Research Fellow (Software Engineering) - College of Medical and Dental Sciences - 103381 - Grade 7

Position Details

College of Medical and Dental Sciences

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

As this vacancy has limited funding the maximum salary that can be offered is Grade7, salary £44,263. 

Full Time

Fixed Term contract up to July 2027 

Closing date: 7th April 2024 

Background

This 3-year role is funded through an EPSRC Established Career Fellowship to Professor John Terry, the Director of the Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine (SMQB) at the University of Birmingham. The purpose of the role is to develop and apply mathematical models and computational algorithms to understand how perturbations to dynamic brain networks impact upon seizure likelihood. With an emphasis on the emerging field of digital twins for personalised health, the ultimate aim is to enable translation of this understanding into more accurate, diagnosis, prognosis and management of epilepsy. There is a particular interest in solutions that enable community-based care, in keeping with the priorities of the EPSRC/MRC-funded Network+ N-CODE.

Working collaboratively with Professor Terry, other postdocs and PhD students within the SMQB, clinicians and people will lived experience of epilepsy, projects will be shaped around the skills and experience of the successful candidate.  Examples of possible projects include:

• How does electrical stimulation reduce seizure frequency?
• Can we predict the likelihood of seizure recurrence post epilepsy surgery?
• Can data from wearable devices predict windows of increased seizure likelihood?
• Can we determine the response to anti-seizure medications from a baseline EEG?

The SMQB is a strategic research centre, that combines interdisciplinary expertise across mathematics, computer science and medicine, using techniques from machine learning, artificial intelligence and data science and statistical and mathematical modelling.  Currently comprising 4 Professors, 1 Associate Professor, 4 Assistant Professors, alongside several postdoctoral researchers and PhD students.

Summary of Role

As the successful candidate you will have expertise in developing and coding mathematical models and machine learning algorithms, ideally experienced in both Matlab and Python. Educated to PhD level in Mathematics, Computer Science or a closely aligned area, you will be familiar with good practice in research software engineering and high-performance computing, Having relevant experience in biology or medicine will be advantageous to you. Alongside the main research focus of the role, you will play an important role in evidence gathering and assimilation for a position piece on Digital Health. Here you will work closely with Professor Viktor Jirsa and Professor John Terry utilising your skills in stakeholder interviewing and meta-analysis of data.

Curiosity led, with exceptional communication skills, you will thrive working in a highly interdisciplinary environment. You will be equally happy communicating with theoreticians, clinicians, industrialists and people with lived experience of epilepsy. Finally, you will possess a demonstrable ability to write up scientific findings for publication in a timely and succinct manner.

The successful candidate will join a dynamic research environment and receive strong mentoring, training and support, contributing to writing grants and generating research awards. 

You will:

• Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids 
• Operate within area of specialism
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results 
• Contribute to generating funding 
• Contribute to impact, for example licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar 

Main Duties

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism and a higher degree relevant to research area (Mathematics, Computer Science or closely aligned area). 
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods (Matlab and Python) and ability to contribute to developing new ones
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Further particulars can be found  here

Informal enquires to Professor John Terry, email:

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is one of our values . You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone   on our website .