Research Assistant/Associate in Medical Statistics

Job description

We are looking for a Research Assistant/Associate to join the Unit for Medical Statistics (UMS) in the School of Life Course & Population Sciences. The main duties of the postholder will be to take day-to-day responsibility for the statistical aspects of specific studies such as clinical trials and/or other clinical studies and registry projects (epidemiological studies). This will include project planning and protocol development, study conduct, plans for all statistical analyses and liaising with the appropriate multidisciplinary teams to represent the statistics view and role. In addition, the postholder will contribute to statistical consultancy and teaching as part of UMS. All work will be supervised by a senior member of UMS.  

The postholder will be a graduate in mathematics/statistics (or other quantitative discipline), MSc (Research Assistant) or PhD (Research Associate), with strong programming skills and good attention to detail. It will suit a recent graduate with ambitions to work in medical statistics and/or clinical trials. The postholder will be someone who thrives in a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment, but is able to work independently, solve problems and deliver research to tight deadlines. 

This is an outstanding opportunity to further develop skills and expertise in health data science in a priority area for health research and build a research career through high quality publications, contributing to research proposals and taking advantage of developmental opportunities within the department and KCL.

King’s is committed to fostering an environment of equality, diversity and inclusion. 

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract from  3rd July 2023 to 30th June 2025 

This is a 100% full time equivalent / 35 hours per week,

Key responsibilities

• With senior statistical oversight: to take responsibility for the statistics of a number of studies. This will include some or all of: contributing to design, data form design, writing statistical analysis plans, undertaking statistical analyses, writing reports and papers, solving statistical problems that may arise, with support from senior colleagues.  
• Contribute to study reports and publications, also to proposals and applications to external bodies for funding purposes, as appropriate.  
• Contribute to the UMS statistical consultancy service across King’s, with appropriate training and support, as needed.  
• Identify and solve specific statistical and methodological problems that arise in collaboration with senior statistical colleagues. 
• Attend and contribute to relevant meetings and conferences. 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the postholder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Research Assistant:  

Essential criteria

1.      BSc/MSc in mathematics/biostatistics (or quantitative discipline). 

2.      Sound understanding of design and conduct of trials, registers and other clinical studies. 

3.      Knowledge and experience of various statistical packages such as R/Stata. 

4.      Experience in developing statistical methodology within research studies.  

5.      Able to verbally communicate highly complex and sensitive information effectively. 

6.      Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias. 

Desirable criteria

7.      Experience in analysing and publishing clinical research data.   

8.      Advisory or consultancy experience. 

Candidates are strongly encouraged to specifically address the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification in their covering letter.

Research Associate: 

Essential criteria

1.      PhD in mathematics/biostatistics/ Epidemiology (or quantitative discipline). 

2.      Experience in design and conduct of trials or other clinical studies.  

3.      Knowledge and experience of various statistical packages such as R/Stata. 

4.      Experience in developing statistical methodology within research studies.  

5.      Experience writing/contributing to manuscripts for publication. 

6.      Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias. 

Desirable criteria

7.      Experience in analysing and publishing clinical research data in high impact journals. 

8.      Experience of advanced statistical and/or machine learning methods, such as longitudinal analysis methods, latent variables models, clustering algorithms, missing data. 

Candidates are strongly encouraged to specifically address the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification in their covering letter.

Further information

The School of Life Course & Population Sciences is one of five Schools that make up the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine at King’s College London. The School unites over 400 experts in women and children’s health, nutritional sciences, population health and the molecular genetics of human disease. Our research links the causes of common health problems to life’s landmark stages, treating life, disease and healthcare as a continuum. We are interdisciplinary by nature and this innovative approach works: 91 per cent of our research submitted to the Subjects Allied to Medicine (Pharmacy, Nutritional Sciences and Women's Health cluster) for REF was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. We use this expertise to teach the next generation of health professionals and research scientists. Based across King’s Denmark Hill, Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Waterloo campuses, our academic programme of teaching, research and clinical practice is embedded across five Departments.  

More information: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/slcps