We are seeking an exceptional candidate for the position of Professor and Director/Principal Investigator of CLOSER.
CLOSER, the home of longitudinal research, is the interdisciplinary partnership of leading social and biomedical longitudinal population studies, the UK Data Service and The British Library. Our mission is to increase the visibility, use and impact of longitudinal population studies, data and research to ensure that longitudinal evidence is used to address the health, social, economic and environmental challenges facing the UK, now and in the future.
CLOSER has recently received a two-and-a-half year extension through to 30 September 2024. During this period CLOSER will: ensure that our flagship resource, CLOSER Discovery, the UKs most detailed search engine for longitudinal data, remains at the forefront in its field; create a new central LPS Policy Unit and online Policy Hub allowing us to generate even greater impact and embed learning across LPS; provide novel go-to resources to build much-needed capacity in LPS researchers and the specialist staff required to manage LPS; create highly valued opportunities for the inter-disciplinary LPS community to share knowledge in a supportive environment; and ensure a meaningful legacy for our data harmonisation and linkage work through knowledge dissemination, training and collaboration with other infrastructures.
It is anticipated that in late 2022 the CLOSER Director will be in a position to secure further funding for CLOSER through UKRI’s Population Research UK (PRUK) and other initiatives in the landscape.
In this critical leadership role for CLOSER, you will lead the direction of CLOSER and manage the team responsible for its delivery. The post provides an opportunity for you to shape CLOSER’s work in providing infrastructure, vital resources and leadership for interdisciplinary longitudinal research, while also pursuing your own research.
You will be a senior member of the UCL Social Research Institute (UCL SRI) and will contribute to its intellectual life, act as a senior representative for CLOSER to Government departments and Parliament, and lead on engaging with potential users of LPS data and research, especially those outside the research community, to ensure that the outputs and outcomes produced further the programme’s objectives.
You will actively engage in UKRI and ESRC Strategies and Delivery Plans, in addition to any other key policy statements and contribute to the development of policies and strategies relating to the evolving longitudinal population studies landscape including the ESRC Future Data Services programme and Population Research UK (PRUK).
Key Requirements
With proven leadership experience indicating suitability for leading a multi-disciplinary programme based in more than one institution, you will have an excellent record of success in securing external research funding from a range of sources, e.g. from Research Councils and Government departments and experience in liaising with policy makers in Government departments, parliamentarians and Research Councils, and experience of leading and fostering effective collaboration across complex organisations.
Further Details
A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
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