Research Associate (fixed term), Evaluating novel spatial planning interventions to improve public health

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Population Health Interventions Group within the Institute of Meta-bolic Science (IMS) Epidemiology at the University of Cambridge. I am seeking to appoint an ambitious and skilled Research Associate to work alongside me on a programme of work funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Together, we will conduct public health research on how the spatial planning system can improve population diet and reduce diet-related disease.

Many neighbourhoods do not support health. They contain large numbers of shops selling unhealthy food, tobacco and alcohol, with few opportunities to walk, cycle and play safely. These environments shape health, but they can be changed. My research programme explores how local and national government can use planning policy to create healthier places, using takeaway food outlets as a case study of planning's broader potential.

We will evaluate whether new national planning rules have helped local authorities adopt policies to manage takeaways, including refusing new takeaways near schools. Some local authorities have gone further by al-lowing only healthier new takeaways or restricting chain fast-food outlets. The lack of robust evaluation is a barrier to wider adoption of these policies.

We will also explore how the planning system could address the large number of existing takeaways. Alt-hough current planning powers cannot affect them, this could change if businesses had to apply for planning permission more often. We will develop a computer model to estimate the long-term health impacts of these more ambitious planning reforms.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to research with direct relevance to government policy and popula-tion health. You will lead evaluations of national and local policies and I will encourage you to bring your own ideas to every stage of the research. 

You will contribute to study design; collate secondary data, including from local authority planning portals; lead quantitative analyses (e.g. interrupted time series and difference-in-differences); collect and analyse qualitative data; integrate findings across methods; undertake public health modelling (e.g. using PRIME-time); publish first-author papers; and disseminate findings to academic, policy and practice audiences.

You will hold a PhD in public health or a related discipline. The role would suit applicants with strong quanti-tative or qualitative expertise. If you have less experience in one area, you should demonstrate the ability and enthusiasm to develop new skills, as both qualitative and quantitative research will be central to the role. Experience using GIS to manage and map complex spatial data is essential, together with excellent com-munication, organisational and scientific writing skills.

Please contact Prof Thomas Burgoine (tb464@medschl.cam.ac.uk) with informal enquiries.

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