We are appointing a Research Fellow to join a team doing research on mathematical models to inform decision making during infectious disease outbreaks. The post-holder will be supervised by Dr Sebastian Funk and will join a highly successful and supportive group at the Centre for the Mathematical Modelling (CMMID).

The post will be part of a project funded by the Wellcome Trust - aiming to improve the use of real-time modelling for meaningful decision support in infectious disease outbreaks. The main task will be to develop methods for model-based forecasting that can be readily deployed in an outbreak situation and updated when new data become available.

The post-holder will be using data sets from recent cholera outbreaks to test a range of approaches for their ability to generate useful predictions, with a view to applying them in real time to outbreaks that may occur during the duration of the post. This will involve systematically assessing of the predictive ability of forecasts, testing how much the inclusion of individual, spatial, behavioural or genetic data can lead to improvements. It will further involve closely collaborating with partners responsible for public health decision making, in particular Médecins Sans Frontières in Paris and the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, and interacting with academic collaborators including the new Charité Global Health in Berlin.

The group is working at the interface between advanced statistical methodology for forecasts and applied infectious diseases modelling. There is considerable scope for developing and using of state-of-the-art methodology that can be applied to any infectious disease outbreak, as well as for conducting research with a direct impact on improving public health.

The successful applicant will have a PhD in a quantitative discipline such as mathematics, physics, statistics, bioinformatics or computational biology, or similar research experience. Candidates should have proficient knowledge of a programming language for mathematical or statistical modelling, such as R, Python, Julia or C/C++, and be committed to open research and software development. Further particulars are included in the attached job description.

The post is full-time, based in London and available immediately and fixed term for 3 years initially. The appointment will be made on the Research Fellow scale Grade 6, £40,011 - £45,437 per annum inclusive.The post will be subject to the LSHTM terms and conditions of service. Annual leave entitlement is 30 working days per years, pro rata for part time staff. In addition to this there are discretionary “Director’s Day”. Membership of the Pension Scheme is available.

Online applications will be accepted by the automated system until 10pm of the closing date. Applications should include the names and email contacts of 2 referees. Any queries regarding the application process may be addressed to jobs@lshtm.ac.uk.

The supporting statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience and training meet each of the selection criteria. Please provide one or more paragraphs addressing each criterion. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as "Please see attached CV" will not be considered acceptable.