Faculty/Department
Aberystwyth Business School
Salary Scale
£30,619 - £36,333 per annum
Duration
Fixed term for 2 years
Full-time / Part-time
Full-Time
Employment Visa
Sponsorable
Job Description
The Role
What you’ll do
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa
The role
The Post-Graduate Research Assistant (PGRA) is a sponsored two-year fixed term appointment funded through a joint development between: Hywel Dda UHB, the Powys Teaching Health Board, Betsi Cadwaladr UHB and Aberystwyth University. It will be expected that the PGRA in Rural Health Economics will establish and support the development of Health Economics research that will link in with the aims and objectives of the Centre for Excellence in Rural Health Research (CfRHR), Rural Health and Care Wales (RHCW) and, Aberystwyth Business School (ABS), and will specialise in evidence synthesis and will conduct projects across a wide range of health areas to provide best evidence to inform policy and practice decisions. The research will span a diverse range of health economics research including health technology assessment, public health and policy, and service delivery and organisation, all underpinned by a programme of robust methodological development led by the Professor of Rural Health Economics.
To make an informal enquiry, please contact Professor Murray Smith at mus25@aber.ac.uk.
Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date.
What you’ll do
This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.
The PGRA will be required to support the work of the Professor of Rural Health Economics and to collaborate with partners from a range of Health Economics research bodies including: Government Health bodies (Health and Care Research Wales) and the various Social Policy Research Units and Medical and Nursing Schools. The work will include assisting in data preparation and analyses, economic evaluations of benefits, harms and costs of a range of healthcare interventions, undertaking systematic reviews and grant bid preparation. Tasks will include data preparation and analyses, linkage of observational and experimental data with administrative data, statistical modelling, and network meta-analysis.
In addition to the research requirements, the PGRA will also be required to assist on learning and teaching activities in the School including the delivery of guest lectures and research seminars where they will be able to disseminate their work to a wider staff and student audience.
More specifically, the PGRA will assist and support the Professor of Rural Health Economics on a number of projects that strengthen the areas of:
- Health econometrics and real-world evidence
- Rural Health and Mental Health
- Market access and policy (supply chain access and policy – food, pharma, medical devices)
- Industrial Organisation and Microeconomics of health and pharmaceutical markets (medical devices, digital systems)
- Patient Reported Outcomes
- Supply chain supplier development (in conjunction with SCM specialist from within the School).
- Environment and health (in conjunction with Environmental Economists from within the School).
- Food and health
- Take on roles that enable the University to meet its administrative needs.
- Liaise with existing and potential sponsors.
- Assist in teaching and administrative duties as allocated by the Professor of Rural Health Economics and the Head of School.
The PGRA will also be encouraged to develop their research profile and contribute in part to:
- Peer-reviewed research
- The delivery of consultancy and research contracts
- Provide direct support and assistance to the health boards / RHCW research grant proposals as part of their time commitment that will be funded by the health boards.
- Develop Health Economic research expertise
- To undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
- To be committed to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
- To be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of the University’s Effective Contribution Scheme.
- Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required:
Essential
- A Masters qualification in Health Economics or another closely related quantitative subject
- Knowledge of various Health Economics methods and research techniques and statistical methods used in applied economic evaluation; good understanding of clinical trial methods and the principles of systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Ability and willingness to work with colleagues in collaborative research projectsA proven ability to communicate to target audiences.
- Commitment to own professional development.
- Willingness to develop a research profile.
- Ability to present material succinctly
- An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually.
Desirable
- A PhD qualification in Health Economics or another closely related quantitative subject.
- Experience of undertaking independent health-related research.
- Experience of publishing and disseminating research
- Experience of securing research funding and future REF submission
- Knowledge and understanding of health economics and cost-effectiveness analysis and experience of economic evaluation, including applying quantitative methods and decision analytic modelling
- Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level C2.*
- More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:
https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/hr/policy-and-procedure/welsh-standards/
How to apply
To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.
Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Benefits
- Flexible working policy
- 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
- Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
- Commitment to Professional Development
- Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
- Staff recognition and reward schemes
- Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
- Staff relocation bursary
- Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
- Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality and retail on campus.
Please keep reading
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and in particular, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.
We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Employment Visa
We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.
Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.
Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:
Skilled Worker Route Points-Based System
Mandatory / Non-tradeable Criteria (50 points)
A job offer from a UK licensed sponsor
Job is above the minimum sponsorable skill level
Appointed candidate to have appropriate knowledge of the English language*
Tradeable Criteria (dependent on candidate appointed)
Salary meets minimum threshold
The candidate holds a PhD in a subject relevant to the job
The candidate holds a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job
The advertised role is on the UK Shortage Occupation List (SOL)
- Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:
- A national of a majority English speaking country
- Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC)
- Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.
For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa