Senior Research Associate in Genetic and Cancer Epidemiology

The role

We are seeking to appoint a Senior Research Associate with experience in genetic epidemiology applied to cancer research. This post will support an important line of research investigating the inter-relationships and pathways underlying the links between body composition, sleep and physical activity with cancer. The postholder will work directly with Dr Richmond as well as other members of the CRUK Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme (links with Work Packages on “Mendelian randomization” and “Molecular Mechanisms” and the Research Themes on “Metabolic Health” and “Sleep and Physical Activity”). The postholder will benefit from the collaborative multi-disciplinary research environment of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) within Bristol Medical School.

This post is offered as an fixed term contract with funding for 7 months.

Potential interview date: 24/01/25

What will you be doing?

The researcher will be involved in the curation and analysis of data from large biobank studies, including data from questionnaires, imaging-based measures (of body fat), wearable devices (for sleep and physical activity assessment) and electronic medical records (including cancer registries). Genetic data will also be used to conduct Mendelian randomization for appraising causality, as well as extensions of this approach to investigate mediation within this context. This will incorporate both tissue-specific and circulating traits e.g. gene expression, hormones, metabolites and proteins. The researcher will also leverage data on racial and ethnic minority participants to investigate whether the effects and mechanisms identified differ with respect to ethnicity.

It is expected that the postholder will curate and analyse datasets, write and publish papers, present at conferences and other scientific meetings, attend training activities, and help with student supervision. Support and guidance will be given to the researcher in developing their own research ideas and writing their own fellowship and grant applications.

You should apply if

You are a researcher seeking to develop a career in cancer epidemiology and interested in improving our understanding of the role of body composition, sleep and physical activity in relation to cancer across diverse ancestries. The role will suit a researcher with good knowledge and experience of applied statistical analysis, genetic epidemiology and Mendelian randomization. They will have good computing/scripting skills (in R and/or Python) and an ability to work independently.

The successful candidate will have or be close to obtaining their PhD in a relevant field.

Additional information

Contract type: Fixed term until 30/09/2025 (start date March 2025)

Work pattern: Full-time/ 1 FTE (part-time considered)

Shift pattern: 35 hours per week (part-time considered) 

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 02/01/2025

For informal queries please contact: Rebecca Richmond (Rebecca.richmond@bristol.ac.uk)

Our strategy and mission

We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values.

The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.

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