The Institute of Tropical Medicine is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for education, research and service delivery in the field of tropical medicine and global health. It has an extensive network of structural collaboration with scientific institutions in Africa, Asia and Latin America with which it collaborates closely to improve the fight against infectious diseases and the strengthening of health systems.

In view of current global health challenges, and with support of the Flemish Ministry of Sciences, ITM has established an Outbreak Research Team (ORT) to conduct collaborative and interdisciplinary research on epidemic outbreaks of tropical and infectious diseases, especially but not exclusively in low and middle income countries. We seek to strengthen our current core team, consisting of a social scientist, an entomologist, a clinician, a laboratory scientist, a molecular biologist, and a zoonotic expert, with an epidemiologist. You will be expected to work across disciplinary and thematic boundaries and to develop joint or individual innovative projects. The initial main foci are:

1. Understanding drivers of transmission and spread of epidemic outbreaks.
2. Design and evaluation of diagnostic methods for epidemic pathogens.
3. Management, analysis and modelling of outbreak data.
4. Development and evaluation of interventions to control and prevent outbreaks, including the involvement of and impact on regular health services and systems.

While being dedicated to the ORT, the ORT experts are positioned in the three academic departments of ITM, i.e. Clinical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Public Health; the epidemiologist will be based in the Department of Public Health. You will be based in Antwerp, but must be prepared to travel on short-term notice to outbreak areas around the world, often in difficult positions. In between overseas assignments, you will perform inter-epidemic research on ORT-related subjects. Apart from the work in the ORT, all experts will be involved in departmental tasks in research, training and capacity building.

   VOS TACHES

• You will analyse existing data, develop research protocols and conduct epidemiological field studies as part of the ORT.
• You are responsible for the epidemiological quality and soundness of ORT-related studies and for the management and analysis of epidemiological data.
• You will train and coach international scientists, students and local field teams in epidemiological methods for outbreak research.
• In between outbreaks, you will perform relevant inter-epidemic research, develop and implement teaching modules related to outbreak research, follow-up outbreak alerts, prepare generic protocols and prepare study-documents for external funding.
• You will publish scientific papers and reports.
• You will regularly perform international missions for ORT-related assignments.

   PROFIL

Required

• You hold a Master’s degree in Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and/or Epidemiology.
• You hold a scientific track record in epidemiology, supported by peer-reviewed publications, preferably with a PhD.
• You have good knowledge of statistics, research methods and project management.
• You have epidemiological field experience, preferably including outbreaks.
• You have good conceptual, analytical and scientific writing skills.
• You have experience in working with data analysis software (Stata, R or similar program).
• You are highly motivated, with a multidisciplinary attitude and affinity with ITM’s objectives and spirit.
• You have the flexibility to travel to low resource settings on a short-term notice.
• You speak and write in English and French. You are a team player, have good communication skills and can build strong multi-disciplinary working relationships.
• You are quality-driven, service-minded and result-oriented.

Additionally

• Experience in LMIC is a strong asset.
• Knowledge of Dutch and other relevant languages (e.g. Spanish) is an asset.

   NOUS OFFRONS

• An intellectually stimulating, international and socially committed environment, with room for personal initiative.
• You are stationed in Antwerp but you may frequently travel for extensive periods of time to outbreak areas.
• A full-time contract of two years, extendable to a contract of indeterminate duration. Starting date as soon as possible.
• A gross salary according to the pay scales of the ITM and the Flemish universities and to your work experience with supplementary extra-legal benefits: public transport subscription and/or bicycle fee, private pension scheme and meal voucher subscription.

   INTERESSÉ(E)?

For more information about this position, please contact HR (recruitment@itg.be). Send the ITM application form together with your letter of motivation to recruitment@itg.be before 9 March 2020.