Research Fellow (104496-1021)

Vacancy Type/Job category
Research Only
Department
Warwick Medical School, Clinical Trials Unit
Salary
£31,406 - £40,927 per annum
Location
University of Warwick, Coventry
Vacancy Overview
Full-time, Fixed Term Contract until 28 February 2023
We are looking for an aspiring Research Fellow to join the Clinical Trials Unit at Warwick Medical School. The main focus of your work will be in providing research support to the expanding work programme for the Pain and Rehabilitation theme. You will primarily undertake a series of systematic reviews and evidence syntheses, contribute to meta-analyses and undertake analysis and final reporting of qualitative interviews.
You will work with a multidisciplinary team of information specialists, health economists, statisticians, systematic reviewers, mixed methods researchers and clinical experts in appraising evidence on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies, including pharmacological drugs and interventions for pain, alongside analysis and reporting of qualitative interviews. Work undertaken is expected to be disseminated through impactful journal publications and to directly inform health policy at both the national and international levels.
You will have a good first degree and a PhD (or equivalent experience in a relevant field). You will have experience of undertaking systematic reviews, analysing qualitative interviews and of report writing coupled with an ability to produce high quality research relevant to the health sciences. You will enjoy working as part of a team and meeting tight deadlines. You will be a good communicator, be highly organised and accurate in your approach to work, and have excellent writing skills. There will be opportunities for assisting in teaching activities.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Warwick are committed to creating a hybrid working culture which delivers the right outcomes for all our communities and at WCTU we are currently working on preparing for this transition
Where you have not yet been awarded your PhD, any offer made to you will be an under-appointment to the post of Research Associate at a salary of £30,497 per annum. Once your PhD has been awarded and you have evidenced this, you will be appointed to the substantive post of Research Fellow at a salary within the range shown above.
Informal enquiries are welcome and should be directed to Dr Hema Mistry, [email protected] or Dr David Ellard, [email protected]
Job Description
Job purpose
You will work with a multidisciplinary team of information specialists, health economists, statisticians, systematic reviewers and clinical experts in appraising evidence on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies, including pharmacological drugs and interventions for pain, by providing systematic reviewing expertise in assessment of clinical effectiveness and contributing to meta-analyses. Work undertaken is expected to be disseminated through impactful journal publications and to directly inform health policy at both the national and international levels.
Duties and responsibilities
Research
1. To contribute to the clinical effectiveness of pharmacological drugs and interventions for pain, by undertaking rigorous systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
2. To work as part of a team to produce high quality systematic reviews and evidence synthesis of clinical and cost-effectiveness of interventions. Work will include:
a. Assisting with literature searching and data extraction
b. Quality assessment of literature
c. Meta-analyses
d. Writing reports
3. To work effectively within multidisciplinary teams (variously composed of health economists, statisticians, information specialists, systematic reviewers, clinical experts and stakeholders) including a range of meeting formats.
4. To contribute to the production of high-quality reports and other outputs for funding bodies, to publish work in international high-quality peer reviewed journals, and to present work at national and international meetings.
5. To communicate effectively methods used in systematic reviewing and qualitative analysis and to work with others using these skills within the School.
6. To contribute to empirical and methodological research and funding, collaborating with colleagues within the School and other Departments within the University.
7. To contribute to the development of a related (empirical/methodological) research agenda in key topic areas (e.g. pharmacology, network meta-analysis and/or in one of the methodological areas related to systematic reviewing).
8. To contribute to relevant research seminars within Warwick Medical School and also external to the University, contributing to the external visibility and reputation of the university.
Teaching
1. To contribute to teaching activities, including for postgraduate taught and research degrees, as directed.
2. To provide advice and supervision to junior colleagues and students as necessary and appropriate.
3. To work within University and School teaching quality assurance standards and procedures.
Administration and collegiate activities
1. To attend project meetings within and outside of the department.
2. To engage in continuous professional development.
3. To undertake School roles, attend meetings and participate in committees may be reasonably required by your line manager.
4. 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 first degree in a relevant subject (a)
Essential Criteria 2
PhD (or equivalent experience) in a relevant subject (a)
Essential Criteria 3
Skills and experience of literature searching techniques, including use of electronic databases or equivalent (a, c)
Essential Criteria 4
Skills and experience of systematic review techniques, evidence synthesis, including data extraction and quality assessment (a, c)
Essential Criteria 5
Experience in meta-analyses (a, c)
Essential Criteria 6
Ability to contribute to report writing, publications, presentations and the dissemination of information for both academic and other audiences (a, c)
Essential Criteria 7
Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex concepts and to collaborate with a range of people (a, c, d)
Essential Criteria 8
Competency in IT including statistical packages such as Microsoft Office, Review Manager and EndNote or Reference Manager (or equivalents) (a, c)
Essential Criteria 9
Ability to pay excellent attention to detail, with a thorough, methodological and flexible approach to work (a, c)
Essential Criteria 10
Skills and experience of qualitative interview analysis and reporting (a, c)
Desirable Criteria 1
Relevant publications in high quality peer reviewed journals (a, c)
Desirable Criteria 2
A research interest in methods and application of epidemiological principles to systematic reviews (a, c)
Desirable Criteria 3
A research interest in network meta-analyses (a, c)
Desirable Criteria 4
Evidence of ability to teach and organise teaching (a, c)
Further Particulars
Warwick Medical School
For further information about the department, please visit the departmental website
For further information about the University of Warwick, please read our University Further Particulars .
Where you have not yet been awarded your PhD, any offer made to you will be an under-appointment to the post of Research Associate at a salary of £30,497 per annum. Once your PhD has been awarded and you have evidenced this, you will be appointed to the substantive post of Research Fellow at a salary within the range shown above.
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
31 Oct 2021