The Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health (NDWRH) is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Epidemiology for RoADPain (Understanding the role of adolescent dysmenorrhoea as a risk factor for the transition to chronic pain), available to start from May 2023.

The post holder will join a key epidemiological study and will be responsible for performing analysis and reporting research findings collected in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). This is a major research resource that has been collecting data from children born in the early 1990s and their parents for almost 30 years.

Chronic pain is a major public health issue: up to 30% of people worldwide will experience pain lasting longer than 3 months and almost 28 million adults are affected in the UK. All domains of life are impacted by chronic pain, leading to psychological distress and a marked reduction in quality of life (QoL). Being a woman is an important risk factor for developing chronic pain. Women are over-represented in almost all chronic pain conditions and this sex difference begins to emerge at puberty, suggesting that changes around this time may contribute to the increased risk of chronic pain developing. A key change at this time is the onset of menstruation (menarche). Periods are themselves painful for many adolescent and young women, with studies suggesting that 30-50% suffer with pain severe enough to disrupt their life during at least some of their periods.

RoADPain aims to use both experimental and epidemiological approaches to understand the extent to which the experience of dysmenorrhoea during adolescence is a risk factor for the development of chronic pain and determine the predominant pathways underlying this relationship.

The suitable candidate must either hold a PhD/DPhil (or near completion) in a relevant subject area, together with expertise in analysis and interpretation of epidemiological data. You will be familiar with using data from large charts such as ALSPAC or UK Biobank and possess strong scientific computing skills for data analysis.

Excellent communication and organisation skills, ability to work independently and under pressure are also essential for this role.

The post is offered on a full-time basis and is fixed term for two years.

Applications for flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.

You will be required to upload a CV and Supporting Statement as part of your online application. Click here for information and advice on writing an effective Supporting Statement.

The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Monday 15th May 2022.