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We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

We are looking to recruit a researcher with strong background in statistics/mathematics and an interest in Bayesian statistics, causal inference and health technology assessment to join the Health Economic and Decision Science (HEDS) section in the Division of Population Health which incorporates the Sheffield Centre for Health and Related Research (SCHARR).

You will work on research projects across HEDS research programmes. This may include SCHARR-Technology Assessment Group (SCHARR-TAG) projects commissioned under our NIHR Technology Assessment Reviews (TAR) programme, where the work will include the critical appraisal of the statistical methods used in pharmaceutical company submissions to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for reimbursement of new interventions.

You will also provide statistical support to multi-disciplinary teams as part of other HEDS research and consultancy projects. Work will include survival extrapolation, evidence synthesis including network meta-analysis and indirect treatment comparisons and applying causal inference methods to non-randomised data. You will disseminate research findings in peer-reviewed journals and conferences and communicate to diverse non-expert stakeholders and policy makers. You will be encouraged to develop your own methodological research interests that are complementary to those within HEDS and help contribute to Masters level teaching and supervision.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide statistical analysis for research and consultancy projects in the HEDS section within the Division of Population Health.
• Provide assessments of the statistical analyses conducted within pharmaceutical company submissions to NICE and contribute to the writing up of External Assessment Group (EAG) reports.
• Provide technical expertise for SCHARR-TAG, and HEDS research and consultancy projects in the area of Bayesian network meta-analyses, indirect treatment comparisons, survival extrapolation and causal inference.
• Write up research methods and findings within reports.
• Contribute to the development of new statistical methods in the context of health economics and decision science as required.
• Contribute to research grant proposals and consultancy project proposals.
• Collaborate with team members to disseminate research findings in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences.
• Work in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Contribute to the School’s teaching by delivering lectures and tutorials, external short courses and developing on-line teaching materials.
• Engage in the supervision of students at Masters and potentially at PhD level.
• You will make a full and active contribution to the principles of the ‘Sheffield Academic’.
• Plan for specific aspects of the research and consultancy programme, such as proposal submission, data collection, analyses and delivery of outputs to clients and funders.
• Plan for your contribution to the research and consultancy up to one month ahead, incorporating issues such as the availability of resources and overall research aims.
• Plan several months in advance to meet project deadlines and prepare submissions to journals and conferences.
• Liaise with other members of the research group over progress.
• As a member of staff, you will be encouraged to make ethical decisions in your role, embedding the University sustainability strategy into your working activities.

• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential criteria

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in statistics, or a relevant quantitative discipline. (Assessed at: Application)
• Understanding of clinical trials, evidence synthesis including indirect treatment comparisons, and survival extrapolation; and of non-randomised studies and relevant analysis methodologies. (Assessed at: Application/Interview)
• Experience of quantitative data analysis. (Assessed at: Application)
• Dissemination of research findings at conferences, seminars or in reports. (Assessed at: Application)
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate effectively in oral, written and presentation modes in the academic and health-care environments. (Assessed at: Presentation/Interview)
• Evidence of experience of working in multidisciplinary teams. (Assessed at: Application/Interview)
• Ability to work under pressure and to multi-task and to plan and prioritise own work in order to meet deadlines. (Assessed at: Application/Interview)

Additional essential criteria for Grade 8 (desirable for Grade 7)

• Experience of undertaking evidence synthesis including network meta-analysis using appropriate computational software, e.g., Stan, JAGS, OpenBUGS, WinBUGS, R; of undertaking causal inference in health technology assessment; of peer-reviewing or critically appraising others’ work; of designing and developing research. (Assessed at: Application/Presentation)
• Publications in peer-review journals. (Assessed at: Application)
• Experience of managing own workload and taking responsibility for projects. (Assessed at: Application/Interview)

Desirable criteria

• Experience with real-word data analysis. (Assessed at: Application/Interview)

Further Information

Grade: 7/8

Salary: Grade 7 Research Associate £37,999 to £46,485 per annum pro-rata with the potential to progress to £50,694

Grade 8 Research Fellow £47,874 to £56,921 per annum pro-rata with the potential to progress to £63,929

Work arrangement: Full-time/Part-time (with a minimum commitment of 70%). Flexible options considered. Hybrid working (minimum 60% on campus) 

Duration: Fixed-term until 31st March 2027

Line manager: Professor of Statistical Health Technology Assessment

Our website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/scharr/research/centres/scharr-tag

For informal enquiries about this job contact: Prof. Kate Ren, Professor of Statistical Health Technology Assessment at s.ren@sheffield.ac.uk or on 0114 222 0696.
 

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 25 February 2025. This will consist of a brief presentation of your research followed by an interview. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage by the week commencing 17 February. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Emma Bennett at dph-section-operations@sheffield.ac.uk.

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).
 

What we offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles. This role can be full time or part-time (with a minimum commitment of 70%).
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Academic Career Pathways
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • support for those going through the menopause
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.