Scientist, P1

Scientist, P1

WHO - World Health Organization

Lyon, France

From USD 43,834 per year gross

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is the cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO) and is based in Lyon, France.

The Early Detection, Prevention, and Infections (EPR) Branch focuses its research on the evaluation of multi-level/multi-component interventions (i.e. vaccination, screening) to decrease cancer incidence, improve cancer early diagnosis, and decrease cancer mortality in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) using implementation research frameworks. EPR studies will contribute towards WHO global cervical cancer and Hepatitis elimination targets for 2030, as well as WHO global breast cancer initiative targets.

EPR is investing in projects aimed to evaluate new and existing cancer early detection and prevention strategies and programs globally, including performing implementation research and providing evidence-base for effective country level actions in the context of national cancer control planning and implementation. The projects involve multicentric studies that need to be coordinated ensuring compliance to research protocols and good clinical practice.

As a member of the EPR branch, the incumbent is expected to assist, support and promote international research in the fields of cancer early detection, implementation, and evidence synthesis. Key responsibilities include day-to-day coordination of and follow-up on the research studies assessing the quality of cancer care, quality of life, health system capacity involving internal and external counterparts as well as preparing research protocols, grant writing, and publication of results. Together with senior scientists in the team, the incumbent supports the supervisor in coordinating multi-centric projects on patterns of care studies including those among childhood cancer patients.

The position contributes to the implementation and coordination of funded research projects to generate evidence primarily to strengthen access to cancer early detection and quality of cancer care including childhood cancers especially in the Low- and Middle Income Countries (LMICs).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Within the framework of the EPR Branch, the incumbent is expected to:

• Work alongside the supervisor to coordinate epidemiological studies and public health projects in cancer control with a specific emphasis on enhancing quality of cancer care by producing context-specific evidence for early cancer diagnosis and better treatment outcomes within the framework of the funded project DECAN-CHILD.
• Evaluation of delays occurring at various phases of childhood cancer diagnosis and treatment pathway and its association with stage at diagnosis and survival in Nepal and other low- and middle-income countries.
• Conduct capacity and readiness assessments of health care delivery mechanisms with an aim to improve childhood cancer early diagnosis, timely and appropriate treatment, thereby improving quality of life.
• Co-creation of strategic plan for decentralizing childhood cancer care through shared cancer centres using ‘hub and spoke’ model with aim to bringing cancer care services closer to patient’s home.
• Collaborating with support staff to monitor the progress of the DECAN-CHILD project from IARC and perform site visits for supportive supervision
• Preparing reports periodically for the funding agency
• Analysing the database and preparing drafts of scientific manuscripts
• Presenting the scientific results at international conferences
• Support the supervisor in developing new projects in relation to primary and secondary prevention of common adult cancers and childhood cancers. This includes contributing to the writing of grant proposals to attract funding from competitive sources and writing scientific manuscripts.
• Carries out other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential:

• Expert theoretical and practical epidemiology research analytical skills
• Effective communication with internal and external counterparts.
• Proven ability to draft scientific manuscripts.
• Familiarity with donor relations and the preparation of grant applications/agreements.
• Practical knowledge of cancer control (notably early cancer diagnosis) and cancer epidemiology
• Ability to draft evaluation reports on health system capacity assessment in relation to early cancer diagnosis and timely and appropriate treatment

Desirable:

• Analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from research projects
• Expertise in using statistical techniques such as STATA or R.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:

• Essential: PhD degree in Epidemiology, or any other closely related discipline.
• Desirable: Specialisation in cancer field. Additional qualifications in related disciplines.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Essential: Minimum one year’s experience in cancer epidemiology, plus experience in:
  • Developing early cancer diagnosis protocols and health system assessment tools
  • Writing scientific reports and manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
  • Preparing competitive grant proposals.
• Desirable: Experience of statistical methods in epidemiology including hands-on experience in pattern of care and survivorship studies.

USE OF LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Expert knowledge of English is essential. Working knowledge of French or another UN language is desirable.

OTHER SKILLS (e.g. IT):

• · Knowledge of MS Office 365 office suite.