Medical Statistician

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Medical Statistician

Reports To: Project Manager/Lead Researcher for the Naval Medical Research Centre-Asia

Organisational Background:

Vysnova is supporting the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC)–Asia in Vietnam by managing a portfolio of research projects. NMRC-Asia requires operational and technical support for malaria research in Vietnam. In collaboration with host country government infectious disease research bodies and local nongovernmental organizations, we are researching prevention and treatment methods as well as the prevalence of malaria in highly-vulnerable populations. At this time all of the activities are focused on malaria. Resistance to artemisinin, the world's most effective anti-malarial drug is now widespread across Southeast Asia, which seriously threatens global malaria control and elimination.

Country and Project Background:

The Naval Medical Research Centre (NMRC) is a key partner to support the Vietnam National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology (NIMPE) to monitor the changing malaria epidemiology within the context of available interventions and to pilot and assess the conditions necessary to achieve malaria elimination. The long-term overarching goal of this partnership is to generate the necessary evidence to contribute to the National Strategy for Malaria Prevention and Elimination in Vietnam for the period 2011 - 2020 with orientation to 2030, as well as contributing to malaria elimination activities in Southeast Asia.

The present project titled: “Malaria Research Across Southeast Asia” aims to tackle artemisinin resistance through the intensifying of surveillance and response among populations at higher risk of contracting malaria in Viet Nam. In low transmission settings, such as Viet Nam, malaria elimination requires a shift from early diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic individuals to a strategy of enhanced surveillance in which there is Active Case Detection and Response. This project incorporates new approaches for reaching populations at risk of malaria including Mobile and Migrant Populations, the use of GIS spatial decision support systems, enhancing serological and molecular surveillance, testing the efficacy and safety of new treatments, and strengthening active case detection. The project also seeks to develop capacity of the national programme. The focus of activities will be in Phu Yen, Quang Tri, Gia Lai, and Binh Phuoc Provinces.

Job Purpose:

The Medical Statistician will contribute to the design, analysis and presentation of results of clinical and epidemiological research projects on malaria. This will involve learning to interact directly with researchers and team members, helping to ensure the completion and delivery of projects within deadlines and contributing to maintaining the projects’ scientific quality and integrity.

Key Accountabilities:

Specifically, the post holder's responsibility will include, but not be limited to:

Working as a statistician on clinical research projects and programmes for the Malaria Research Across Southeast Asia Project. Such studies may be clinical trials, observational studies, systematic reviews, epidemiological studies and other types of study relating to malaria, and involve collaboration nationally and internationally with Chief Investigators.

These projects will include the following activities:

• Working as a collaborator within a multidisciplinary team, providing expert advice and explanations of statistical issues
• Advising on study design, including definition of research questions, for individual studies and programmes of studies
• Providing written statistical input to protocols and ethics committee submissions
• Identifying data to be collected, developing coding schedules, advising on the development of CRFs and advising on database design and management
• Checking, validating and cleaning of data
• Preparing statistical analysis plans
• Undertaking statistical analyses, and taking full responsibility for data analyses
• Recognising problems arising during the execution and analysis of studies and identifying possible solutions
• Writing relevant sections of any report/paper/presentation
• Preparation of graphics for poster or public presentations

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications and Experience:  At least 5-year work experience in providing input into design, conduct and reporting studies on tropical medicine or infectious diseases

Essential:      

- A good (first or upper second) first degree, preferably with a large statistical component

- A postgraduate degree in statistics, a substantial part of which relates to medical statistics, or equivalent experience

• Fluent in key aspects of study design and analysis, and aware of the latest statistical techniques
• Substantial medical statistics experience, supported by a publication record
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to explain complex statistical issues to non-statisticians (ie. Team members and health staff)
• Ability to grasp clinical research problems, understand basic medical information and identify hypotheses to be tested
• Ability to analyse problems, develop and test solutions, and make judgements
• Resourceful and self-motivating
• Good project management skills giving the ability to plan and prioritise short and longer- term goals to ensure that all necessary deadlines are met simultaneously for around 5 substantive and a number of smaller projects
• Ability to work in a methodical manner, paying attention to detail and ensuring accuracy

- Ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Computer literate (able to manage files, directories, back-up, internet, e-mail, and use multiple software packages in a Windows environment) with standard keyboard skills and proficient with:
  
  • statistical software (including at least one of STATA, SAS or SPSS);
  • word processing (preferably MS Word);
  • at least one database or spreadsheet package (preferably MS Excel or MS Access;
  • internet and e-mail;
  • presentation software (preferably MS PowerPoint) Familiar with key aspects of study design and analysis and aware of the latest statistical techniques

• Substantial medical statistics experience, supported by a publication record
• Good communication skills, an ability to grasp clinical research problems and project management skills are essential.
• Specialist knowledge in all aspects of running clinical and epidemiological studies
• Working experience with malaria program with governments, international and non-government organizations or community health workers.
• Fluency in Vietnamese and English (both verbal and written).

Work Based Skills and Competencies:

Essential:

• Ability to work independently with minimum of supervision.
• Demonstrated to work as team, collaboratively with health centre staff, village health workers, and NGO partners.
• Demonstrated of verbal, written communication and presentation skills in Vietnamese and English.

OTHER KEY INFORMATION

Salary:  Commensurate with experiences

Length of contract: An initial period of 12 months with possibility of extension.

Location: Vysnova’s Office located at the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology (NIMPE) 

Travel involved: Travel expected within study provinces or other provinces as required.

Interested candidates should send applications to [email protected].