The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence. The Institute is named in honour of the scientist Alan Turing and its mission is to make great leaps in data science and artificial intelligence research in order to change the world for the better.

SHOCKS AND RESILIENCE RESEARCH PROJECT

Measuring policy impact in the Covid-19 crisis and building resilience against future shocks.

The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted how vulnerable societies and governments are to shocks. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the propensity to design policy for narrow siloes relating to singular policy areas and government departments, without adequate consideration of the interdependencies between them and the interconnected nature of local and global societies. The pandemic has brought into focus that resilience in one policy area (e.g. health) can come at the cost of resilience in another (e.g. the economy). The overall aim of this large-scale, 2-year research project is to develop a better understanding of resilience in interconnected health, social, and economic systems and to use this understanding to identify robust policy measures.

The project brings together multidisciplinary expertise from across the Turing community, including in health, public policy, economics, and urban analytics. We are hiring nine postdoctoral research associates for this project, who will work collaboratively to develop a rigorous understanding of societal responses to shocks and a clear strategy for how to engender policy resilience. To achieve our aims, we will require reliable, consistent, real-time, fine-grained data sources, as well as integrative, highly-granular models that bring together policy areas and cross disciplinary boundaries.

The Shocks and Resilience project consists of the following five work packages, and we are hiring nine postdoctoral research associates (PDRAs) in total:

1. Modelling COVID-19 (2 PDRAs)
2. Learning causality and dynamics in interconnected systems (2 PDRAs)
3. Spatial modelling (2 PDRAs)
4. Generalised models for resilient policy-making (2 PDRAs)
5. Engagement, implementation, and dissemination to policy-makers (1 PDRA)

We recommend reading the project’s website and all the job descriptions related to this project. Taking the time to do so will ensure that you are applying for the post that most closely matches your interests and experience.

This project is supported entirely by public funds, through Wave 1 of the UK Research and Innovation Strategic Priorities Fund, under EPSRC Grant EP/T001569/1.

Work package 1: Modelling COVID-19 (x2 PDRAs)

The aim of this work package is to use the current pandemic as an initial exemplar of a specific shock. Our primary focus is to develop a coupled epidemiologic and socio-economic model of Covid-19 dynamics and its societal effects. A crucial part of this package is the identification and curation of data sources that can be used to monitor the impact of policy interventions and inform subsequent models. Alongside data collection and curation, we are building an epidemiological model that allows for variations in social patterns as well as societal and economic factors, such as inequality, to affect the dynamics of spread.

One of the postdoctoral research associates that we are hiring for this work package will bring expertise in health and focus on building the epidemiological model, while the other research associate will bring social science expertise and focus on modelling the pandemic’s socio-economic impacts. The two post-holders will work closely together to integrate and link the models that they will be building.

HEALTH ROLE

For this post, we are looking to recruit a postdoctoral research associate who will build the epidemiological model for the spread of Covid-19. The post-holder will report to the Deputy Director of the Turing’s Health Programme and will work closely with the Social Science Postdoctoral Research Associate assigned to the same work package.

DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Build an epidemiological model describing the spread of Covid-19 and work with the Social Science Postdoctoral Research Associate to link the epidemiological model to a socio-economic model. The resulting methodology should allow us (1) to study the impact of Covid-19 health policies on socio-economic outcomes as well as (2) to examine how socio-economic factors, such as inequality, affect the dynamics of Covid-19 spread.
• Identify and curate data sources that can be used to monitor the national and international impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on Covid-19 spread.
• Collaborate with the senior academics overseeing this research project, as well as the eight other postdoctoral research associates, in pursuing the research agenda described above.
• Develop work plans to ensure timely delivery of objectives and assist with quarterly grant reports.
• Build and maintain relationships with policy-makers and epidemiological modelling groups as part of the research project’s external engagement strategy.
• Prepare research outputs that are tailored to a diverse audience, ranging from epidemiologists and healthcare researchers, civil society, and the general public; present papers and research outputs at external conferences and events.
• Work in close coordination with the Turing’s Health and Public Policy Programmes to maximise the project’s influence on ongoing policy debates.

SOCIAL SCIENCE ROLE

For this post, we are looking to recruit a postdoctoral research associate who will build the socio-economic model capturing the effects of Covid-19. The post-holder will report to the Deputy Director of the Turing’s Public Policy Programme and will work closely with the Health Postdoctoral Research Associate assigned to the same work package.

DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build a socio-economic model and work with the Health Postdoctoral Research Associate to link the socio-economic model to an epidemiological model describing the spread of Covid-19. The resulting methodology should allow us (1) to study the impact of Covid-19 health policies on socio-economic outcomes as well as (2) to examine how socio-economic factors, such as inequality, affect the dynamics of Covid-19 spread.
• Identify and curate data sources that can be used to monitor the impact of Covid-19 policy interventions and inform subsequent models.
• Collaborate with the senior academics overseeing this research project, as well as the eight other postdoctoral research associates, in pursuing the research agenda described above.
• Develop work plans to ensure timely delivery of objectives and assist with quarterly grant reports.
• Build and maintain relationships with policy-makers and socio-economic modelling groups as part of the research project’s external engagement strategy.
• Prepare research outputs that are tailored to a diverse audience, ranging from policy-makers to socio-economic researchers, civil society, and the general public; present papers and research outputs at external conferences and events.
• Work in close coordination with the Turing’s Health and Public Policy Programmes to maximise the project’s influence on ongoing policy debates.

HEALTH ROLE

Essential

• PhD or equivalent level of professional experience in theoretical epidemiology, mathematical/computational biology or a related discipline;
• A general research background in modelling complex dynamical systems, modelling dynamics on networks or similar, and strong expertise in computational modelling;
• Proficient in extracting, collating, cleaning, and analysing data from different sources and reading in and wrangling data in different formats;
• Solid computational skills (e.g., proficient at coding in chosen language(s));
• Ability to communicate complex, specialist or conceptual information clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences;
• Ability to work with others, especially postdocs, research assistants, and PhD students;
• A proven ability to collaborate successfully in a multidisciplinary environment and to manage delivery of projects;
• Ability to organise and prioritise own work with minimal supervision;
• Ability to carry out original research and to produce published research papers;
• Ability to identify, develop and apply new concepts, techniques and methods;
• Commitment to Equality Diversity and Inclusion principles and to the Organisation values.

Desirable

• Knowledge of topics and theories in health or epidemiology;
• Knowledge/understanding of the UK government and policy-making landscape;
• Experience in interacting with policy-makers and translating data-driven findings into meaningful insights and policy-focused reports

SOCIAL SCIENCE ROLE

Essential

• PhD or equivalent level of professional experience in computational social science, economics, or a related discipline;
• A general research background in modelling complex dynamical systems, modelling dynamics on networks or similar, and strong expertise in computational modelling;
• Proficient in extracting, collating, cleaning, and analysing data from different sources and reading in and wrangling data in different formats;
• Solid computational skills (e.g., proficient at coding in chosen language(s));
• Ability to communicate complex, specialist or conceptual information clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences;
• Ability to work with others, especially postdocs, research assistants, and PhD students;
• A proven ability to collaborate successfully in a multidisciplinary environment and to manage delivery of projects;
• Ability to organise and prioritise own work with minimal supervision;
• Ability to carry out original research and to produce published research papers;
• Ability to identify, develop and apply new concepts, techniques and methods;
• Commitment to Equality Diversity and Inclusion principles and to the Organisation values.

Desirable

• Knowledge of topics and theories in health or epidemiology;
• Knowledge/understanding of the UK government and policy-making landscape;
• Experience in interacting with policy-makers and translating data-driven findings into meaningful insights and policy-focused reports.

These full-time posts are offered on a fixed-term basis for a period of two years. The annual salary is £35,000 to £41,000 (dependent on skills and experience) plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies, https://www.turing.ac.uk/work-turing/why-work-turing/employee-benefits.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant within a salary range of £32,000 to £34,000 per annum.

This job description is written at a specific time and is subject to change as the demands of the Institute and the role develop. The role requires flexibility and adaptability, and the post holder needs to be aware that they may be asked to perform tasks and be given responsibilities not detailed in this job description.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the apply button below. You will need to register on the applicant portal and complete the application form including your CV, covering letter that outlines how you meet the job specifications; a list of publications as well as a sample piece of writing (a journal article, conference proceeding, book chapter, or equivalent); and contact details for two referees. If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please contact us on 020 3862 3575 or email [email protected].

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 6 December 2020

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

The Alan Turing Institute is committed to creating an environment where diversity is valued, and everyone is treated fairly. In accordance with the Equality Act, we welcome applications from anyone who meets the specific criteria of the post regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can also be made for any candidates with a disability.

Please note all offers of employment are subject to continuous eligibility to work in the UK and satisfactory pre-employment security screening which includes a DBS Check.

Full details on the pre-employment screening process can be requested from [email protected].