Research Associate in Health Economics (104538-0921)

Vacancy Type/Job category
Research Only
Department
Warwick Medical School, Clinical Trials Unit
Salary
£27,116 - £30,497 pro rata per annum
Location
University of Warwick, Coventry
Vacancy Overview
Part-Time working 75% FTE (Full-Time Considered)
Fixed Term Contract until 31 January 2026
We are looking for an aspiring early career researcher to join us at one of the UK’s best universities.
The successful candidate will be part of the recently established Centre for Health Economics at Warwick (CHEW) and will work alongside Dr Lazaros Andronis on an exciting new project funded by an NIHR Advanced Fellowship. The project will explore how best to measure and include the value of children and young people’s time in health economic evaluations.
Apart from working on a novel piece of research, the position will offer the successful candidate a first-class opportunity to train, develop and start building their career in health economics. The post holder will work with a multidisciplinary team of collaborators and prominent researchers based at Warwick and other Universities, co-leading different parts of the project. There will also be opportunities to learn and apply a range of qualitative and quantitative methods relevant to health economics and social science research whilst developing valuable research skills, including on survey and questionnaire design, focus groups and stated preference elicitation and analysis.
The successful applicant will be expected to talk about the study and disseminate findings through articles, seminars and presentations and develop and pursue their own ideas for further research on the broader topic.
In addition to enthusiasm and aspirations for a fruitful research career, good candidates will have a good first degree in social or medical sciences and, ideally, will have completed (or approaching completion of) a postgraduate/doctoral degree (MSc/MA, MPhil, PhD) in health economics, economics, or a similar relevant subject.
The post is available at 75% Full Time Equivalent (FTE) for a period of 4 years. However, it is possible for the successful candidate to work full time (100% FTE) by contributing to further funded projects at CHEW. In this case, familiarity with economic evaluation and strong statistical/quantitative skills will be essential.
If you have any questions or would like to have an informal conversation about this vacancy or suitability for the post, please contact Dr Lazaros Andronis: [email protected], 02476 574490.
Interviews to be held week commencing 18 October 2021.
Job Description
JOB PURPOSE
The post holder will work closely with Dr Lazaros Andronis on a new project funded through a NIHR Advanced Fellowship award. The project aims to develop methods and tools for the measurement, valuation and inclusion of children and young person’s time in economic evaluations and comprises six work packages.
The role will involve working with Dr Lazaros Andronis and other study collaborators at 75% Full Time Equivalent (FTE) over 4 years to pursue the overarching aims of the project. Specifically, over the duration of the project, the post holder will contribute to:
(i) organising and facilitating the collection of data generated through online surveys, questionnaires, focus group interviews and preference elicitation exercises;
(ii) describing and analysing data using suitable methods and techniques (e.g. qualitative methods, statistical/econometric models);
(iii) interpreting and summarising findings,
(iv) communicating the study aims and findings to various audiences, including researchers, policy makers and the public.
A budget is available to support the post holder’s training, development and participation in dissemination activities (e.g. conference attendance).
Should the post holder opt for a full time post, they will also contribute to the development and delivery of ongoing projects, mainly economic evaluations undertaken as part of other funded projects in CHEW. These will involve cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analyses (trial-based and modelling-based) carried out alongside ongoing or recently completed clinical trials. For this work, the successful candidate will contribute to:
(i) designing and facilitating data collection;
(ii) taking part in meetings and liaising with the PI and collaborators on aspects related to the economic element of the projects;
(iii) analysing the collected data (e.g. in trial-based economic evaluations) and/or building appropriate decision analytic structures (e.g. in model-based economic evaluations), as well as
(iv) interpreting and disseminating the projects’ findings, typically through reports, journal articles and presentations.
It is also expected that, as part of their role, the post holder will contribute to the Centre’s teaching, commensurate with their experience.
The post holder will be part of an active and fast-growing team of health economists at the newly established CHEW at WMS. The post will involve working within multidisciplinary teams of health economists, clinicians, social scientists, statisticians and systematic reviewers to design research, carry out analyses, generate economic evidence and report findings on the value and benefit of health and social care interventions. Work undertaken is anticipated to be disseminated widely through impactful publications and to directly inform policy at the national and international level.
The post holder will be encouraged to develop their methodological interests and will be supported in initiating and developing research ideas, undertaking further training and acquiring skills to enable high quality empirical and methodological research in health economics. In addition, the post will offer opportunities for participation in the broader WMS portfolio of health economics research and teaching, as well as interdepartmental collaborations with colleagues at the Department of Economics and Warwick Business School.
Research
1. To contribute to the programme of health economics research (see in the Centre for Health Economics at Warwick within Warwick Medical School (the School).
2. To work effectively within multidisciplinary teams (variously composed of health economists, clinicians, social scientists, mathematicians, systematic reviewers, epidemiologists and stakeholders) including a range of meeting formats.
3. To communicate effectively methods used in economic analyses and to work with others using these skills within the School.
4. To contribute to empirical and methodological research and funding, collaborating with colleagues within the School and other Faculties and Departments (e.g. Faculty of Social Sciences, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Warwick Business School)
5. To participate and contribute to relevant research seminars and conferences both internal and external to the University, contributing to the external visibility and reputation of the university.
Teaching
1. To contribute to teaching activities undertaken by CHEW health economists including undergraduate and postgraduate taught and research degrees, as directed.
2. To work within University and School teaching quality assurance standards and procedures.
Administration and collegiate activities
1. To undertake School roles, attend meetings and participate in committees as directed
2. To engage in continuous professional development.
3. To undertake, as appropriate, external commitments enhancing the School’s reputation.

Person Specification

The Person Specification focuses on the knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications required to undertake the role effectively. This is measured by (a) Application Form, (b) Test/Exercise, (c) Interview, (d) Presentation.

Essential Criteria 1
Good (2:1 or above) first degree in economics, social sciences, statistics, health related or scientific discipline. (a)
Essential Criteria 2
Postgraduate taught or research degree (e.g. MA/MSc/MRes/MPhil) and/or a Doctoral degree PhD in health economics or relevant discipline (e.g. economics, psychology, sociology etc.). Evidence of equivalent work experience is also acceptable. (a), (c)
Essential Criteria 3
Evidence of familiarity and evidence of use of quantitative and qualitative methods relevant to social sciences and health economics (a), (c)
Essential Criteria 4
Competence in use of statistical software (e.g. STATA, R, E-Views etc) (a), (c)
Essential Criteria 5
Strong writing skills and ability to communicate research plans, methods and findings to various audiences through journal articles, reports and presentations (a),(c)
Essential Criteria 6
Conditional essential criterion for candidates seeking to work full time: familiarity with economic evaluation and strong statistical/quantitative skills will be essential. (a), (c)
Desirable Criteria 1
Evidence of familiarity or experience in principles of stated preference elicitation and choice modelling methods such as contingent valuation and discrete choice experiments. (a), (c), (d)
Desirable Criteria 2
Evidence of familiarity or experience in survey design, questionnaire development and analysis of collected survey data. (a), (c)
Desirable Criteria 3
Ability to work independently and as part of a team on research programmes (a), (c)
Desirable Criteria 4
Evidence of ability to teach and organise teaching (a), (c)
Further Particulars
Warwick Medical School
For further information about CHEW and the Warwick Medical School, please visit the departmental website
University of Warwick
For further information about the University of Warwick, please read our University Further Particulars .
Right to work in the UK
If you do not yet have the right to work in the UK and/ or are seeking sponsorship under Tier 2 of the UK points-based immigration system please click on this link which contains further information about obtaining right to work in the UK and details about eligibility for sponsorship under Tier 2.
Diversity and Inclusion
The University of Warwick provides an inclusive working and learning environment, recognising and respecting every individual’s differences. We welcome applications from individuals who identify with any of the protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010.

Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy

As an organisation using the (DBS) Disclosure and Barring Service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, the University of Warwick complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed. More information is available on the University’s Vacancy pages and applicants may request a copy of the DBS Code of Practice.

Closing Date
17 Oct 2021