MRC Skills Development Fellow

Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR)

A Remarkable Place To Work.

Overview We are seeking to appoint an exceptional individual to join our MRC Skills Development Fellowship Programme in Population Health Systems Science and Decision Modelling. The aim of the three-year, post-doctoral Fellowship Programme is to train future research leaders who will go on to deliver a step change in the development and exploitation of advanced mathematical and statistical, computational and health economic methods that will transform our understanding of, and ability to intervene effectively in, the complex adaptive system that shapes population health. Through an intensive programme of interdisciplinary skills training, delivered within a nurturing environment, we will prepare fellows to take on grand challenges. Fellows will leave the programme equipped for a world in which the effective translation of ideas across disciplinary boundaries, and between the public and researchers, is critical to the success of science. Fellows will undertake challenging research that aligns with the MRC Research Priority Theme Lifestyles Affecting Health (https://www.mrc.ac.uk/research/strategy/aim-1/theme-2/objective-7/). Skills training will be delivered in five theme areas outlined in the figure below: four technical themes - (1) Learning about the system, (2) Modelling the system, (3) Intervention development, and (4) Evaluation and decision support, and one core theme - (5) Developing Research Leaders of the Future. Fellows will develop testable hypotheses about the real world mechanisms that determine population health, develop computer models that encode understanding about mechanisms so that targets for intervention can be identified, develop interventions that can improve health and reduce inequality, and evaluate interventions for their health economic and equity impact. The prominence of themes 1-4 will vary from project to project. Theme 5 is core to all projects.

The programme is hosted by the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) in partnership with the following University of Sheffield departments and institutes: The School of Mathematics and Statistics, the Department of Computer Science, the Insigneo Institute for in silico Medicine, the Department of Automatic Control & Systems Engineering, the Department of Economics and the

Sheffield Methods Institute; and one external partner: The Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR). This consortium brings together a breadth of expertise in applied public health research that has policy impact (ScHARR, BIHR), with a depth of methods expertise in our UoS partners across the important skills shortage areas of mathematics, statistics, computation and economics. Each Fellowship provides a salary at Grade 7, and a generous training and travel fund. Fellows will have the opportunity to arrange a research visit of up to 6 month’s duration at a second centre that is world leading, either in the UK or abroad. The purpose of the research visit is twofold: to undertake training that complements the training received locally, and to build collaborative networks. You will have a PhD in a relevant quantitative discipline. You should have a clear understanding of the contribution of your research to your field. A good track record of publications and conference presentations appropriate to stage in career is essential for this role. Further information regarding the programme, our current fellows, our collaborators and the fellowship leadership team is available on our Skills Development Fellowship programme website: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/scharr/research/mrc_sdf Further general information about MRC Skills Development Fellowships can be found on the MRC website: https://www.mrc.ac.uk/skills-careers/fellowships/skills-development-fellowships/

Person Specification You should provide evidence in your application that you meet the MRC criteria for support for early career researchers seeking MRC funding https://mrc.ukri.org/skills-careers/skills-needed-to-win-support/. These criteria, as adapted for the Sheffield SDF scheme, are listed below. We will use a range of selection methods to measure your abilities in these areas including reviewing your online application, seeking references, inviting shortlisted candidates to interview and other forms of assessment action relevant to the post.

Criteria Essential Desirable

Academic achievement

1. A PhD in a relevant quantitative discipline X 2. A good honours degree (UK 2.1 or above, or equivalent) X Research vision

3. Has a clear understanding of the contribution of their research to their field

X

4. Ability to demonstrate independent research ideas, show an awareness of research in other fields, and an appreciation of the importance of working across disciplinary boundaries

X

5. Has a clear awareness of how they can bring their existing technical skills into a health research setting, and by doing so make an impact in one of the priority scientific theme areas for the Sheffield scheme (population health systems and decision modelling)

X

Research experience and potential 6. A good track record of publications and conference presentations

appropriate to stage in career X

7. Has successfully delivered previous research project(s) X

8. Demonstrates network of research contacts independent of their current project leader and / or PhD supervisor.

X

Personal development and training

9. Has a coherent, realistic and integrated training plan that clearly develops new skills and expertise in one or more of the Priority Skills Theme areas for the Sheffield scheme (mathematics, statistics, computer science, health economics), in addition to general research and professional skills

X

10. Can articulate clearly how their training plan aligns with the proposed fellowship project so that the training and project are fully integrated

X

11. Can outline how they will seek opportunities for career development through mentorship, and through spending time at another research location

X

Leadership 12. Demonstrates a potential to lead and inspire, for example through

organisation of peer activities, workshops, journal clubs or supporting individuals at an earlier career stage

X

Communication and engagement skills

13. Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an aim to develop these across different audiences, including with the public

X

14. Able to clearly articulate how research findings can be communicated and disseminated within and outside the research community

X

Career intentions

15. Has a strong, practical sense of how they will develop their career to become a leading researcher with skills in a shortage area (mathematics, statistics, computer science, health economics)

X

Project proposal

16. Has a clearly articulated project proposal that is scientifically justifiable, feasible within the three-year time frame, and provides an excellent vehicle for skills development

X

About the Team One of the nine departments in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health in the University of Sheffield, ScHARR comprises four academic sections (Health Services Research, Health Economics and Decision Science, Public Health and Design Trials and Statistics), plus the Clinical Trials Research Unit, the hub of the NIHR Research Design Service for Yorkshire and Humber, the core of the NICE Decision Support Unit, the leadership of the Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care for Yorkshire and Humber and one of the partners of the NIHR School for Public Health Research. With over 300 multidisciplinary staff, and 450 postgraduate students from more than 50 countries around the world, it is the focus for a large, diverse and internationally recognised programme of health services and public health research, knowledge transfer and research led teaching. Its research informs, at both patient and population levels, the way in which health care should be delivered. It studies and evaluates health, healthcare, health services and health policy from the broadest possible range of clinical, economic and social perspectives. In the recent assessment for the quality of research in the UK (REF2014), ScHARR was ranked in the

top six universities for the volume of world leading research being conducted here. The SDF programme will be hosted by ScHARR in partnership with the following University departments and institutes: The School of Mathematics and Statistics, the Department of Computer Science, the Insigneo Institute for in silico Medicine, the Department of Automatic Control & Systems Engineering, the Department of Economics and the Sheffield Methods Institute; and one external partner: the Bradford Institute for Health Research (BIHR). For more information about ScHARR and the partners please visit our website at: www.sheffield.ac.uk/scharr/research/mrc_sdf.

Job Description

Main Duties and Responsibilities Work with the supervisory team to finalise the project and training plan, ensuring it is ambitious

but feasible. Undertake research that aligns with the programme’s themes and is a vehicle for excellent skills

training. Undertake skills training in the priority areas identified by the Sheffield SDF programme. Undertake general research and professional training. Disseminate research findings/results through the production of papers for high quality journals

and presentation either in-house or at national/international conferences or seminars. Contribute to the School’s teaching by delivering a small number of lectures and tutorials and

dissertation supervision. In the final year, identify and generate appropriate sources of funding and prepare research

proposals for funding bodies with the support of supervisors. Make a full and active contribution to the principles of the ‘Sheffield Academic’. These include the

achievement of excellence in applied teaching and research, and scholarly pursuits to make a genuine difference in the subject area and to the University’s achievements as a whole. Further information on the underpinning values of the Sheffield Academic can be found at: Sheffield Academic.

Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post.

Reward Package Terms and conditions of employment: Will be those for Grade 7 Salary for Grade 7: £31,302- £39,609 per annum, depending on experience

This post is a fixed-term 3 year position. The start date is flexible, but expected to be between 1 September 2019 and 1 March 2020. The post has been identified as full time, but we are committed to exploring flexible working opportunities with our staff which benefit both the individual and the University (See www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/guidance/flexible/arrangements).

If you join the University you will have access to a Total Reward Package that includes a competitive salary, a generous Pension Scheme and annual leave entitlement, as well as access to a range of learning and development courses to support your personal and professional development. You will have access to your own personalised portal where you can also access a comprehensive selection of benefits and offers to suit your changing lifestyle needs, for example financial wellbeing, travel options, shopping and cinema discounts. To find out more visit www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/thedeal We are committed to making the University a remarkable place to work and we support this through a number of sector leading services such as Juice. Our innovative Health and Wellbeing service, Juice, encourages and supports staff to maintain their own positive health and wellbeing through a broad range of inclusive services and activities. To find out more visit www.sheffield.ac.uk/juice Our leadership development has been designed to ensure that our leaders have the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed by the University. To find out more visit www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/sld/sheffieldleader We are also proud of our award-winning equality and diversity action which enhances working life for all. 92% of staff tell us they are treated with fairness and respect (staff survey 2016) www.sheffield.ac.uk/hr/equality We are the only university to feature in the Sunday Times 100 Best Not-for-Profit organisations to work for 2018. In our staff survey (2016) 94% of staff said they were proud to work for the University and 89% of our staff would recommend the University as an excellent place to work. To find out more about what it’s like to work here visit remarkable.group.shef.ac.uk

Selection Steps Please Note that there is a two-stage application process for this post We would like to engage with potential fellows before they make their formal application to the scheme. This will allow us to (1) identify potential supervisors and (2) give advice and guidance on the project proposal and training plan. In order for us to engage with candidates before they make their formal application, we are asking for expressions of interest.

1) Expression of Interest Stage - deadline 1 April 2019 The expression of interest stage of the process is not compulsory, but it is strongly recommended. We will shortlist expressions of interest to determine a group of candidates who we will then engage with on proposal and training plan development. We will only be able to offer proposal and training plan development guidance to those who are shortlisted at this stage. We will shortlist the Expressions of Interest based on the following criteria: (1) strength of current skills in the skills shortage areas, (2) alignment of the candidate’s area of topic interest to the focus of Sheffield’s scheme (population health systems and decision modelling), (3) the candidate’s motivation for applying to the scheme, and justification as to how a Skills Development Fellowship will further their training, (4) achievement of a PhD in a relevant quantitative discipline and good honours degree, and (5) track record of research and research outputs as summarised in the CV and publication list.

Expressions of Interest are to include the following documents:

1) A CV on the fellowship template which can be downloaded from here: https://shef.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.826191!/file/CV_template_Sheffield_MRC_SDF.docx 2) A list of publications. 3) A statement that (i) summarises your quantitative skills (ii) outlines your area of topic interest that aligns with the focus of the Sheffield SDF scheme (iii) explains why the Sheffield SDF scheme is right for you, and how a Skills Development Fellowship will benefit you in terms of further skills training. This statement should be two sides A4 in length.

All three documents must be completed in Arial font, size 11 and submitted in pdf format to sdf@sheffield.ac.uk by the 1 April 2019. Please include your full name in each document filename.

We will contact shortlisted candidates in early April to begin discussions on their project proposal, potential supervisors and training plan. Those who are shortlisted in the preliminary expression of interest stage will still need to make a full, formal application to the scheme once they have developed their proposal and training plan (see below). 2) Formal Application Stage - deadline 3 June 2019 The formal application stage is open to anyone, including those who either did not submit an expression of interest, or who were not shortlisted in the expression of interest stage. All applicants must complete the formal application stage. Applications must be made through the University of Sheffield’s online application system at https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs.

All applicants must complete the University of Sheffield standard online job application form, plus the following supporting documents:

(1) A CV on the Sheffield SDF programme template (2) The Sheffield SDF programme application form

The CV template and fellowship application form can be found on our SDF application webpage: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/scharr/research/mrc_sdf/applications

Closing dates: Expression of interest stage: 1 April 2019 Formal application stage: 3 June 2019 Following the formal application closing date, we will contact you by email to let you know whether or not you have been shortlisted to participate in the next stage of the selection process. Interviews will be held on: 17th June 2019. Full details will be provided to invited candidates. For more information on our application and recruitment processes visit: www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/info

Informal enquiries For informal academic enquiries about this job, and to discuss suitability for the fellowship, please contact the academic programme lead, Mark Strong on m.strong@sheffield.ac.uk For administration queries and details on the application process, contact the lead recruiter, Karen Johnson on karen.johnson@sheffield.ac.uk or on 0114 222 0757. For all online application system queries and support, visit: www.sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/applying

Creating a remarkable place to work We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience. We are consistently ranked in the top 100 of the world’s universities, but there’s so much more to us than that. By joining the University, you will be joining award-winning teams and departments who are all working together to make the University of Sheffield a remarkable place to work. Learn more here.