Lecturer in Epidemiology (Non-Clinical)

at  Kings College London

Job id: 084946. Salary: £51,974 - £61,021 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.
Posted: 21 February 2024. Closing date: 21 March 2024.
Business unit: Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine. Department: Department of Inflammation Biology.
Contact details: Sam Norton. sam.norton@kcl.ac.uk
Location: Denmark Hill Campus. Category: Academic & Teaching.
Back to job search
Job Description
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases at King’s College London in a role as a Non-Clinical Lecturer, specialising in rheumatic disease epidemiology. We are actively seeking a dynamic early career academic with an outstanding research track record to become an integral part of our vibrant team and to cultivate their unique program of research within our renowned centre.

In this role, you will play a pivotal role in broadening the scope of the Centre’s research activities by harnessing the potential of large, routinely collected healthcare datasets. Your work will have far-reaching implications for clinical practice, encompassing a wide range of cutting-edge research activities on topics including but not limited to:

• Interrogating the intricacies of immune-mediated inflammatory rheumatic diseases, examining their various phenotypic manifestations, and contributing to a deeper understanding of their underlying mechanisms.
• High-impact analyses of rheumatic disease outcomes, enhancing our comprehension of the implications and trajectories of rheumatic diseases, particularly relating to mental health and quality of life.
• Healthcare quality assessments, ensuring that patients with rheumatic diseases receive the best possible care and identifying areas for improvement.
• Priority questions related to pharmacovigilance, contributing to the safety and efficacy assessment of treatments for rheumatic diseases.

Additionally, your role will involve providing essential support to our diverse range of clinical research initiatives. You will collaborate closely with members of the Centre and our clinical academic colleagues across King’s Health Partners, strengthening the multidisciplinary approach to rheumatic disease research.
The Centre for Rheumatic Diseases is a research hub renowned for its expertise in clinical outcomes across a spectrum of rheumatic diseases. As a EULAR Centre of Excellence, our centre boasts a dedicated team of over 30 academics, research staff, and PhD/MD students. Our research portfolio is diverse, encompassing early and late-phase clinical trials, as well as large-scale epidemiological studies that leverage existing datasets, and the potential for use of routinely collected healthcare systems data to maximise trial efficiency. Some of our notable collaborations and datasets include: The National Early Inflammatory Arthritis Audit (operated in conjunction with the British Society for Rheumatology); The British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Rheumatoid Arthritis Register (in partnership with Manchester University); OpenSafely (a collaborative initiative with Oxford Datalab); The Clinical Practice Research Datalink; and established healthcare datasets within South East London. Moreover, our interests extend to systematic reviews and meta-analysis, including innovative network meta-analysis approaches. We take pride in our highly collaborative culture, boasting a robust portfolio of studies that foster interdisciplinary collaboration within King’s College and beyond, with a network of institutions.
This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to make a significant impact in the field of rheumatic disease epidemiology, advance your academic career, and contribute to the growth and success of the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases at King’s College London.
This post will be offered on a fixed term contract for 5 years.
This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent.
Key Responsibilities
Research Leadership: Develop and lead a research program in rheumatic disease epidemiology, utilizing large datasets for insightful analysis.
Data Analysis: Apply advanced statistical techniques to interpret healthcare data and epidemiological trends.
Publication and Presentation: Publish research findings in high-impact journals and present at conferences to disseminate knowledge.
Collaboration: Collaborate with colleagues within the Centre and across institutions to support clinical research activities.
Grant Acquisition: Pursue external research funding to support projects and program growth.
Teaching and Supervision: Contribute to the education and mentorship of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Project Management: Lead research projects from conception to completion, overseeing data collection and analysis.
Ethical Compliance: Ensure research activities adhere to ethical guidelines and regulatory standards.
Professional Development: Stay updated with the latest advancements in rheumatic disease epidemiology and related fields.
The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder 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

Essential criteria

• PhD in epidemiology or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting epidemiological research, as evidenced by a strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Familiarity with clinical research methodologies and an understanding of rheumatic diseases.
• Proficiency in advanced statistical analysis techniques and data manipulation for large datasets.
• Proven ability to secure external research funding through successful grant applications.
• Ability to manage research projects independently, from project design to data collection and analysis.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, with a track record of collaborating effectively with colleagues and external partners.
• A commitment to conducting research in compliance with ethical guidelines, regulatory standards, and following open science practices.
• Experience in teaching and/or supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students in epidemiology or related subjects.
• Experience in engaging with the public and communicating research findings to non-specialist audiences, fostering awareness and understanding of rheumatic diseases and related research.

Desirable criteria

• Familiarity with working with large UK healthcare databases, such as electronic health records or national healthcare databases.
• Experience in collaborating across diverse academic disciplines to address complex research questions.
• Proficiency in data visualization tools and techniques to effectively communicate research findings.
• Previous involvement in systematic reviews and meta-analysis, including network meta-analysis approaches.

Further Information
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an informal visit prior to the formal interview. This will provide applicants with the opportunity to meet people with and present their research to members of the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases and wider School of immunology and Microbial Sciences.

• Interrogating the intricacies of immune-mediated inflammatory rheumatic diseases, examining their various phenotypic manifestations, and contributing to a deeper understanding of their underlying mechanisms.
• High-impact analyses of rheumatic disease outcomes, enhancing our comprehension of the implications and trajectories of rheumatic diseases, particularly relating to mental health and quality of life.
• Healthcare quality assessments, ensuring that patients with rheumatic diseases receive the best possible care and identifying areas for improvement.
• Priority questions related to pharmacovigilance, contributing to the safety and efficacy assessment of treatments for rheumatic diseases