Senior Research Associate in Epidemiology and Oral Health

The role

We have an exciting opportunity for a talented postdoctoral researcher to join the Health Services Research and Epidemiology Group to work with Dr Simon Haworth and Dr Tom Dudding in Bristol Dental School. You will be joining a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and researchers who are working to advance our understanding of

• Head and neck cancer (HNC) survival, and
• The interplay between host genetics and oral microbiota in determining oral and systemic health

This role will involve leading on research in both HNC and dental disease epidemiology, it will involve close working with collaborative partners and is an opportunity to develop your network. Local partners include the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit in the Bristol Medical School, while international partners include the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer and Umeå University in Sweden. The team use population-based studies, genetic and data science methods, to:

• Identify factors which influence late side effects of cancer treatment
• Identify factors at completion of HNC treatment which influence survival and future cancers.
• Understand how host genetic factors shape the oral microbiota and influence oral diseases

What will you be doing?

The work will involve analysis of population-based cohort, clinical, microbiota and genetic data with linkage to National routinely collected data such as NHS Hospital Episode Statistics and the Swedish quality registry for caries and periodontal diseases. Use of epidemiological and genetic epidemiological methods (e.g. survival analysis and predictive modelling) and multi-omic data (e.g., genomics, microbiota) will be a key part of your work.

In addition, you will write and publish papers, present at scientific conferences/meetings, attend training activities, and contribute to grant applications, student/staff supervision, and other group activities (e.g., science communication, public engagement). There will be opportunities to develop new research skills and projects. Development of a personal fellowship/grant application will be encouraged.

You should apply if

You should apply if you are keen to develop a career in epidemiology, genetics and data science research. Experience in analysing population-based cohort/biobank data, especially studies involving genetic and microbiota data would be an advantage. Knowledge and experience of survival analyses and predictive modelling approaches would be useful. There will be opportunity to learn and further develop any required skills within the post through support and expertise available in the Dental School and the wider Health and Life Sciences Faculty.

Being able to work independently for a major part of time and having good organizational and time management skills will be essential, as you will be responsible for leading on your own research. You will also need good communication and interpersonal skills.

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended with funding until 31/10/2027

Work pattern: 1FTE

Shift pattern: 35 hours per week

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

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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