Research Officer - ESRI Health Research Programme
The Health Research Programme at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is seeking to recruit a Research Officer. The ESRI is now inviting applications from health economists, health services researchers and researchers from related fields (epidemiology, quantitative social sciences). The Institute wishes to make one appointment to this tenure track post, which is comparable to University Lecturer/Assistant Professor level.
The Institute
The Economic and Social Research Institute, founded in 1960, is located in Dublin’s South Docklands area. Its mission is to produce high quality research, relevant to Ireland’s economic and social development, with the aim of contributing to knowledge and informing policymaking and public debate. It has over 100 staff including economists, sociologists and other social scientists, in addition to support and technical staff.
Health Research
The Health Research Programme at the ESRI has three overall objectives: to examine the pattern of variation in health and well-being across the population and its relationship to factors such as socio-economic position; to analyse the structure and functioning of the Irish health-care system and its implications for the quality of individual care, economic efficiency and sustainability and the equity of health-care utilisation; and to analyse health and social spending: what drives spending, its macroeconomic effect on the national finances and the economy, and at a microeconomic level, the cost of disease and the cost effectiveness of treatment. As well as carrying out high-quality academic research in pursuit of these objectives, ESRI researchers also contribute to the development of public policy across a range of issues in health by contributing evidence which shapes national and international debates and through interaction and collaboration with policy makers and practitioners. The ESRI is involved in the development and collection of some of the key data sources in health in Ireland including the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) Study and The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).
The ESRI is now in the second year of a major programme of research funded by the Department of Health to support the Department’s reform programme. The programme will encompass a range of specific projects including: the economic assessment of different financing, organisational and eligibility models in terms of sustainability, efficiency, cost and effectiveness; and the development of models of the drivers of health and long-term care need and demand. This programme is a central plank of ESRI research in health. Two new Health Research Board (HRB) funded projects started in 2015 – one on the need for and the supply and utilisation of health and social services by area, which will analyse the effects of non-acute service supply on acute hospital utilisation; and the second on inequalities in access to GP care in Ireland, based on TILDA and GUI data. A third HRB-funded project on modelling and modifying the consequences of stroke-related cognitive impairment through intervention will begin in 2016 in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Trinity College Dublin.
Role Description
The Research Officer will join an expanding team of dedicated health researchers. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to existing projects such as modelling the effects of non-acute service supply on acute hospital utilisation; and analysing the drivers of health and social care demand and expenditures. The candidate will also be expected to develop new research projects in collaboration with colleagues at the Institute and researchers in other organisations.
Skills, Qualifications and Experience
Applicants should have a strong background in health economics, health services research or a related area (including but not restricted to epidemiology; quantitative sociology). The position requires advanced skills in the construction and manipulation of large and complex data sets, with longitudinal data structures. Candidates will be expected to have advanced statistical training and extensive experience in statistical modelling. They also need to be intensely interested in explaining and improving health outcomes and the operation of health care systems and be ready to be deeply involved in public policy issues.
Successful candidates will have:
•A PhD or equivalent in health economics, health services research or related fields
•Advanced training and significant experience in statistical analysis
•Relevant experience in analysing large social surveys and/or complex statistical data
•Strong skills in writing, presentation and communication
•Proven ability to work effectively as part of a team and to deliver outputs to tight deadlines
•Flexibility and capacity to contribute to other areas of ESRI research
•Peer reviewed academic publications would be an advantage
Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact jobs@esri.ie for further information on the terms and conditions of this position.
Application Procedure
The application form for this position is available to download below and must be submitted, along with a current CV and covering letter, to jobs@esri.ie by 5pm on Wednesday 14th October 2015. All applications will be acknowledged.
The ESRI is committed to equal opportunities and to selection on merit.