Research Fellow

There are increasing moves to replace one-size-fits-all mammography screening for breast cancer by risk-adapted screening, in which both the frequency with which women are screened and the modality are chosen based on risk of breast cancer. The aim of this project is to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system to aid risk-stratified screening, by assessing risk of cancer at screening (detection), risk of masking due to breast density (false negative), and long-term risk of breast cancer following a negative screen. This will be done by using information from a very large repository of digital mammograms (breast x-ray) obtained from several NHS site. The project is funded by Cancer Research and is a partnership with the Centre for Cancer Prevention, located in Central London, and several collaborators in Europe and the USA.

The Research Fellow at the University of Warwick will lead the research into machine learning technologies for computer vision using very large databases of digital mammography images. They will also coordinate an extensive external validation exercise, where algorithms developed during the project will be compared head-to-head with those from collaborators and elsewhere. This post will be based at the Department of Statistics at the University of Warwick and will join Prof’s Montana Data Science team specialised in statistical machine learning. We expect the resulting AI platform developed in this project to be piloted in the NHS.

If you are near submission or have recently submitted your PhD but have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made as Research Assistant at the top of level 5 of the University grade structure (£31,411). Upon receipt of evidence of the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow on the first point of level 6 of the University grade structure (£32,348).

Interview Date: TBC.

**JOB PURPOSE**

**DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Research**

1. To adhere to information governance regulations and standards.

2. To assist in the curation of a large database of mammograms

3. To develop novel deep learning methodologies for computer vision trained on the mammography datasets

4. To work in collaboration with our partners and collaborators to ensure that the resulting machine learning algorithms are well integrated and implemented in a single piece of software.

5. To establish a sound research base within the Department in order to pursue individual and collaborative research of high quality consistent with making a full active research contribution to the Department in line with its research strategy.

6. To secure, in collaboration with colleagues as appropriate, external funding through research grants or contracts to support a developing research agenda.

8. Where appropriate and expedient, to secure contract work to the benefit of (your) research activity and to provide resources to underpin this activity.

9. To publish research outcomes in appropriate journals of international standing and to publish and disseminate the result of research and scholarship in other reputable outlets.

10. To identify and explore with the Department and the University any entrepreneurial opportunities which may arise and to ensure that intellectual property rights are protected for the benefit of the University and the researcher.

11. To attend and present research findings and papers at academic and professional conferences, and to contribute to the external visibility of the department.

12. To contribute to the research plans developed by the Department, including providing such information as may be required by the Department to monitor the progress of each member of staff’s research programme and to support the Department fully in the preparation of material required for the REF or similar activities.

13. To help draft research reports for the Project Director.

**Administration and Other Activities**

14. To undertake such specific departmental roles and management functions as may be reasonably required by the Head of Department.

15. To attend departmental meetings and to participate (where necessary) in other committees and working groups within the department, the faculty and the University.

16. To participate in relevant professional activities.

17. To engage in continuous professional development.

18. To undertake external commitments, which reflect well and enhance the reputation of the University.

19. To ensure compliance with health and safety in all aspects of work.

The duties and responsibilities outlined are not intended to be an exhaustive list but provide guidance on the main aspects of the job. The postholder will be required to be flexible in their duties.