Graduate Research Assistant, Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow

College of Medicine & Health

This full-time Medical Research Council funded post is available from September 1st 2021 to August 31st 2024.

The post

The College wishes to recruit a Graduate or Postgraduate with strong quantitative skills to use large scale data to investigate the causes and consequences of Multimorbidity. The successful applicant will use large scale genetic and genomic data with the aim of identifying shared biological mechanisms between common long term conditions. This data will include that linked to electronic health records in the UK and the integration of genetic and genomic data with primary care data to understand the reasons why some patients suffer from multiple long term conditions compared to others of similar age who suffer from none or only one. Exchanges with Spanish collaborators in Barcelona are part of the research programme.

The applicant will work with a multi-disciplinary team, including statisticians, a database manager, experts in machine learning, genetics, and clinicians and patients involved in the project. The post is based at Exeter under the mentorship of Prof Tim Frayling, Prof Jack Bowden and Dr Luke Pilling.

The post will include all aspects of data-driven research projects but have a particularly strong focus on genetic and genomic approaches. Depending on the level of the appointment, the post also involves developing ideas, involving the public and patients, performing data analysis, collaborating with others working on the research programme, dissemination, supervising more junior staff and students, developing further funding and contributing to teaching and staff development.

About you

The successful applicant at postdoctoral level will develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events. The successful applicant at graduate level will be involved in all aspects of the research process, including writing and presenting her or his results in scientific publications and meetings.

Applicants will possess a PhD in a quantitative area (at postdoctoral level) and have experience of statistical and or computational approaches to large scale data. Applicants from non-biomedical backgrounds, including those with maths, physics or computer science degrees, are encouraged to apply, even if little or no previous biomedical experience. The successful applicant at grade F will be an internationally recognised researcher in her or his field, as shown by highly cited publications, and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will require strong data skills, including statistical analyses and handling of very large datasets.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specifications for full details of this role at each level.

The University of Exeter

The University of Exeter is a Russell Group university in the top 200 of universities worldwide. We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, and have achieved a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2017. We have over 22,000 students and 4600 staff from 180 different countries and have been rated the WhatUni2017 International Student Choice. Our research focuses on some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today, with 98% of our research rated as being of international quality in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework. We encourage proactive engagement with industry, business and community partners to enhance the impact of research and education and improve the employability of our students.

What we can offer you

• An opportunity to further your career in the broad area of “Health Data Science”, working in a team with a diverse range of skills and wide expertise
• Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;
• A strongly collaborative research environment.
• Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly
• An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development
• Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career

• A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon.

For further information please contact Prof Tim Frayling ([email protected]) or Dr Luke Pilling ([email protected]).