Research Associate in Climate & Health Evidence Synthesis

Organisation/Company: KINGS COLLEGE LONDON

Research Field: Economics, Computer Science

Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2), Established Researcher (R3)

Country: United Kingdom

Application Deadline: 4 Mar 2025 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract: Other

Job Status: Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

About the role

We are seeking a post-doctoral researcher with expertise in evidence synthesis methods, and interests in automation/use of AI to join the Solace-AI team. The successful candidate will lead the development of next-generation evidence synthesis methods at the intersection of AI and systematic review science to tackle urgent climate-health challenges across the globe.

Solace-AI is a Wellcome Trust-funded initiative developing cutting-edge AI technology to transform how we synthesize and deliver research evidence during climate-related health emergencies. By automating the creation of rapid, scientifically-rigorous evidence syntheses, this groundbreaking project aims to provide decision-makers with timely, locally relevant research—particularly focusing on historically underserved communities affected by extreme weather events.

You will work closely with computer science teams and world-leading experts in AI, public health, and climate science across Africa, Europe, and North America to implement evidence synthesis methods in automated systems capable of handling complex research documents. This includes developing novel evaluation frameworks to assess AI performance in evidence synthesis tasks, while ensuring all outputs remain rigorous, relevant, and actionable for decision-makers and humanitarian organisations.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a project with significant potential impact on global health and climate change policy.

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract until 30th April 2027.

About Us

King’s College London is one of the top 40 universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2024) and among the oldest in England. The Department of Population Health Sciences, based at Guy’s campus, combines over 160 experts with patients and the public to better understand population health, primary care, social sciences and policy, epidemiology, statistics, and health economics. Our academics use large data sets to evaluate therapies, models of care, and highlight inequalities in access to treatment. We have transformed stroke rehabilitation, linked antidepressant use to weight gain, and uncovered the connections between urban deprivation and long-term health problems.

The School of Life Course & Population Sciences is one of six Schools that make up the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine at King’s College London. The School unites over 400 experts in women and children’s health, nutritional sciences, population health and the molecular genetics of human disease. Our research links the causes of common health problems to life’s landmark stages, treating life, disease and healthcare as a continuum. We are interdisciplinary by nature and this innovative approach works: 91 per cent of our research submitted to the Subjects Allied to Medicine (Pharmacy, Nutritional Sciences and Women's Health cluster) for REF was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. We use this expertise to teach the next generation of health professionals and research scientists. Based across King’s Denmark Hill, Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Waterloo campuses, our academic programme of teaching, research and clinical practice is embedded across five Departments.

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

• PhD in Public Health, Evidence Synthesis, Epidemiology, or a related field *
• Experience conducting high-quality evidence synthesis (including systematic reviews, and scoping, rapid, umbrella reviews, and guidelines) using formal methodological approaches (e.g. narrative synthesis, evidence mapping), including application of appropriate tools and frameworks
• Demonstrated ability to work with complex research methodologies, e.g. creatively adapting research methods for new contexts, or developing innovative approaches to evidence synthesis challenges
• Strong publication track record as demonstrated through first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals and evidence of completing complex research projects to deadline
• Proven project management capabilities in handling multiple concurrent research projects, with documented evidence of meeting publication deadlines and research milestones
• Exceptional scientific writing skills demonstrated through published research papers and experience in effectively communicating research to different audiences including academic, policy, and public sectors
• Committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.

• Experience working with AI or machine learning applications in research synthesis, and/or participation in relevant societies (e.g., ICASR, Cochrane Tech, Evidence Synthesis Hackathon)
• Experience in evidence synthesis methods research, such as developing novel synthesis methods or conducting comparative evaluations of existing approaches
• Fluency with quantitative analysis tools (e.g., Python, R, or Stata) and data visualisation
• Knowledge of climate change and health research, particularly in low- and middle-income countries
• Experience in stakeholder engagement: working with policy makers, humanitarian organisations, and/or the public

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

We are able to offer sponsorship for candidates who do not currently possess the right to work in the UK.

Grade and Salary: £44,105 - £50,163 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance

Job ID: 107806

Close Date: 04-Mar-2025

Contact Person: Iain Marshall

Contact Details: iain.marshall@kcl.ac.uk