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About the role
LSHTM Research Assistant supporting NEST360 newborn-health financing, economic evaluation and national investment cases across African partner countries. Based in London or Nairobi; full-time, 35 hours weekly, fixed term for 12 months. Requires a relevant first degree, health-investment-case experience, LiST newborn-impact modelling and economic-analysis skills. French and a relevant postgraduate qualification are desirable. Apply by 28 September with a supporting statement addressing every selection criterion.
Key requirements
• A relevant first degree in economics/health economics or a relevant public-health-related field. A relevant postgraduate qualification is desirable.
• Required skills: Health-sector investment case development with government and other stakeholders, Lives Saved Tool (LiST) modelling for newborn health interventions, Economic analysis and costing, Health financing and out-of-pocket expenditure analysis, Social protection policy engagement, Quantitative analysis, Organisation and time management, Independent and collaborative research, Written and oral communication
Opportunity details
• Workplace: Hybrid, On Site
• Employment: Contract
• Deadline: Sep 28, 2026
Full vacancy
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Employer’s role description
Employer vacancy notice — EPH-EPIH-2026-11
Closing date: Monday 28 September 2026. Online applications accepted until 10pm.
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is one of the world’s leading public health universities. Our mission is to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice.
NEST360 is a partnership of 23 organisations with 18 in Africa, working with governments (Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria) to reduce neonatal mortality in hospitals through an implementation package of innovative devices, and education of clinicians and biomedical engineers, with locally-owned data to drive quality of care. https://www.nest360.org/. LSHTM leads the complex evaluation and economic assessment.
We are recruiting a Research Assistant in Newborn Health Financing to develop national investment cases for small and sick newborn care, and applying an existing template in focus countries.
The post-holder must have a first degree in the field of economics/health economics or relevant public health related field. High-level quantitative skills are required, with a strong record of policy interaction – particularly in social protection and out-of-pocket payments by families – and ideally experience of national or multi-country investment case development. Further particulars are included in the job description.
The post is full-time 35 hours per week, 1.0 FTE and fixed-term for 12 months. The post is funded by a consortium of private foundations including the Gates Foundation, and the ELMA foundation and the prime grant holder is Rice360. The post is available immediately.
The salary will be on the LSHTM salary scale, Grade 5 in the range £39,984 - £45,728 per annum pro rata (inclusive of London Weighting). The post will be subject to the LSHTM terms and conditions of service. Annual leave entitlement is 30 working days per year, pro rata for part time staff. In addition to this there are discretionary “Wellbeing Days”. Membership of the Pension Scheme is available. The post is based in London at LSHTM or Nairobi, Kenya.
Applications should be made on-line via our jobs website. Online applications will be accepted by the automated system until 10pm of the closing date. Any queries regarding the application process may be addressed to jobs@lshtm.ac.uk. Please quote reference EPH-EPIH-2026-11.
The supporting statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience and training meet each of the selection criteria. Please provide one or more paragraphs addressing each criterion. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as "Please see attached CV" will not be considered acceptable.
Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date.
Full job description and person specification
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Job Title: Research Assistant in Newborn Health Financing Department: Infectious Disease Epidemiology & International Health Faculty: Epidemiology and Population Health Location: Keppel Street, London or Nairobi (Kenya) FTE: 1.0 Grade: G5 Accountable to: Head of Department through Principal Investigator (PI) Joy Lawn
Job Summary:
The post-holder will be part of the NEST360 (Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies) team at LSHTM, involving exciting implementation research in more than 65 hospitals across five African countries (Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and Ethiopia) to evaluate a health systems package including innovative devices to improve hospital care for small and sick newborns.
The post holder will support the economics and financing workstream of this research, including multi-country data collection in more than 65 hospitals, supporting local teams. Key responsibilities will be working with the London School and Country Teams to develop national investment cases for small and sick newborn care, and applying an existing template in focus countries. Additional economic analysis for newborn health systems will also be required.
High level quantitative skills are required, with a strong track record of policy interaction – particularly in the areas of social protection policy and out of pocket payments by families – and ideally experience of national or multi-country investment case development.
This post is based in Nairobi, Kenya or London. Applicants must demonstrate that they have the right to live and work in the country in which the post is based.
General Information The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is one of the world’s leading public health universities.
Our mission is to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice.
Staff and students are committed to helping create a more healthy, sustainable and equitable world for everyone, because we believe our shared future depends on our shared health.
We embrace and value the diversity of our staff and student population and seek to promote equity, diversity and inclusion as essential elements to improve health worldwide. We believe that when people feel respected and included, they can be more creative, successful, and happier at work. While we have more work to do, we are committed to building an inclusive workplace, a community that everyone feels a part of,
which is safe, respectful, supportive and enables all to reach their full potential.
To find out more please visit our Introducing LSHTM page.
Our Values Our values establish how we aspire to achieve our mission both now and in the future - demonstrating what it means to work and study at LSHTM. Please visit our LSHTM Values page for further information.
Faculty Information The Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health (EPH) houses a large group of epidemiologists, demographers, statisticians and nutritionists working on major issues of importance to public health provision in the UK and globally. EPH employs approximately 560 people in five research departments.
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Dynamics
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology & International Health
Department of Medical Statistics, which includes the Clinical Trials Unit
Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology
Department of Population Health
The Faculty has a postgraduate teaching programme including eleven intensive MSc courses: Epidemiology, Demography and Health, Medical Statistics, Health Data Science, Public Health for Development (jointly with Faculties of In fectious & Tropical Diseases and Public Health & Policy), Nutrition for Global Health, Global Mental Health (jointly with Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry), Reproductive & Sexual Health Research, Sexual & Reproductive Health Policy and Practice (online), Veterinary Epidemiology (run jointly with the Royal Veterinary College) and Climate Change and Planetary Health.
There are also two Distance Learning MSc courses: Epidemiology and Clinical Trials. The Faculty also has approximately 220 research students studying for an MPhil, PhD or DrPH degree.
The Dean of Faculty is Professor Elizabeth Allen.
THE DEPARTMENT The Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health conducts research on the epidemiology and control of infectious diseases, and other topics relevant for global public health. Work is carried out in low-, middle- and high- income countries, including in the United Kingdom, in close collaboration with coun try partners and global stakeholders.
The Department has research groups working on maternal, perinatal and child health; adolescent health; infectious diseases including HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases; vaccines; and humanitarian crises. Most staff have a disciplinary training in epidemiology or medical statistics, and a background in one or more of biology, medicine, mathematics, or social science. The Department works closely with the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Dynamics.
The Department Heads are Professor Oona Campbell and Professor Sian Floyd.
THE PROGRAMME NEST360 (Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies) Alliance is a 23-partner collaboration in five African countries (Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria) to innovate, implement and evaluate a package to improve hospital care for small and sick newborns in Africa. LSHTM leads the complex evaluation with implementation research and an economic assessment. NEST360 is funded by five private foundations from 2019 – 2029 and the prime grant holder is RICE 360⁰. The PI at LSHTM is Prof. Joy Lawn.
The portfolio of duties outlined below will vary in accordance with the academic expectations of the role, which may be varied from time to time, and agreed at your annual Performance and Development Review (PDR).
Job Description Main Activities and Responsibilities
Knowledge Generation
1. To undertake high quality research as directed by your line manager, including contributing to drafting grant proposals and peer-reviewed and other outputs, and evaluating teaching practice;
2. To support the administration of projects linked to your employment, helping ensure compliance with good practice in relation to the conduct of research, the ethics policy, and other relevant LSHTM policies;
3. To contribute to NEST360 health financing research activities, notably on economic evaluation, investment case development and assessment of global priority setting. This will include support to the country teams, collaboration with other research groups, working closely with the NEST team at LSHTM under the leadership of the principal investigator.
4. To contribute to peer review papers and other outputs regarding the economic and financing workstream, and undertake or support presentations to multiple stakeholders.
Education
1. To participate in some aspects of LSHTM’s Education Programme or educational outreach activities;
2. To contribute to MSc teaching, tutoring and including supporting students doing summer projects with the NEST360 team.
Internal Contribution
1. To undertake activities that support the Department, Faculty, MRC Unit or LSHTM;
2. To reflect LSHTM’s EDI goals in your work and behaviour;
3. To participate in LSHTM’s PDR process;
4. To play an active role in activities in the MARCH Centre and the Maternal and Newborn Group.
External Contribution
1. To demonstrate good external citizenship by supporting the external academic and practice communities;
2. To liaise effectively with others notably the NEST360 partner institutions, relevant
ministries, donor organisations and affiliated technical experts in order to maintain and expand NEST360 and LSHTM partnerships.
Professional Development and Training
1. To keep up-to-date with the latest research / thinking in your academic field and with changes to pedagogic practice within LSHTM and more generally;
2. For lab-based disciplines: where the length and nature of the position permits, to apply for and, if accepted, undertake a doctoral degree (if not already acquired);
3. To undertake and successfully complete the mandatory training required by LSHTM as appropriate to the role;
General All academic staff are free within the law to question and test received wisdom, and put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions, to enable LSHTM to engage in research and promote learning to the highest possible standards.
All staff at LSHTM are also expected to:
1. Act at all times in LSHTM’s best interests;
2. Treat staff, students and visitors with courtesy and respect at all times;
3. Comply fully with LSHTM policies, procedures and administrative processes relevant to the role;
4. Uphold and support LSHTM’s values (as set out in the LSHTM Strategy);
5. Act as ambassadors for LSHTM when hosting visitors or attending external events;
Academic Expectations All academic roles have a statement of academic expectations attached to each level. Please ensure that these have been read and understood. For further information please refer to the Academic Expectations page.
The above list of duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the role holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the role.
Role descriptions should be regularly reviewed to ensure they are an accurate representation of the role.
Person Specification This form lists the essential and desirable requirements needed by the post holder to be able to perform the job effectively.
Applicants will be shortlisted solely on the extent to which they meet these requirements.
Essential criteria:
1. A relevant first degree in the field of economics/health economics or relevant public health related field.
2. Relevant experience of working with multiple stakeholders, including governments, to develop health-sector investment cases, and apply costing, health financing, and economic data to support increased investment in under-resourced settings, including contributions to national or multi-country investment cases, policy engagement, and presenting complex analyses to mixed audiences.
3. Experience using Lives Saved Tool (LiST) modelling impact analysis at national and subnational level for newborn health interventions, including critical understanding of strengths and limitations.
4. Relevant analytical skills in economic analysis, eg costing for investment cases and assessing out of pocket expenditure and social protections.
5. Evidence of good organisational skills, including effective time management.
6. Proven ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, as part of a research team.
7. Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Desirable Criteria
8. Some experience of teaching
9. Postgraduate qualification of relevance to health financing, economics, policy
10. Experience of Newborn health financing in LMIC
11. Published papers on relevant topics, eg economic evaluation and/or investment case development for health, with policy interaction, including relevant published papers.
12. French would be desirable.
Salary and Conditions of Appointment The post is fixed term for 12 months full-time 35 hours per week, 1.0 FTE. The post is funded by the Gates Foundation, ELMA foundation and the prime grant holder is Rice360 and is available immediately. The salary will be on the LSHTM scale, Grade 5 in the range £39,984 - £45,728 per annum pro rata (inclusive of London Weighting).
The post will be subject to the LSHTM terms and conditions of service. Annual leave entitlement is 30 working days per year, pro rata for part time staff. In addition to this there are discretionary “Wellbeing Days”. Membership of the Pension Scheme is available.
LSHTM operates a Hybrid Working Framework which, alongside agreed service requirements, enables teams to work more flexibly where the role allows - promoting wellbeing and a better work/life balance. Please note that roles based in London are required to work on-site a minimum of two days per week.
Application Process Applications should be made on-line via our jobs website. Applications should also include the names and email contacts of 2 referees who can be contacted immediately if appointed. Online applications will be accepted by the automated system until 10pm of the closing date. We regret that late applications cannot be accepted. Any queries regarding the application process may be addressed to jobs@lshtm.ac.uk.
The supporting statement section should set out how your qualifications, experience and training meet each of the selection criteria. Please provide one or more paragraphs addressing each criterion. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as "Please see attached CV”, “Yes” or “No" will not be considered acceptable and will not be scored.
Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date.
Asylum and Immigration Statement LSHTM will comply with current UKVI legislation, which requires all employees to provide documentary evidence of their legal right to work in this country prior to commencing employment. Candidates will be required to email a copy of their passport (and visa if applicable) to HR prior to their interview and if appointed will be asked to bring the original documents in to be copied and verified before their start date.
Applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK will be considered alongside other applications but due to the salary range for this role not meeting the UKVI requirements, only applicants under certain circumstances may qualify for sponsorship for this role. Please refer to the details on the Skilled Worker visa pages to check if you are able to be paid below the general threshold. Please indicate this in your application and proceed if you are able to meet the requirements.
Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK will have to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration regulations before they can be appointed.
Further information about Sponsorship and eligibility to work in the UK, can be found on the government immigration rules page.