Centre Fellow - Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine (SMQB) - 96920 - Grade 7

Position Details

Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, College of Medical and Dental Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £30,942 to £40,322 with potential progression once in post to £42,792.

Grade 7

Full time / Fixed Term Contract for 3 years

Closing Date: 6th June 2021

Online interviews and assessment centre will take place 28th and 29th June 2021

Role Summary

Three 3-year research fellowships (Centre Fellows) are available within the Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine (SMQB): a new strategic activity at the University of Birmingham spanning the Colleges of Medical & Dental Sciences and Engineering and Physical Sciences. Led by Professor John Terry, the Centre is composed of researchers and innovators with backgrounds in mathematics, computer science, physics and engineering who are excited by tackling research challenges from biology, biomedicine and the clinic. Housed within the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, the integration within a medical school presents unique opportunities to bring communities together and to solve pressing healthcare challenges. Key medical themes of the research undertaken within SMQB include metabolism, endocrinology, maternal & women's health and neuroscience & neurology.

Centre Fellows are critical roles for the success of our interdisciplinary ethos. They present a fantastic opportunity to make the transition towards independent researcher within a highly dynamic environment, where seamlessly working across disciplines and with end-users is key. We can offer you an exciting role where you will be able to pursue your own research interests as well as to work with researchers across our University, Hospital and Industry ecosystem to co-develop exciting new projects of biomedical and clinical significance, for which approaches from mathematics, physics and data science are crucial to their solution.

These unique roles comprise two main parts to which you will devote your time equally:

You will develop your own programme of research in areas aligned to the focus of the Centre;

You will co-create and develop new and emerging areas of interdisciplinary research, leading to new research collaborations that transcend quantitative, biomedical and clinical disciplines. This will include pump priming projects, training and mentoring of students and academic colleagues, engaged research with members of the public and partnership development with key stakeholders.

We are seeking three individuals with a strong background in one or more of dynamical systems, complex networks, parameter inference (including Bayesian methods), machine learning and artificial intelligence, clinical data analytics and visualisation, advanced (medical) imaging, diagnostics and clinical decision support systems. If you are curiosity driven, seeking to further develop your quantitative skills and want to tackle some of the most pressing healthcare and societal challenges, then we want to hear from you!

Ideally with some postdoctoral experience already, you will receive strong support for developing your own independent programme of research, ultimately leading to personal fellowship funding. To facilitate this you will be given protected time to pursue your own research interests, as well as being automatically enrolled into our developing leaders programme. 16 graduates of this programme have secured their own personal fellowships over the past 5 years. This represents a success rate of over 80%. Further, through its Birmingham Fellows scheme, the University has a strong track-record of transitioning independent research fellowship holders into permanent academic careers.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, in consultation with Centre leadership
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding including deciding what information to include and how to present the bid to maximise the likelihood of securing the funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• To work with industrial and clinical partners and support project review meetings
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Centre research-related activities and research- related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the Centre, College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, modelling, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters. Working with co-authors to determine which aspects of the research findings to include in a presentation or a publication and how to convey the findings.
• Give guidance, support and advice to students on research related work including PhD students and decide the most appropriate method of providing this supervision.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Liaise with research staff and support staff on research-related matters
• Liaise with external collaborators on the research, where appropriate
• Referee articles for peer-reviewed academic journals
• Maintain contact with (including membership of) appropriate professional bodies
• Liaise with the relevant external research community via seminars and conferences
• Communicate with external clients of the University or members of the public.
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person specification

• Hold a relevant first degree or masters in a quantitative discipline (e.g. Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering or closely related discipline)
• Hold a PhD in a quantitative discipline (e.g. Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering or closely related discipline)
• Relevant and up to date knowledge in one or more of the following areas:

Dynamical Systems

Complex Networks

Parameter Inference (including Bayesian Methods)

Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence

Clinical Data Analytics and Visualisation

Advanced (Medical) Imaging

Diagnostics and Clinical Decision Support Systems

• Extensive programming experience in multiple high-level programming languages (e.g. C, C++, Fortran, Julia, Matlab, Python, R)
• Sustained record of research output in internationally recognised peer-review journals
• Proven ability to communicate complex information clearly and to a range of stakeholders (for example evidenced through publications and presentations at conferences, in public engagement activities, through industry partnerships etc)
• Able to participate as part of an interdisciplinary team to develop new research ideas
• Evidence of the ability to collaborate actively within the Institution and externally to complete research projects and advance knowledge
• Able to identify sources of funding, generate income and build relationships for future activities
• Experience of teaching / demonstrating at undergraduate level
• Able to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

To apply for the role applicants must provide alongside their CV:

• answers to the required questions on the application website that clearly explain how you satisfy the essential criteria for the role, as detailed within the 'Person specification' section;
• a two-page (max) summary of the research you plan to undertake within the Centre, including key collaborators within the University of Birmingham that you would seek to interact with;
• a recent publication that best reflects your skills and experience alongside a brief narrative describing its impact.

Further information about the Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine can be found at www.birmingham.ac.uk/smqb

For further information please contact Dr Rebecca Ward, Centre Manager, r.j.ward.2@bham.ac.uk in the first instance.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working