Research Assistant or Associate

About the role:

We are seeking a research assistant or postdoctoral research scientist with expertise in the analysis of geographic information system (GIS) data and an interest in infectious disease epidemiology to join the Vaccine Epidemiology Research Group (VERG) in the School of Public Health at Imperial College London. The VERG consists of epidemiologists and laboratory scientists working on the epidemiology and immunology of viral and bacterial pathogens, with a particular interest in vaccines and genomics. We are a highly collaborative group with an international reputation.

Researchers in the VERG are leading projects to identify and characterise pathogens in human wastewater and sewage, working with research partners around the world. We have developed laboratory methods and analysis tools to detect and sequence polioviruses, Salmonella Typhi and other pathogens in wastewater samples (e.g. https://polionanopore.org, https://www.typhoides.org).

What you would be doing:

This is an exciting opportunity to join the VERG and lead our GIS work, working closely with partners in Asia and Africa. A key component of our work is the development and implementation of GIS protocols and tools for the design of WES systems including sampling site selection, characterisation and validation. This includes analysis of population, topographical and hydrological data to infer wastewater flow and estimate population denominators, as well as the analysis of geographic and spatial WES datasets on disease occurrence and spread.

You will be responsible for this work and will have opportunities for career development and collaboration within VERG and more widely. You also can lead training programmes in this area and to participate in training visits to partner countries. The post offers substantial opportunities for publication of high impact research and engagement with centres of excellence in the UK and in countries at high risk of pandemic virus emergence.

What we are looking for:

Key objectives are as follows:

• Analyse GIS data and help design WES systems, including the optimal location of sampling sites
• Develop protocols and tools for WES sampling site selection, characterisation and validation, building on our existing work in this area
• Support WES implementation by our research partners in Asia and Africa who are implementing WES for Salmonella Typhi, poliovirus, and other pathogens, including viruses with pandemic potential
• Lead GIS analysis for VERG and develop a research agenda for this work
• Contribute to the spatial epidemiology research by VERG members
• To submit publications to online archives and peer-reviewed journals
• To interact with other members of the research group and with our national and international partners

Essential Requirements:

For appointment to Research Associate, you would hold a PhD in Geographic Information Science, spatial statistics, infectious disease epidemiology or a related quantitative discipline.

For appointment to Research Assistant, you should hold an MSc in Geographic Information Science, spatial statistics, infectious disease epidemiology or a related quantitative discipline.

What we can offer you:

• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.

Further Information

This role is offered on a full time, fixed term basis until 31 December 2025.

If you require any further details on the role please contact: Prof Nicholas Grassly n.grassly@imperial.ac.uk or Dr Isobel Blake – isobel.blake@imperial.ac.uk 

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