Epidemiologist - Indoor Air Quality

Can either be based in Canary Wharf or Chilton.

Grade and Salary: SEO (Inner London) £42,716 - £48,068 / SEO (Outer London) £40,721 - £46,231

Join the Environmental Hazards and Emergencies (EHE) Department, a leading authority delivering scientific insights to governmental agencies, healthcare institutions, and other organizations on the public health consequences of chemical exposures and various environmental threats.

Structure of the EHE Department:

Specialist Units: Operate across four distinct regions, offering expert guidance on the public health ramifications of non-infectious environmental exposures, both acute and chronic.

Dedicated Groups: The Air Quality & Public Health and Noise & Health groups are at the forefront, providing advanced consultation on the health effects of air and noise pollution on a global scale. Engage in groundbreaking research, supported in part by the National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Units. The Air Quality & Public Health Group also collaborates with the DHSC’s Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) to assess the medical implications of air pollutants.

Role Overview:

As a member of the Air Quality and Public Health (AQPH) Group, you will play a pivotal role in advancing the Air Quality and Public Health initiative. Your contributions will be instrumental in refining the evidence surrounding air quality, enhancing the communication of air pollution’s health effects, and fostering behavioural changes at all societal levels. Your expertise will guide the understanding of the health effects associated with both indoor and outdoor air pollution, as well as the evaluation of measures designed to elevate air quality standards. A particular focus of your role will be to expand our capabilities in assessing and improving indoor air quality.

Join us and make a difference in shaping a healthier environment.

Location

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working - this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. UKHSA have office locations across the UK.

Role available at Canary Wharf or Chilton only.

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern - Full Time, Flexible Working.

Responsibilities section:

The bulk of the work will support and, where agreed, lead on delivery of key tasks including:

• Contribution to capacity building, communication and training, both internally and externally, by developing and disseminating the evidence base to reduce the health impacts of indoor and outdoor air pollution.
• Review and communication of the scientific evidence to support the UKHSA’s indoor air quality work, ensuring evidence-based advice on air quality and built environment issues.
• Contribution to research projects on indoor and outdoor air quality as required and in collaboration with other RCE departments / UKHSA directorates and external partners.
• Writing of and contribution to peer-reviewed publications related to the post holder’s area of scientific work.
• Support UKHSA staff in EHE dispersed Units and Health Protection Units in their role by providing advice on air pollution on a site-specific basis and during incidents.
• Providing input to and reviewing appropriate consultation documents on government policy, issued by other agencies and government departments, on an ad hoc basis.
• Respond to requests from the Department of Health and Social Care, other Government departments, the public and other stakeholders for advice on the effects of indoor and outdoor air quality. This will encompass contributions for letters to the public, briefings and responses to Parliamentary Questions.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Essential Criteria

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

Essential:

• Relevant PhD qualification in indoor air pollution, environmental epidemiology, environmental science or similar, or equivalent experience
• Good understanding of the health effects and regulation of air pollutants
• Experience of undertaking research and development, especially on air quality modelling (R coding)
• Ability to critically assess technical papers on air pollution and health and make judgements on the basis of complex and uncertain information.
• Ability to undertake quantitative health impact assessments
• Capable of managing own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales

Desirable:

• MSc qualification in environmental epidemiology, environmental science, or air pollution
• Good understanding of issues on both physical and built environment
• Good understanding of environmental issues on both local and global scale

Please ensure that your statement of suitability does not contain any personal identifiers such as Name, Gender, Location, Marital Status, Sexual Orientation or Religion. The UKHSA operates a fair and open recruitment policy.

For full job description and further details, please click Apply Now.