Research Associate - Data Science

The postholder will work on: the Scottish Government funded Cancer Medicines Outcomes Programme-Public Health Scotland, specifically on linking routine electronic patient healthcare data to report on the use and impact of cancer medicines in Scotland; and other projects in applied pharmacoepidemiology using national data in Public Health Scotland.

FTE: 0.6 (21 hours/week)
Term: Fixed (31/03/2027)

• The Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS) seeks to appoint a suitably qualified researcher to the position of “Research Associate in Data Science” who will add to our current portfolio in research. The position is part time and is being offered on a fixed term contract until 31st March 2027. The postholder will join the Pharmacoepidemiology and Healthcare Research Group in SIPBS to support our expanding research group programme and will be working on various programmes of work as required, including – but not restricted to – The Cancer Medicines Outcomes Programme-Public Health Scotland collaboration (CMOP-PHS).
• CMOP-PHS focuses on generating real world evidence on cancer medicines. The programme vision is to create a national cancer intelligence resource capability to provide rapid feedback on findings to inform policy, service delivery, and patient-clinician decision making.
• CMOP-PHS’s main work is two-fold: linking routine electronic patient healthcare data to report on the use and impact of cancer medicines in Scotland; and future data development.
• Other projects will be in areas of applied pharmacoepidemiology using national data in Public Health Scotland.
• The role will involve curation, access, management, and analysis of large secondary healthcare datasets, as well as leading the design and execution of various pharmacoepidemiologic studies.

• Educated to PhD level in an appropriate discipline or have significant relevant experience in addition to a relevant degree, or preferably independent postdoctoral experience.
• Sufficient breadth or depth of knowledge in pharmacoepidemiology, statistics, and data analytics, specifically in the use of the R language for statistical analysis.
• Developing ability to prepare research proposals, conduct individual research work, disseminate results and to prepare research proposals (redundant phrasing from source preserved).
• Ability to plan and organise own workload effectively and an ability to work within a team environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to listen, engage and persuade, and to present complex information in an accessible way to a range of audiences.

• While not essential for the role, applications are welcomed from candidates with: relevant work experience, membership of relevant Chartered/professional bodies (including the Higher Education Academy), experience of relevant student supervision and teaching activities, and/or experience of knowledge exchange related activities.