Associate Professor or Professor – Lead Human Genetic Epidemiologist (The Gambia) at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRCG at LSHTM) is one of the largest scientific research centres in sub-Saharan Africa, with an international reputation for ground-breaking research into some of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the tropics. Our overall mission is to improve the health of people in developing countries by aiming for excellence in research, healthcare and training. Our research program spans basic scientific research, clinical studies, epidemiological studies and intervention trials, and translational research. The field and laboratory-based work draws on excellent research (including genomics) and clinical facilities and attracts international funding.

Research at MRCG at LSHTM is organised within 3 themes: Disease Control & Elimination; Vaccines and Immunity; and Nutrition & Planetary Health. With the current appointment we seek to strengthen our work on human genetic epidemiology as a cross-cutting discipline in support of these themes and to build a new portfolio of genetic research with a special emphasis on targeting genetic susceptibility to diseases with high prevalence in Africa. This recruitment is twinned with the appointment of an epigenetic epidemiologist to lead our established portfolio of discovery science elucidating the linkage between maternal diet and epigenetic modifications of the fetal methylome.

We are seeking to appoint, at Associate Professor level (possibly at Full Professor for an exceptional candidate), a scientist with a PhD in a relevant discipline, a considerable track record in genetic epidemiology, as well as strong interests in hands-on research and data collection in The Gambia.  They will have expert knowledge of diverse genetic and other ‘omics data and related acquisition methods, as well as experience of using bioinformatics tool to analyse such data. The successful candidate will have a strong vision of how to grow genetic research in the Unit. Further particulars are included in the job description.

The post holder may also be required to make a contribution to teaching and research student supervision, appropriate to their qualifications and experience.

The post is full time, 35 hours per week, 1.0 FTE and fixed term until 31 March 2027. The post is funded by MRCG core funding and is available immediately.

The salary is on the Academic Pathway salary scale Grade 8 for Associate Professor in the range £62,028 – £71,192 and Professorial scale (C or Bii) in the range £71,332 – £93,950 per annum (inclusive of London Weighting). The post will be subject to the LSHTM terms and conditions of service. Annual leave entitlement is 30 working days per year. In addition to this there are discretionary “Wellbeing Days”. Membership of the Pension Scheme is available. The post is based in The Gambia. Free-furnished residential accommodation is provided with a package of overseas allowances. The MRCG Fajara campus offers a very child-friendly environment and a range of schools is available.

Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Prof Andrew Prentice to discuss the position (Andrew.prentice@lshtm.ac.uk).

Applications should be made on-line via our website at http://jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. Online applications will be accepted by the automated system until 10pm of the closing date. Any queries regarding the application process may be addressed to jobs@lshtm.ac.uk. Please quote reference MRC-MRC-2023-13.