Applications are invited for the above fixed term, full time post in the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME) at Bangor University.

CHEME is a multidisciplinary research unit and draws from a wide variety of backgrounds including health economics, behavioural sciences, statistics, and pharmacy/clinical/health specialities.

The post holder will contribute to an early economic evaluation of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) systems to support existing surveillance and control strategies for norovirus in health and social care settings, funded by Health and Care Research Wales. This study aims to estimate the costs and benefits of integrating wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) into existing surveillance and control strategies for norovirus in care homes and healthcare facilities in Wales, and to explore how WBE surveillance should be delivered. The work will involve the design and conduct of a discrete choice experiment to elicit preferences for surveillance and control strategies, and early economic modelling of WBE systems to support existing surveillance.

Candidates should be educated to a PhD (or near completion) in a relevant subject (health economics, environmental economics, mathematical modelling, social or behavioural science, choice modelling, or health services research). Applications from researchers with experience of health economic modelling and preference elicitation methods are particularly welcomed.

The successful candidate will have good interpersonal skills and an ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment. Previous experience of conducting empirical research in a healthcare setting and the ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh are desirable for this post.

This role will be located at our Bangor campus and will work with colleagues in both the North Wales Medical School and the School of Environmental & Natural Sciences. Through our Dynamic Working framework there will also be the option to spend some time working remotely (although remaining in the UK) to support work-life balance, which will be discussed further with candidates at interview.

Applications will also be considered to carry out this role on a part-time or job share basis.

The post is available immediately, for a fixed term period until 30 September 2027. An extension beyond this will be dependent on research funding being awarded to the post holder and the research unit.

Applications will only be accepted via our online recruitment website, jobs.bangor.ac.uk. However, in cases of access issues due to disability, paper application forms are available by telephoning 01248 383865.

Closing date for applications: 30 September, 2026.

Committed To Equal Opportunities.

Overview

The Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME)

CHEME is one of the UK’s leading health economics research units, with a portfolio of research projects in the areas of pharmaceutical economics and policy, economic evaluation alongside clinical trials, and methodological research. Based on research outputs, the Research Excellence Framework indicated that 95% of our research is internationally excellent or world-leading, placing us 9th out of 89 institutions. The Pharmaceutical Economics, Policy, and Prescribing Research (PEPPER) group is dedicated to advancing evidence-based practices and policies concerning the use of medicines and other health technologies. Our mission is to conduct research that is patient-centred, nationally impactful, and of world-leading quality. Through the integration of interdisciplinary methodologies, we strive to enhance patient care by promoting the safer, more efficacious, and economically sustainable use of medicines and health technologies.

Purpose of the Job

The post holder will contribute to an early economic evaluation of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) systems to support existing surveillance and control strategies for norovirus in health and social care settings, funded by Health and Care Research Wales, co-led by Dr Emily Holmes and Professor Davey Jones at Bangor University. This study aims to estimate the costs and benefits of integrating wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) into existing surveillance and control strategies for norovirus in care homes and healthcare facilities in Wales, and to explore how WBE surveillance should be delivered. The work will involve the design and conduct of a discrete choice experiment to elicit preferences for surveillance and control strategies, and early economic modelling of WBE systems to support existing surveillance.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Assisting in applications for research ethics approval.
Conducting electronic and library-based literature searches according to systematic review and/or meta-analytic methodologies.
Applying relevant research methods and techniques e.g. qualitative, health economics, preference elicitation, economic/mathematical modelling, microcosting.
Liaising with other researchers working on projects.
Attending project management meetings, as required.
Qualitative and quantitative data gathering, coding and entry.
Electronic survey design.
Data analysis and interpretation.
Attending meetings relevant to the research undertaken in Bangor and throughout the UK and, if necessary, overseas.
Presentation of papers at relevant conferences.
Preparation of interim and final project reports.
Lead and co-author papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Administrative tasks associated with projects.
Other duties, as required for the purposes of successful completion of projects.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Attend internal meetings and undertake administrative responsibilities that improve the work undertaken by the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation.
Maintain a positive approach to Health and Safety and comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
The post holder will be expected to participate in performance review and developmental activities.
The post holder will be expected to comply with the University’s equality policies and statements, Dignity at Work and Study Policy and the University’s Welsh Language Scheme.
The post holder has a general and legal duty of care in relation to health, safety and wellbeing and must take all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for themselves and for other members of staff, students and visitors affected by their actions or inactions. The post holder is also required to comply with all applicable health and safety policies, procedures and risk assessments.
The post holder must comply with relevant legal and financial policies and procedures and be aware of their responsibilities in terms of the legal requirements of their post.

The list of main duties and responsibilities is not meant to be exhaustive, but merely an indication of the main areas of activity for the post. It may be amended or added to, at the discretion of the grant holders, and the Head of the North Wales Medical School with other duties commensurate with the role function and grade following consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

Essential

A PhD (or near completion) in a relevant subject (health economics, environmental economics, mathematical modelling, social or behavioural science, choice modelling, or health services research).

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

The ability to undertake quantitative or mixed methods analysis.
Experience of conducting health, social or environmental research.
Experience of survey research.
Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Proven track record of peer-reviewed publications.
Experience of undertaking statistical analysis using software such as Stata or R.

Desirable

Experience of preference elicitation research e.g. discrete choice experiments.
Experience of developing grant applications as a lead applicant or co-applicant.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

Demonstrate good analytical skills, including the ability to analyse numerical data and present results appropriately.
Demonstrate the ability to prioritise workload and work to tight deadlines.
Demonstrate ability to work as part of a team and to work effectively in an interdisciplinary context.

Desirable

Proven project management skills.

Other

Essential

An appreciation of the bilingual nature of the area and institution.
A willingness and the ability to travel to attend conferences, training and project meetings.

Desirable

The ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh is desirable for this post.

General

The University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We strive to develop a workforce from all sections of the community regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. We promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language through our progressive Welsh Language Policy. We comply with the Welsh Language Standards and are committed to equality of opportunity. You are welcome to apply for any job in English or Welsh and all applications submitted will be treated equally.

We are a member of Advance HE's Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter and hold a Silver award in recognition of our commitment to and progress towards gender equality within the University's policies, practices, and culture. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

All members of staff have a duty to ensure their actions are in line with the overall environmental aims of the University and minimise their environmental impact.

All offers are made subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK and receipt of satisfactory references.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us. When you apply for this post you will be required to explain the basis upon which you believe you will be able to live and work in the UK legally on the commencement date of the role should your application be successful. If you do not have the right to work freely in any position in the UK already, any offer of employment we will make to you will be subject to you obtaining a right to work visa. The following link provides information on the various visa routes into employment and the eligibility requirements (including switching visa status where permissible) https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas. If you are successful in your application we will discuss visa options with you at the time of making the offer of employment.

Please note that, in the event of applications being received from candidates on the University's Redeployment Register with a reasonable skills match to the post specification, these applicants will be given prior consideration.

Research Officer in Health Economics

About the role