We are seeking a highly skilled quantitative researcher to conduct infectious disease outbreak modelling research under the supervision of Dr Robin Thompson. This post is funded by a UKRI grant in support of the Royal Society’s Rapid Assistance in Modelling the Pandemic (RAMP) initiative. An ideal candidate would have a strong background in mathematical modelling of infectious diseases, experience with matching models to data and an interest in conducting research with positive real-world impacts. The successful candidate would join the Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research (SBIDER) and the Mathematics Institute at the University of Warwick.

Possible areas of research include constructing and analysing branching process models to assess the risk of local outbreaks of COVID-19, or developing methods for estimating time-dependent reproduction numbers and other epidemiological quantities from outbreak data. Candidates interested in developing user-friendly software based on epidemic models for use by policy-makers during outbreaks will also be considered.

The researcher will contribute to RAMP’s Rapid Review Group (RRG). The RRG conducts reviews of COVID-19 modelling studies for UK government advisory groups such as SPI-M and SAGE, as well as for UK government departments.

The University of Warwick has considerable experience and expertise in epidemiological modelling, with the SBIDER team serving on several government advisory boards associated with public health. Warwick has a strong international reputation for work on a range of infectious diseases and provides policy advice to a number of government agencies. We seek to publish our findings in appropriate academic journals.

The Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology & Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research (SBIDER) specialises in bringing sophisticated mathematics to challenges in biological sciences, including modelling infectious diseases in humans and animals. Our research spans from the theoretical to practical policy advice, and from the genome to the population. We are a team of around 20 staff from across campus with individuals based in Maths, Stats, Computer Science, Life Sciences and Medicine.

Applications via the HR website should include a CV and list of publications, research statement and links to a small selection of publications/preprints or part of your PhD thesis as appropriate. All applicants should also ensure that their three referees send their references by email to Alison Glendinning, Departmental Secretary, Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick at MathematicsPA@warwick.ac.uk by the closing date.

Informal enquiries can be sent to: robin.n.thompson@warwick.ac.uk

If you have not yet been awarded your PhD but are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant on level 5 of the University grade structure (£30,046). Upon successful award of your PhD and evidence of this fact, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure (£30,942 pa).