The Intervention and Infectious Disease Modelling (IIDM) https://www.telethonkids.org.au/our-research/early-environment/infection-and-vaccines/intervention-and-infectious-disease-modelling/ group at Telethon Kids Institute and part of the University of Western Australia are an interdisciplinary team of researchers that develop and use mathematical models to understand parasitic and viral diseases and inform public health decision-making. Led by Professor Melissa Penny, the IIDM group use data analysis, modelling and simulation, to examine complex interactions between infectious diseases, individuals, and populations, medical interventions, and health systems. They use these models to understand disease progression, pathogenesis, and disease transmission, and to estimate impacts of existing and novel health interventions in individuals or at the population level, with the goal to inform decisions during product development through to implementation and policy recommendations.

We now have several exciting opportunities Senior Research Officer/Post-doc to join this newly established team at the Institute that will be responsible for conceptualising, developing, optimising and applying cutting-edge mathematical and statistical methodologies to estimate impact and understand the role of novel malaria interventions to support malaria burden reduction and elimination.

This role will have a strong focus on novel malaria tools including vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, small molecule drugs, and antimalarials and will be collaborating with various scientists, funding bodies, global health partners, and policymakers working in and with malaria-endemic countries.

This role will have the added opportunity to work collaboratively with Intervention and Infectious Disease Modelling (IIDM) team members, the wider Infections and Vaccines program at the Telethon Kids Institute.

Some of your duties will include:

• Develop and apply new methodology for mathematical and statistical modelling of malaria.
• Build innovative tools to support the automation for the collection, quality assurance, manipulation, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of data and modelling inputs.
• Extend and refine existing models to include new data sources and add new functionality.
• Manage own coding, research and administrative activities, including small-scale project management to co-ordinate multiple aspects of the work.
• Liaise with internal and external collaborators and provide timely updates to the project team.
• Maintain rigorous data-and code-management practices, including thorough documentation and version control, to ensure data replicability and cross-compatibility with past and future IIDM products.
  -Contribute ideas for new research projects for generating research income and contribute to and, as appropriate, lead in the preparation of scientific reports and journal articles for publication of research findings from this work in open access journals.

Conveniently located at Perth Children’s Hospital, this role will be offered on a full-time basis for 3 years. Part time may be considered for the right candidate.

About You:

We are looking for a dynamic team player who can think on their feet, jump into new tasks easily, understand and engage with the processes around IIDMs collaborations with funding bodies and other stakeholders, including uploading and downloading datasets, creating visualisations of results, and assisting with trouble-shooting activities.
To be successful in this role, you will have demonstrated experience in the following:

• PhD in mathematics, statistics or a similar quantitative discipline.
• Strong statistical/mathematical skills, especially one or more fields relevant to diseases modelling (ODEs/PDEs; simulation models; Bayesian statistical modelling; Gaussian processes).
• Demonstrable ability to think abstractly about real-world systems and design mathematical/statistical models answering questions about them.
• Strong programming skills in at least one of R/Python, or another statistical/mathematical programming language.
• Ability to work independently and see research projects through from conception to publication.
• Demonstrable evidence of success within a collaborative, team-based research setting.
• Knowledge of malaria epidemiology/ecology and a strong interest in other infectious (vector borne) diseases and health systems research in local and global contexts is considered highly desirable but not essential.

We are driving inclusion and diversity as part of the way we work and embrace the diverse career and life experiences of our staff. If you meet a number of the requirements (and not all), we encourage you to submit your application. We also encourage you to address any career disruptions (if applicable) you may have had in your cover letter.

About Us
Our aim is to create a workplace where people are respected and encouraged to fulfil their potential. We encourage a workforce that is innovative, eager to acquire knowledge and enhance skills; we embrace all employee differences, foster a culture that supports diversity and inclusion, and are committed to providing reasonable accommodations where required.

How to apply https://telethonkids.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/4/home/requisition/2726?c=telethonkids