Research Associate in Health Economics and Policy

at  Heriot Watt University

Directorate: Panmure House, Edinburgh Business School (EBS)
Contract Type: Full Time, Fixed term for 12 months with possible extension
Salary: Grade 7 (£36,023- £45,585)

QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in relevant discipline (or close to successful completion) such as health economics, health policy, health management, or other related social science field

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Evidence of a developing publication record
• Experience or desire to work with those from other disciplines and in industry and policy
• Evidence of excellent administrative and project management skills
• Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work independently
• Evidence of excellent oral and written communication skills
• Excellent time management skills including the ability to prioritise workload

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Evidence of research related to health policy, health innovation, or health economics (broadly defined)
• Evidence or knowledge to support international activities
• Evidence of a basic knowledge of the Higher Education context and regulatory framework

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

We are seeking to appoint a (postdoctoral) Research Associate in Health Economics and Policy to work alongside the Adam Smith Chair in Sustainable Capitalism, Professor Adam Dixon, on a new project to develop and execute the “Panmure House Dialogues on Market Solutions for Untreatable Diseases: Policy, Pharma, Biotech, and Investors� .
The rise of untreatable diseases, when antimicrobial drugs lose their effectiveness or do not yet exist, underscores the inadequacies of current market mechanisms in addressing this global health threat. The key question of the project is how can we create economic and regulatory environments that align long-term profitability with societal health needs? We will hold a series of five dialogues with diverse expert participation, which the research associate will assist and help coordinate. Participants will include biotechnology and healthcare companies, their investors, and other stakeholders in the health sector. As such, we will create a space for focused discussions on the economics of antimicrobial drug R&D innovation and understand the incentives for their production. This also includes considerations of health policy and infrastructure in high-income and low- to middle-income countries, thus ensuring that innovation and distribution is broad-based and equitable.
The research associate will conduct background research (literature reviews; policy reviews) on each dialogue topic, which will be used to support the conversation, feed into post-dialogue recommendations, and academic publications. The research associate will also conduct (or support) semi-structured interviews with different stakeholders in private and public sectors. This may include international travel.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Conduct and disseminate original research aligned with the project and in collaboration with the team, including external academic and non-academic partners
• Work closely with the project lead to enable the programme of work
• Contribute to outreach and impact engagement activities of the project
• Demonstrate initiative in making routine decisions to manage and achieve project deliverables and deadlines
• Participate in, and develop, networks and collaborations both internally and externally to the Division/Faculty/University
• Any other duties, commensurate with the grade of the post