quantitative) - Department of Applied Health Sciences - 106833 - Grade 8

University of Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

An established higher education institution in Birmingham seeks a Research Fellow in Epidemiology to conduct original research focused on estimating the health burden associated with violence against women and children. The role includes planning quantitative research, supervising students, and developing statistical methods to support health inequalities modelling. Ideal candidates should have a PhD and extensive experience in quantitative research methodologies. This full-time, fixed-term position is set to continue until September 2030.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Higher degree relevant to research area, typically a PhD.
• Extensive experience in applied quantitative methods.
• Experience with large, complex datasets.

Responsibilities

• Conduct original research with measurable outcomes.
• Plan and coordinate quantitative research activities.
• Publish research results and supervise PhD students.

Skills

Quantitative methods

Epidemiology

Statistical modelling

Health inequalities modelling

Data linkage

Education

PhD in epidemiology, medical statistics, public health, or related field

Tools

Statistical software (e.g., R, SAS)

Data analysis tools

Job description

Position Details

Department of Applied Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £47,389 to £56,535 with potential progression once in post to £63,606

Grade: 8

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2030

Closing date: 14th January 2026

Background

To create and disseminate knowledge through initiating and conducting original research and through publication, as appropriate to the disciplinary area.

This post will sit within the Department of Applied Health Sciences and will support the delivery of the NIHR Research Professorship awarded to Professor Joht Singh Chandan (NIHR306365 https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR306365). The Research Professorship aims to optimise the health sector response to violence against women and children by:

• advancing multi-sector data linkage using Secure Data Environments
• estimating the health and economic burden of violence
• evaluating trauma-informed models of care
• improving maternity outcomes and reducing inequalities
• strengthening survivor engagement

This post will deliver the quantitative work package, WP2 ‘Estimating the burden associated with violence against women and children and trauma, using advanced epidemiology, multi-sector data linkage, statistical modelling and risk factor estimation’.

The post requires strong quantitative skills to support multi-level epidemiological analyses, causal inference, risk factor estimation, health inequalities modelling and complex dataset construction.

The Fellow will also contribute (as a secondary aspect) to aligned programmes within Professor Chandan’s portfolio, including the Hub for Health Inequalities, the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Disparities Consortium, and the NIHR Global Health Research Group (https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR156915).

The role will involve planning and co-ordinating high-quality quantitative research, including advanced epidemiological analyses, health inequalities modelling, and SDE-based data linkage. The post holder will lead the analytical and quantitative components of WP2, including exposure–outcome modelling, risk estimation, and burden estimation (e.g., incident, DALY-like approaches, population-attributable fractions). The role will also contribute to development of a UK analytical hub connected to the GBD Europe initiative through quantitative risk factor estimation and model development.

Role Summary

• Initiate and conduct original research which has measurable outcomes and is reflected in a growing national and often incipient international reputation
• Plan, design and co-ordinate research activities and programmes
• Contribute to the development of research strategies
• Publish results of own research
• Supervise PhD students
• Contribute to the Department/School through management/leadership
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement activities, widening participation, schools outreach or similar activities at Department/School level or further within the University

Main Duties

To plan and carry out research, using appropriate methodology and techniques. This may include, where appropriate to the discipline:

• Pursue personal research including developing research ideas and winning support, including financial support
• Plan, publish and/or execute high quality quantitative research
• Project manage research activities, and/or supervise other research staff
• Present high quality findings in publications and conference proceedings
• Develop novel statistical methodologies and techniques appropriate to multi-sector data integration and violence-related risk factor analysis
• Supervise and examine PhD students, both within and out with the University
• Provide expert advice to colleagues and students within discipline
• Contribute to the administration/management of research across the Department/School
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, and public engagement activities relating to violence prevention, inequalities and trauma-informed care of manifest benefit to the College and the University
• Contribute to some administrative activities within the University, typically relating to research
• Apply knowledge in a way that develops new intellectual understanding
• Actively manages equality, diversity and inclusion through monitoring and evaluation and actively challenging unacceptable behaviour

Person Specification

• Normally, a higher degree relevant to the research area (normally PhD in epidemiology, medical statistics, public health, data science, or similar) or equivalent qualifications
• Extensive research experience and scholarship within applied quantitative methods, epidemiology, biostatistics, health data science, or related fields. Experience working with large, complex datasets (e.g., administrative data, linked datasets, health records)
• Experience and achievement reflected in a growing reputation
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in planning, undertaking and project managing research to deliver high quality results
• Extensive experience of applying and/or developing and devising successful models, techniques and methods (e.g., regression modelling, causal inference, survival analysis, Bayesian approaches, risk factor estimation)
• Extensive experience and achievement in knowledge transfer, enterprise and similar activity
• Experience of championing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in own work area
• Ability to monitor and evaluate the extent to which equality and diversity legislation, policies, procedures are applied
• Ability to identify issues with the potential to impact on protected groups and take appropriate action

DBS required

The University is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice, therefore all associated pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. Due to the nature of the work undertaken in this role all successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory DBS clearance prior to appointment.

Further particulars can be found here.

Informal enquiries to Joht Chandan, email: [e-mail]

Use of AI in applications

We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.