Salary: Post-Doctoral Research Associate (with PhD): £32,600 to £37,768
Research Assistant: £27,328 to £31,656
Full-Time, Fixed-Term 2 years (part time hours will be considered, minimum 0.5 FTE)
The Department of Vector Biology at LSTM is a centre of excellence in the study of insecticide resistance and its management and works in partnership with other Departments e.g. social scientists in the Department of Public Health. We have been awarded a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award grant for 3 years to identify ways of improving the efficacy of malaria prevention in an insecticide resistant Africa. The project is inter-disciplinary with a strong focus on social science and economics.
Impressive reductions in malaria have occurred throughout sub-Saharan Africa over the past 12 years. However progress has not been geographically uniform and there are some high-burden countries where, despite good coverage with long lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs), parasite prevalence rates and mortality from malaria remain obstinately high. Burkina Faso falls into this category. This project will collect extensive empirical data and use models of malaria transmission to quantify the level of protection provided by LLINs and investigate the potential efficacy and limitations of alternative malaria control tools. The aim is to identify the most acceptable and cost effective, complementary interventions that would drive malaria transmission towards zero.
The post holder will play a key role in this exciting multidisciplinary project. The candidate will help design and participate in complementary social science research to explore patterns of LLN use in a rural district in Burkina Faso where high levels of insecticide resistance are thought to be reducing the efficacy of LLINs. The output from this work will be of critical importance for advising country programmes and donors on strategies to maintain vector control in the face of increasing insecticide resistance.
You will be a highly motivated individual, possessing MSc level or above in a health related social science discipline such as; Public Health, Community Health, Health Policy, Development Studies, Geography, Sociology or Anthropology. You will have experience of qualitative research in a low income country context and experience in conducting research using social sciences in international health. Experience of living and/or working in Africa would be a distinct advantage.
The ability to assist the social science lead in preparing the study design and ethics application for a study of LLIN use in Burkina Faso is essential so you must have proven communication skills and excellent academic writing skills. The candidate must be able to work productively as part of a multi-cultural, multidisciplinary team and you will be expected to show tenacity and tact when dealing directly with country partners, policy makers and funding agencies.
A working knowledge of French and a willingness to spend several months each year working at our study site in Burkina Faso are essential for this role.
Further details of the post can be found by visiting our website at: www.lstmed.ac.uk/vacancies
If you are interested in applying, please return your completed Application Form, Personal Details Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form together with a copy of your CV, stating vacancy reference number (084), via email to jobs@lstmed.ac.uk, or by post to HR, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA
Closing Date: 4 April 2016, 12.00pm UK Time
LSTM actively promotes an Equal Opportunities Policy
