Job: Readers in Medical Anthropology

Location: London 
Deadline: Sunday, 13 October 2013 

Description

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine's Faculty of Public Health and Policy is seeking to further strengthen its qualitative and ethnographic research. In the first instance it is looking to appoint two Readers in Medical Anthropology to take substantive and leadership roles. One of these Readers will sit in Department of Global Health and Development (Reference KH1), the post-holder will develop anthropology in, and of, global public health, focusing on low- and middle-income countries.

We are interested in scholars whose research addresses public health from both a critical and applied perspective. Expertise and interests are expected in two or more of the following areas: science and technology studies; health technology; evaluation, particularly of complex interventions; and/or political economy of public health programmes. Ethnographic experience and the ability to contribute to both theoretical and interdisciplinary work are crucial.We are looking for those with a track record of funded and published collaborative work in anthropology and health services research or public health. The post-holders will contribute to the Faculty's MSc teaching programme, particularly the Principles of Social Research and Medical Anthropology modules. They will also supervise and advise Research Degree students. Starting salary is on the Academic Pathway £60,000 pa including London weighting. Appointment will be subject to the LSHTM terms and conditions.The supporting statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience and training meet each of the selection criteria. Please provide one or more paragraphs addressing each criterion. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as 'Please see attached CV' will not be considered acceptableApplications should be made on-line via our website at http://jobs.lshtm.ac.uk. Applications should also include a CV and the names and email contacts of 2 referees who can be contacted immediately if shortlisted. Closing date for the receipt of applications is Sunday 13 October 2013. The reference for the post in the Department of Global Health and Development (low- and middle-income country focused) is KR1. Applicants may contact Professor Kara Hanson (email: Kara.Hanson@lshtm.ac.uk) if they require further information.

DEPARTMENT:

Description of the post We are seeking a Reader in Medical Anthropology to lead on the development of ethnographic and qualitative research in global health, focused on low- and middle-income countries. The aims of the post are to work with anthropologists and other social scientists across the Faculty to strengthen the anthropological work carried out in, and of, global public health at LSHTM; to raise the profile of the School as a world leading centre in social science and health research; and to work collaboratively with colleagues from a range of public health disciplines to generate funding for and conduct social science research on health, health interventions and health policies. We are looking for an applicant with a track record of funded and published collaborative work in anthropology and global public health. The post-holder would contribute to our MSc teaching programme, particularly face-to-face and distance learning modules in Medical Anthropology. They would also contribute to the Research Degree programme, as supervisor, member of advisory committees and through teaching on the Transferable Skills programme as appropriate. The appointment will be full time, commencing on or before 1 st January 2014. The post will be based in London. Starting salary is £60,000 and including London Weighting. Appointment will be subject to LSHTM terms and conditions, including membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme, an annual leave allowance of 30 days pro rata plus 6 fixed 'Director's Days' and season ticket loan. The post-holder will be based in the Department of Global Health and Development. Background The School The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is one of Europe's leading schools of Public Health and a leading postgraduate institution worldwide for research and postgraduate education in global health. Part of the University of London, the London School is the largest institution of its kind in Europe with a remarkable depth and breadth of expertise encompassing many disciplines. The School was ranked one of the top 3 research institutions in the country in the Times Higher Education's 'table of excellence', which is based on the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). In 2009, the School became the first UK institution to win the Gates Award for Global Health. Reader in Medical Anthropology 1.0 FTE Global Health and Development

The School's environment is a rich multicultural one: there are around 3500 students from 100+ countries following 24 taught masters courses delivered either in London or through distance learning, and about 400 undertaking a research degree. Over 40% of these students are from non-European countries. Alumni are working in more than 180 countries. The School has about 1600 staff drawn from over 74 nationalities. There are research collaborations with over 100 countries throughout the world, utilizing our critical mass of multidisciplinary expertise which includes clinicians, epidemiologists, statisticians, social scientists, economists, molecular biologists, immunologists, ophthalmologists, anthropologists, virologists, pharmacologists and nutritionists. At any one time around 100 School staff are based overseas, particularly in Africa and Asia. We have a strong commitment to partnership with institutions in low and middle income countries to support the development of teaching and research capacity. The School has expanded greatly in recent years. Its research funding now exceeds £67M per annum, much of it from highly competitive national and international sources. The commitment of staff to methodological rigour, innovative thinking and policy relevance will ensure that the School continues to occupy a leadership position in national and global health, adapting quickly to new challenges and opportunities. Mission To improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice. Organisation and Management There are three academic faculties, one principally concerned with infectious and tropical diseases (Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases) and two with public health (Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health and Faculty of Public Health & Policy). Faculty of Public Health and Policy The Faculty of Public Health & Policy is responsible for research and teaching in the policy, planning and evaluation of health programmes and services. Its interests are both national and international, encompassing industrialized, and less developed countries. The Faculty has three research departments: Health Services Research and Policy Global Health and Development Social and Environmental Health Research Each department is multidisciplinary containing about 50 - 70 academic staff representing medicine, statistics, epidemiology, sociology, economics, anthropology, operational research, psychology, nursing and history. Each department is responsible for its own research. The School has adopted a rotating system of management for its academic departments and faculties. The management of a department is under the control of the Department Head, appointed by the Director for a period of three years in the first instance. The Dean of Faculty is appointed in a similar manner but for an initial period of up to five years. The Faculty currently has a staff of 23 professors, 2 readers, 31 senior lecturers, 60 lecturers, 106 research fellows and assistants, about 34 computing, administrative and secretarial staff, and a number of honorary staff.

Teaching The Faculty of Public Health and Policy is responsible for organizing a one year Master's courses in Public Health, which allows students to take a general MSc in Public Health, or to follow one of the following streams: Health Services Management, Health Promotion, Environmental Health or Health Services Research. The Faculty also jointly teaches MSc Public Health in Developing Countries and MSc Control of Infectious Disease (with the Faculties of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Epidemiology and Population Health), and MSc Health Policy, Planning and Financing (jointly with LSE). Masters courses are organized in a modular format across the whole School. One of the growing areas of Faculty teaching is in the distance-based MSc in Public Health, introduced in 2005/6 and Global Health Policy, introduced in 2011/12. The Faculty has also reorganized and expanded its research degree (MPhil/PhD; DrPH) training. Currently there are about 108 students and 23 staff members registered for a research degree.

Department of Global Health and Development (GHD) The Department aims to conduct novel and policy-relevant research and training that concerns health issues with a global reach, predominantly from the perspective of the development of low- and middle-income countries. The Department comprises approximately 100 staff and 80 research degree students, with total grants funding of over £30m spread over a range of funders including research councils, UK and overseas charities, the European Union, Department for International Development and others. Staff come from a wide range of disciplines including economics, epidemiology, mathematics, policy analysis, medicine and social anthropology. Members of the Department also edit the journal Health Policy and Planning The Department is structured according to three research groups, ie: Health Economics and Systems Analysis (HESA); Anthropology, Politics and Policy (APP) and Social and Mathematical Epidemiology (SaME). The advertised post will be within the Anthropology, Politics and Policy group. The Anthropology, Politics and Policy group strives to conduct world-class research on the social, ethical and political issues that affect health policies and programmes. The group members work across the natural and social sciences conducting empirical, theoretical and normative analyses. We currently work in four thematic areas: The political nature of health policy issues; Governance of health; Decision making processes in health policy; Anthropological research on public health and policy issues.

Duties of the post Research

• to develop and lead, in collaboration with others in the LSHTM, GHD and APP, a major programme of research in anthropology and global public health. to lead, in collaboration with other anthropologists in the faculty, in the development of anthropologically led research in the field global public health research to promote anthropological approaches to public health in GHD, PHP and across LSHTM through the organisation of seminars, an active role in Centres at LSHTM and overseas. to provide leadership and mentorship to anthropologists working at LSHTM through organising regular meetings and discussion groups and through remote communication with anthropological staff based overseas as well as by representing the interests and requirements of anthropologists at management levels to publish high-impact peer-reviewed journal articles, books and other appropriate media, including conference presentations nationally and internationally to develop collaborative research activities with staff in the Department, Faculty, and School, as well as nationally and internationally to obtain external funding through research grants, fellowships and consultancies to contribute towards the School's strategic aims, particularly to understand social factors that influence health; to work constructively with other disciplines and across faculties; and to strengthen the School's work in evaluation that informs policy and practice

Teaching

• to participate in the teaching programme of the Faculty of Public Health & Policy, LSHTM (up to 15% of available time). to supervise up to three research degree (MPhil/PhD; DrPH) students and be an advisory board member for other students registered at LSHTM who are undertaking a social research.

Citizenship

• to undertake a management task at Departmental, Faculty or School level (eg Department Research Degrees Coordinator, Chair of a School Working Group, Department Head) to contribute to the life and reputation of the Department, Faculty and School by participating in committees and other group activities, within the School as well as nationally and internationally. to facilitate any other activities that will help to achieve the Department's objectives. to contribute to the income of the Department and Faculty. to provide and update quarterly a personal page on the School's website.

Person specification Essential:

• a higher research degree in Anthropology an established international reputation in anthropology with expertise in its application to global public health proven ability to obtain major research funding, and to initiate and manage research projects active and ongoing engagement in anthropological field research in relation to global public health established links with field sites and institutions in low and/or middle income countries experience of the design and conduct of empirical studies in anthropology as applied to public health proven ability to lead and strengthen anthropology in an academic environment proven ability to work successfully across disciplinary boundaries evidence of contributions both to theoretical developments in anthropology and the development of applied anthropological approaches to public health evidence of high quality published research proven ability in teaching anthropology at post-graduate level experience in the supervision of research degree students to successful completion

Desirable:

• proven ability to develop, lead and manage an academic group
• proven ability to teach anthropology to graduates in other disciplines

Accountability The post-holder will work collaboratively with the Head of APP and will be formally responsible to the Head of the Department of Global Health and Development (Prof Kara Hanson), and, through him/her to the Dean of the Faculty of Public Health & Policy (Prof Richard Smith) and, ultimately, the Director of the School. Salary and conditions of appointment In accordance with current LSHTM policy, the post will be a full-time appointment. A review will be undertaken in the fourth year of the initial contract in accordance with the School's performance review policy.

Salary will be £60,000 including London weighting. Relocation expenses will be payable in accordance with School policy.

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