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Post-Doctoral Mathematical/Statistical Modeller

6:34:00 PM

Infectious Disease Transmission Dynamics - Modelling Virus Infection, Recovery And Competition Processes Using Individual Based Data

University of Warwick - Viral Epidemiology and Control (VEC) Group, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme

Level: Post-Doctoral Research Assistant
Grade: WT 7.2 - 7.9[1] according to qualifications and experience
Reporting to: Prof James Nokes (Kilifi; Warwick University) / Prof Graham Medley (Warwick University, UK)
Duration: 2 years with possible extension
Location: Viral Epidemiology and Control (VEC) Group, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
Position summary: Modelling virus infection, recovery and competition processes using individual based data

Key dates

Application deadline - 7th November 2011; Start date - from January 2012

Terms of reference

The Viral Epidemiology and Control (VEC) group at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya (http://www.kemri-wellcome.org/home ) is looking to appoint two individuals to investigate a set of questions relating to human respiratory virus transmission. In particular this will focus on intra- and inter-virus species interactions, using individual and population level approaches and drawing from a wealth of community study data collected in Kilifi. The successful candidates are likely to come from within the disciplines of statistics, physics, engineering, or applied mathematics and will have complementary statistical and mathematical skills in the use of transmission dynamic and statistical inference models.

Projects to include:

Estimation of parameters relating to competitive interactions between viruses from household repeated sampling data

Through the use of Bayesian MCMC modeling estimate rates of infection acquisition and recovery for and competition between viral variants or species using repeated measurement data from individuals within a household study. Based on methods developed for pneumococcal and rotavirus type dynamics[2], investigate the hypothesis that respiratory viruses interact at the population level, and infer mechanisms of interaction and effects on different fitness qualities (such as infectivity, and shedding duration and level.)

Education, experience and skills

Essential:

  • PhD in mathematical or statistical modelling with a high numerical and computational content
  • Evidence of ability to work independently
  • Team player with excellent communication skills
  • Enthusiasm to apply skills to the study of infectious diseases

Desirable:

  • Experience in modelling directly applicable to the above projects
  • Expertise in any of Matlab, R, STATA, WinBugs or similar
  • Competence and interest to supervise at PhD / RA level
  • Flexibility to spend time overseas with collaborators
  • Experience of working in a developing country
  • Strong publication record (eg ³ 1 first author peer-reviewed paper per year since PhD )

We particularly wish to encourage candidates with a fervent desire to develop a career in research in the East African Region.

Application procedure

Interested candidates can download and submit a completed application form from the Centre website (http://www.kemri-wellcome.org/). Completed forms should be returned by email (subject line marked 'PDRA Modeller') to jobs@kilifi.kemri-wellcome.org, attaching also a full academic CV and covering letter describing why you wish to be considered for one of these positions, together with your career aspirations. For further information on the appointments contact James Nokes (jnokes@kilifi.kemri-wellcome.org) and/ or Graham Medley (graham.medley@warwick.ac.uk).

[1] Starting Grade 7.2 salary KSh 2,881,776 /yr (~20,000 GBP/yr) (under review)

[2] White LJ et al. J R Soc Interface 2008;5(29):1481-90.

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