Research Associate in Operational Research

Cardiff University, United Kingdom

Updated: over 1 year ago
Location: Cardiff, WALES
Deadline: The position may have been removed or expired!

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Cardiff School of Mathematics

Research


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Research Associate in Operational Research
Cardiff School of Mathematics

Applications are invited for a Research Associate in Operational Research in the School of Mathematics at Cardiff University. The position is full-time and fixed term (for 24 months) starting 1st January 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.

An exciting joint initiative between Cardiff University School of Mathematics and the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board (CVUHB) has led to the establishment of an Operational Research modelling unit (to commence in October 2022) that will comprise of two post-doctoral research associates and one lecturer.

The appointed research associate will be embedded within CVUHB and work effectively between the two organisations to facilitate world-leading research and impact in health systems modelling and analytics.  The post holder, with expertise in Operational Research, will support the development and application in CVUHB of business intelligence, data science and analytical modelling tools. Formally they will spend 80% of their time working with CVUHB and 20% of their time on other university research duties. 

The precise nature of the research work and areas of priority of the modelling unit will be set and overseen by a steering group comprising of staff from the Health Board and the University (under the supervision at the University by Professor Paul Harper, Professor Daniel Gartner, Dr Vincent Knight and Dr Geraint Palmer).

The School of Mathematics is a research-led School in Cardiff University, one of the UK’s leading universities, with a reputation for internationally excellent research and teaching. In the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014, Cardiff University was ranked 5th in the UK in terms of the grade point average (GPA) of its overall quality profile and 2nd for Impact. http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/mathematics

This position is full-time, 35 hours per week and fixed term for 24 months.  The post is available 1st October 2022.

Salary: £34,304 - £40,927 per annum (Grade 6)

We particularly welcome applications from females as they are under-represented with Cardiff University in this field.

Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Paul Harper at [email protected] .  For information about working in the School of Mathematics please contact Cath Noble at [email protected] .

Date advert posted: Wednesday, 3 August 2022

Closing date: Wednesday, 31 August 2022

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

“Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/our-research-environment/integrity-and-ethics/responsible-research-assessment”  


Job Description

Main Functions of Post

To conduct research within Operational Research and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research. To pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.

A particular focus of the post will be with the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board (80% time commitment) to lead on research projects as agreed between the University and Health Board, generating research impact where possible and help train Health Board staff in the use of OR and analytical methods.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research

  • To conduct research within Operational Research and contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences, and the recruitment and supervision of postgraduate research students. 

  • A particular focus of the post will be with the Cardiff & Vale University Health Board (80% time commitment) to lead on research projects as agreed between the University and Health Board, generating research impact where possible and helping to train Health Board staff in the use of OR and analytical methods.

  • To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals

  • To attend and or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level as required

  • To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting

  • To prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate

  • To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field

  • To participate in School research activities.

  • To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions, explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects


Other

  • To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.

  • To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.

  • To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world

  • You may be asked to perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.


Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

  • Postgraduate degree at PhD level in a related subject area (or nearing completion / submission)

    • Knowledge, Skills and Experience

  • An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within the following research fields:

  • Operational Research

  • Healthcare modelling

  • Knowledge of current status of research in specialist field

  • Proven ability to publish in national journals and/or other research outputs

  • Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies

    • Communication and Team Working

  • Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication

  • Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals


    • Other

  • Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work

  • Proven ability to work without close supervision

    • Desirable Criteria

  • Evidence of collaborations with industry.
  • Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community.
  • Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School.


    • When attaching the supporting statement to your application profile, please ensure that you name it with the vacancy reference number and your name.


    Additional Information

    Operational Research at Cardiff

    The Operational Research group has an impressive track-record of contributing to both the theoretical underpinnings of the subject and to novel applications, including working on complex problems arising in healthcare, public health and epidemiology, finance, transportation, timetabling, environmental issues, manufacturing, information security, and green logistics.

    We have over 20 academic staff and research students and host an active seminar series jointly with the Statistics research group and meetings of the South Wales Operational Research Discussion Society (SWORDS) which regularly attracts a large audience of OR researchers and practitioners.

    Our group members are also prominent in interdisciplinary collaboration, with particularly strong links to researchers in: computer science and informatics (research on data science, machine learning and their interface with OR methods); medicine (through our extensive programme of modelling work on health and care services); social sciences (modelling for societal benefit, social network analysis, public health and educational interventions); earth sciences and geography (food and water insecurity, rainfall modelling); and business and economics (financial and risk modelling).

    Group members are highly active in international collaborations, for example including joint research and staff/student mobility with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the University of São Paulo (Brazil), Twente University (Netherlands), ETH Zürich and EPFL (Switzerland), Carnegie Mellon University, University of California Davis, Cornell University and New York University (USA) University of Toronto, University of Manitoba (Canada), University of Namibia, University of Vienna (Austria), Technische Universität Berlin, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Technische Universität München (Germany), Monash University and the University of Melbourne (Australia), and University of Lisbon (Portugal).

    Our staff and students have partnered with major external research users who help us deliver societal and economic benefit, including: Admiral, BA, Ernst & Young, Lloyds, McLaren, Nationwide, ONS, Tata Steel, Welsh Government and Welsh Water. Over the last REF period alone, the OR group has secured income directly from industry and charities to fund research amounting to 9 PhD studentships, 18 funded years of research associate time, and 4 years towards a match-funded lectureship.


    Job Category

    Academic - Research


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