Medical Entomologist

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 342731**Salary**:

- £30,473 - £37,215**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Fixed term**Length of employment**:

- 12 weeks from mid-June 2024**Business area**:

- R238**Type of role**:

- Science**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Idmiston, South West England, SP4 0JGAbout the job

**Job summary**:
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is currently seeking a skilled Medical Entomologist to join their team during the summer months. The role involves supporting and delivering a variety of field-based research projects.

The Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology (MEZE) group plays a crucial role in assessing, preparing for, and responding to current and emerging vector-borne disease threats within the UK. Their expertise focuses on vector-related issues, particularly ticks and mosquitoes, through research and surveillance activities. Additionally, the team collaborates internationally on vector-borne diseases, participating in European funded projects and aiding the development of surveillance systems in the UK Overseas Territories. Their work translates into expert advice for UKHSA, the Department of Health, and related agencies, contributing to policy development, contingency planning, and public health preparedness.

This role will support the _Culex_ species distribution modelling project alongside partners from University of Liverpool, University of Lancaster and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. You will support the collection of geographic location and larval habitat data for _Culex_ species/forms across the UK, enabling the project to construct detailed vector probability maps, assessing the host feeding preference and vector competence of each of the species/forms and contributing to virus transmission simulation models across the UK.

**This role will be based at our UKHSA Porton Down near Salisbury (Manor Farm Road, Porton Down, Salisbury Wiltshire, SP4 0JG).**
- *Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*_

**Job description**:

- Support the delivery of complex scientific studies of high quality to contribute to core funded research and national vector surveillance activities as well as externally funded contract work.
- Investigate specialist worldwide epidemiological and infectious disease literature on emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases, through horizon scanning activities, extracting, evaluating and summarising key scientific publications.
- Carry out analysis and interpretation of scientific and surveillance data in collaboration with the project team, and as directed by the project lead.
- Communicate openly with peers during project development, incorporating different ideas and opinions and present significant findings to project leads rapidly.
- Produce robust and balanced literature reviews to assist in writing and/contributing to specialist reports and peer-reviewed publications.
- Write and produce scientific reports (when necessary), in collaboration with senior MEZE staff on vector-borne disease risks, for presentation at national or international meetings and for publication in peer reviewed journals.
- Assist with the production of advice and guidance materials on vector-borne disease risks for dissemination to local authorities or other government agencies responsible for health and wellbeing in their area.
- Support the representation of MEZE at meetings within UKHSA and external to UKHSA in relation to medical entomology.
- Assist in the development of less experienced UKHSA staff members and external collaborators in field research and arthropod vector identification methods (or any other relevant skills for a given project).
- Assist in the development of written and verbal advice on the protection of the public from vector-borne disease issues as appropriate.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

**Person specification**:
**Essential**
- Knowledge of medical entomology and vector-borne diseases.
- Knowledge and practical experience of using ecological field-based techniques for research and/or surveillance.
- Ability to work as part of a team, and independently, to deliver shared goals.
- Use organisational, time management and prioritisation skills to deliver agreed project goals/milestones within
- Ability to focus on allocated tasks, producing accurate and consistent work with excellent attention to detail.
- Experience in working within an environment where sudden unexpected demands require flexibility and re-prioritisation of work.

**Desirable**
- Expe