Research Fellow United Kingdom
Job description
Full time, fixed term contract until 31 March 2028.
We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis, even where a position is advertised as full-time, unless there are operational or other objective reasons why it is not possible to do so.
You will join Warwick Medical School, Division of Health Sciences to support the expanding work programme of Warwick Evidence, one of nine health technology assessment and evidence synthesis teams in the UK. You will be embedded within Warwick Evidence and the West Midlands Evidence Synthesis Group. The main focus of your work will be in providing research support in clinical effectiveness and epidemiology to health technology assessments for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and for the NIHR Evidence Synthesis Group and for other policy makers. You will undertake reviews for single, fast track and multiple technology appraisals (STAs, FTAs and MTAs), Cancer Drug Fund (CDF) reviews, diagnostic assessments (DAs) and systematic reviews that will inform the Department of Health and Social Care. You will work on topics of “ Best Research for Best Health: the next Chapter” and other evolving NIHR priorities. You will undertake systematic reviews and evidence syntheses of different methods (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods) and contribute to methodological research. There will be opportunities for assisting in teaching activities.
You will work with a multidisciplinary team of information specialists, health economists, statisticians, modellers and systematic reviewers in appraising evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of health technologies, including drugs, devices and diagnostics. Work undertaken will directly inform health policy at the national level.
You will have a good first degree and a PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant field. You will have experience of undertaking systematic reviews, rapid reviews, primary data collection, and of report writing coupled with an ability to produce high quality research relevant to the health sciences. You will enjoy working as part of a team and meeting tight deadlines. Knowledge and experience of rapid response to policy and undertaking HTA in a specialist area of interest to Warwick Medical School (e.g. survival analysis, pharmacology, network meta-analysis, mixed methods synthesis) will be valuable. You will be a good communicator, be highly organised and accurate in your approach to work, and have excellent writing skills.
Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to Yen-Fu Chen, [email protected]
Full time and part time applications (minimum 0.8FTE) will be considered.
If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure (£32,411). Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure (£33,348).
Job Description
JOB PURPOSE
You will work with a multidisciplinary team of information specialists, health economists, statisticians, modellers, qualitative researchers and systematic reviewers in appraising evidence on a wide variety of topics related to health and social care. These include the clinical and cost effectiveness of health technologies (such as drugs, devices and diagnostics) health and social care interventions and policies (targeted at individual, organisation or service level) as well as exploring the mechanisms by which the interventions may work and the influence of context.
You may be required to conduct some primary research to compliment the evidence sysntheis work. You will contribute your evidence synthesis expertise by carrying out health technology assessments, systematic reviews and other related evidence synthesis activities incuding teaching and preparation of research proposals. Work undertaken will directly inform clinical practice, health policy at a national level and future research.
You will be encouraged to develop skills to undertake evidence synthesis and health technology appraisals using diverse approaches and innovative methods that best suit the research question in hand.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Research
1. To contribute to team assessments of the clinical effectiveness of technologies for Warwick Evidence, by undertaking rigorous systematic reviews and or critical appraisal of company submissions. Your work will cover a broad range of health and medical conditions, therapeutic interventions, screening and diagnostic interventions.
2. To work on multiple and single technology appraisals (MTAs and STAs), diagnostic assessments and externally funded Health Technology Assessments for NICE and other funding bodies.
3. To work as part of a team to produce high quality systematic reviews and evidence synthesis of a wide variety of topics related to health and social care. Work will include:
a. Helping with scoping potential research topics and refining research questions
b. Assisting with literature searching and study assessment
c. Data extraction and quality assessment of literature
d. Synthesis of data using appropriate quantitative or qualitative methods
e. Writing reports
4. To work with clinical staff, NHS clinicians and managers, patients and service users, as well as a wide range of academic staff, and other stakeholders via formal group/committee work, informal networks and one-to-one liaison to undertake work for Warwick Evidence.
5. To represent the research group’s interests at external meetings/seminars.
6. To contribute to relevant research seminars within Warwick Evidence, West Midlands Evidence Synthesis Group and Warwick Medical School.
7. To contribute to the development of a related (empirical/methodological) research agenda in key topic areas (e.g. survival analysis, diagnostics, indirect treatment comparison, network meta-analysis and/or in one of the methodological areas related to systematic reviewing such as methods for literature search, automation, and evidence mapping).
8. To contribute to the production of high quality health technology appraisal reports and other evidence synthesis outputs, to contribute to presenting work at national and international meetings and to publishing work in international high quality peer reviewed journals.
Teaching
1. To assist in teaching and supervising at both postgraduate and undergraduate level.
2. To provide advice and supervision to junior colleagues and students as necessary and appropriate.
3. To attract, support, and successfully supervise postgraduate students.
4. To support, and comply with, University and departmental teaching quality assurance standards and procedures.
Administration and Other Activities
1. To attend project meetings within and outside of the department
2. To engage in continuous professional development
3. To participate in relevant professional activities
4. To undertake specific departmental roles as may be reasonably required by your line manager
The duties and responsibilities outlined are not intended to be an exhaustive list but provide guidance on the main aspects of the job. You will be required to be flexible in your duties.
For further information about the University of Warwick, please read our University Further Particulars.
For further information about the department, please visit the departmental website.
You will be working with the group:
”>https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/med/about/centres/warwickevidence/
Warwick is committed to building an organisation of mutual respect and dignity, promoting a welcoming, diverse and inclusive working and learning environment. We recognise that everyone is different in a variety of visible and non-visible ways, and that those differences are to be recognised, respected, and valued. Where possible, we go beyond legislation to provide a place where everyone can thrive, supporting all staff to achieve their full potential. We aspire to remove economic, social and cultural barriers that may otherwise prevent people from succeeding.
We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all communities regardless of culture, background, age, disability, sex/gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion/belief, or sexual or romantic orientation. To find out more about our social inclusion work at Warwick visit our webpages here.
The University of Warwick holds an Athena SWAN Silver award; a national initiative to promote gender equality for all staff and students. Further information about the work of the University in relation to Athena SWAN can be found at the following link: Athena Swan (warwick.ac.uk)
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