Research Fellow (SMQB)

Salary: Full time starting salary is normally in the range £35,880 to £45,163 with potential progression once in post to £47,874

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to March 2027

Background

This 2-year role is funded through an EPSRC Established Career Fellowship to Professor John Terry, the Director of the Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine (SMQB) at the University of Birmingham. The purpose of the role is to develop and apply mathematical models and computational algorithms to understand how perturbations to dynamic brain networks impact upon seizure likelihood. With an emphasis on the emerging field of digital twins for personalised health, the ultimate aim is to enable translation of this understanding into more accurate, diagnosis, prognosis and management of epilepsy. There is a particular interest in solutions that enable community-based care, in keeping with the priorities of the EPSRC/MRC-funded Network+ N-CODE.

Working collaboratively with Professor Terry, other postdocs and PhD students within the SMQB, clinicians and people will lived experience of epilepsy, projects will be shaped around the skills and experience of the successful candidate.  Examples of possible projects include: 

• How does electrical stimulation reduce seizure frequency? 
• Why does photic stimulation affect some people with epilepsy? 
• Can we predict the likelihood of seizure recurrence post epilepsy surgery? 

The SMQB is a strategic research centre, that combines interdisciplinary expertise across mathematics, computer science and medicine, using techniques from mathematical and statistical modelling, data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Currently comprising 4 Professors, 1 Associate Professor, 4 Assistant Professors, alongside several postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. 

As the successful candidate you will be educated to PhD level in mathematics, computer science, biomedical engineering or a closely related area. You will have experience in one or more of the following areas: (nonautonomous) dynamical systems, complex networks, bifurcation theory, numerical continuation, data analytics and signal processing. You will be a proficient programmer, ideally with expertise in both Matlab and Python. Having relevant research experience applying mathematical or computational methods in biology or medicine will be advantageous to you. 

Curiosity led, with exceptional communication skills, you will thrive working in a highly interdisciplinary environment. You will be equally happy communicating with theoreticians, clinicians, industrialists and people with lived experience of epilepsy. Finally, you will possess a demonstrable ability to write up scientific findings for publication in a timely and succinct manner.

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism and a higher degree relevant to research area (Mathematics, Computer Science or a closely aligned area)
• Research experience and scholarship within the areas of nonautonomous dynamical systems, complex networks, bifurcation theory, numerical continuation, data analytics and signal processing
• Programming experience, ideally with expertise in both Matlab and Python

Informal enquiries can be made to Professor John Terry j.r.terry@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 08/03/2025

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