OUR PLACEMENTS

Placement summary

Glasgow based research company, NewMetrica, is looking to recruit a Research Assistant to contribute to a project aimed at developing a novel instrument to measure the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of cats.  Working alongside Professor Jacky Reid and Dr Lesley Wiseman-Orr (NewMetrica) and consultants Professor Marian Scott (University of Glasgow) and Professor Andrea Nolan (Edinburgh Napier University), you will carry out a range of research activities and functions within a commercial and academic collaborative environment. An interest in animals and animal welfare in particular would be advantageous, but not essential.

For the right candidate there may be an opportunity to study for a Masters degree.

Job description

Project Description

The project will develop a novel instrument to measure the health related quality of life (HRQL) of cats with osteoarthritis that contains a stand alone generic component to measure the impact of any health related condition on cat quality of life,  including  diseases such as diabetes and cancer as well as living conditions (multicat household)

The development process will follow well established psychometric methodology that is considered the gold standard for development of health measurement instruments and which combines both qualitative (collecting information through structured interviews with cat owners and vets) and quantitative techniques to establish a scoring system. 

Aspects of the project, such as the combination of inputs from multiple stakeholders (cat owners, general veterinary practitioners and specialists), are extremely innovative and have attracted SMART grant funding.  

Placement Objectives

• Successful completion of a project that will build sequentially on our existing research base, elevating our portfolio of products to allow us to meet the needs of the largest parts of the global market for pain and quality of life instruments for companion animals. It will also develop new IP that will form the background to further research and development
• To introduce a young graduate to the field of digital health measurement and foster their growth in an area of research that is at the forefront of human telemedicine and novel in veterinary medicine
• To have an enthusiastic, energetic and hardworking young colleague join the NewMetrica team and, depending on the outcome, consider retention as a permanent member of staff

Role Description

Perform the following activities under the guidance of the Project Manager and in conjunction with other members of the project team:

• Manage and undertake assigned project tasks in accordance with a dynamic project plan, and contribute to the development of that plan
• Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline, by reviewing relevant literature and other relevant means
• Prepare interview questions, recruit and/or interview subjects and transcribe interviews, and maintain accurate records of interviews (safeguarding the confidentiality of subjects, as necessary)
• Attend, contribute to and take minutes at project meetings and other meetings, as required
• Support and work with other members of the project team, including external consultants, as required
• Support and work closely with participating veterinary practices, and veterinary practitioners and specialists, as required
• Collect and compile data, undertake relevant analysis, document research output and maintain and provide ready access to all project-related data, records and other information
• Manage and respond in a timely manner to project-related correspondence, and prepare progress reports and other reports, papers and presentations, as required
• Promptly request or acquire equipment or supplies necessary for the project, monitor budget and expenditure, and carry out administrative functions, support tasks and other duties, as required
• Contribute to publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed journals
• Contribute to the presentation of work at conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops as required

These key tasks are not intended to be exhaustive but simply highlight a number of major tasks which the staff member may reasonably be expected to perform.

Qualifications

Degree in a project relevant discipline

Skills / Experience

Essential Skills

• Creativity and ability to collaborate across disciplines as appropriate
• Excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate working with team members and with those outwith the project team
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) to facilitate communication within and outwith the project team, including engagement with non-scientists and presentations to scientific and non-scientific audiences, and ability to communicate complex data/concepts clearly and concisely
• Appropriate workload/time/project/budget/people management skills
• IT and data analysis/interpretation skills as appropriate
• Self motivation, initiative and independent thought/working
• Problem solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approach
• Some theoretical and practical knowledge of research practices
• Knowledge of IT software (e.g. Excel)

Desirable Skills

• Collection and analysis of data
• Scientific writing
• Knowledge of  the wider subject area of measurement
• Experience of relevant project-specific techniques

Benefits

Company benefits

• To work alongside a successful, well established research team with a diverse skill set
• Exposure to other expertise allied to the company - software development, financial management and business planning
• Experience of the day to day running of a small company
• Gain experience of scientific writing and oral presentations to an academic audience
• Very varied working environment - field work as well as desk based
• Become experienced in psychometric instrument design

Placement benefits

As part of ScotGrad Graduate Placement Programme, the successful candidate will have access to a three day business and employability skills residential course and also benefit from ongoing support from the ScotGrad team throughout the duration of the placement.

Additional information

Location: Glasgow

Planned interview date: TBC

This placement may result in a permanent employment afterwards

Preferred start date: 13th July 2015

Company information

NewMetrica is a research company that has pioneered the development of scientifically robust instruments to measure pain and quality of life in animals. Initial work was carried out in the University of Glasgow and the founders of the company have been among the academic leaders in that field over the past 15 years. Health and disease monitoring via telecommunications technologies is a high-growth area in human healthcare, now introduced to veterinary medicine by NewMetrica. Our client base includes veterinary surgeons in general and specialist practices and major pharmaceutical companies who use our products for clinical trials and marketing purposes. Further development of our portfolio will include additional species specific and disease specific instruments.

Company sector: Life Sciences

Company website: www.newmetrica.com