The Opportunity

What's MAP?

MAP (malariaatlas.org) is a global collaboration of scientists and engineers working across mathematics, statistics, epidemiology and geography to collate the world's largest repository of malaria data and use that data to parametrise sophisticated mathematical and statistical models to answer urgent policy questions. We work closely with our partners (e.g. WHO, national malaria programs, IHME, CHAI, PMI) to ensure MAP's research outputs are translated into policy recommendations which will ultimately contribute to malaria elimination. In addition to production of the official estimates of global malaria burden and extensive technical support to national malaria programs, we have a long track record of publications in top journals (Nature, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine).

What will you be doing?

We are recruiting two postdoctoral scientists (Research Officer, or Senior Research Officer - level dependent on experience) to join our MAP team in Perth, Western Australia. You will be working under the supervision of senior scientists in MAP to develop and extend our modelling frameworks to improve the accuracy and granularity of our spatiotemporal estimates of malaria burden, as well as designing new modelling approaches to address long-standing open policy questions (e.g. how should interventions be prioritised given limited funding envelopes?).

You'll work collaboratively within the group, including the groups within our Infectious Disease research theme working parallel to MAP in different areas of malaria modelling research, including mechanistic modelling and ecological modelling.

This full-time position will be based at The Kids Research Institute Australia, located within the Perth Children's Hospital, 15 Hospital Ave, in Nedlands Western Australia and will be offered on an initial 2-year contract.

You should apply if:

• You have (or are about to receive) a PhD in mathematics, statistics, epidemiology, or another similarly quantitative field.
• You have demonstrable skills in (at least one) field relevant to mathematical/geostatistical disease modelling - spatial statistics, Gaussian processes, state-space modelling, data assimilation, mechanistic/compartmental modelling, or causal inference.
• You have strong programming skills in at least one of R/Python (or similar).
• You are able to work independently and as part of a wider team.
• You'd like to live in Australia's sunniest city (visa sponsorship will be considered for the right international appointment - MAP is a very diverse group, and most of the team is from overseas).

You will be considered for the Senior Research Officer role if:

• You have experience in malaria research at the post-doctoral level, or
• You have experience modelling/mapping infectious disease burden

Roles are advertised for both Research Officer (equivalent to Research Associate) and Senior Research Officer (equivalent to Research Fellow) - please reach out to Georgie Lawton ( ) if you're not sure which role is the best fit, or if you'd like to talk about the roles/MAP/Perth more generally.