Research Assistant/associate

Salary:
Research Assistant: £32,296 - £33,882 per annum

Research Associate: £34,866 - £35,880 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 10 January 2025

**The Role**

We are seeking a Research Assistant/Associate in Health Economics to join the Health Economics Group in the Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University. You will spend your time working on economic evaluations conducted alongside intervention studies, health outcome valuation studies and on National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisals as part of the Newcastle Technology Assessment Group (TAG) contract or the Newcastle External Assessment Group (EAG). In time, you will develop and lead research in the area of economic evaluation.

For the position of Research Assistant, you should have a Master’s in Health Economics or another quantitative discipline. Additional experience working in economics research is desirable. For Associate level, you should have a PhD or equivalent experience. You will receive appropriate training opportunities.

You will need to be highly motivated, with strong quantitative skills and have an interest in economic evaluation and decision modelling. You will need to develop good report writing skills. You will have experience proportionate to the level of post in economic evaluation including: development of analysis plans, costing of interventions; data collection and analysis; decision analytic modelling.

In time, you will be encouraged to develop their own areas of research and support on-going projects. You will be part of a thriving health economics group and must be willing to work in multidisciplinary teams and institutions.

The post is full-time, fixed term for 2 years in first instance.

**Research Assistant**

**Key Accountabilities**
- Use initiative and creativity to develop economic evaluations, outcome valuation studies and decision analytic models, analyse and interpret research data and draw conclusions on the outcomes
- Support delivery of the TAR and EAG contracts for the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence by reviewing company evidence submissions; and systematically reviewing published decision models and evaluating the cost-effectiveness of diagnostic and other health technologies by adapting and/or developing de novo decision models
- Co-ordinate own work with that of others, deal with problems which may affect the achievement of research objectives and contribute to the planning of the project(s)
- Present information on research progress and outcomes to a Principal Investigator or groups overseeing the research project
- Prepare papers for publication and disseminate findings at conferences as required
- Work to deadlines and manage, with support, competing priorities
- Maintain academic standards and freedom, and work in accordance with university policies (e.g. equal opportunities, health and safety policies).
- Identify and undertake a programme of professional development, including further training in research methods and other transferable skills
- Support the teaching of health economics on the Institute and Faculty of Medical Science postgraduate and undergraduate courses as required
- To contribute to the activities of the Health Economics Group at Newcastle University
- Carry out administrative tasks and other duties to support the Population Health Sciences Institute as required by the Dean

**The Person**

**Knowledge, Skills and Experience - Essential**
- Knowledge of economic evaluation, outcome valuation and decision analytic modelling methods in health economics, or statistical or mathematical modelling in another area
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to prioritise key tasks
- Excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work flexibly and cooperatively with others
- Evidence of skills in using relevant statistical and economic modelling software packages

**Knowledge, Skills and Experience - Desirable**
- Experience of research on methodological aspects of economic evaluation, outcome valuation and analytic modelling
- Teaching experience at undergraduate and postgraduate level in an academic setting
- Demonstrable ability to work in a range of education settings and situations
- Ability to carry out research project work within agreed timelines, meeting project milestones and producing research to an appropriate standard
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and protect research/personal data according to protocols and principles of good research practice
- Ability to prepare reports and papers for presentation at national and international conferences and meetings
- Evidence of ability to write for high quality peer reviewed journals, with a publ