Expression of Interest

For a research position in Computer Science and Simulation

HealthSim Project

Information Technology and Insight Centre for Data Analytics

College of Engineering and Informatics

NUI Galway

Ref. No. NUIG 028-18

Expressions of interest are invited from suitably qualified candidates for afull-time, fixed term position as a Research Engineerwith the Discipline of Information Technology and the Insight Centre for Data Analyticsat the National University of Ireland Galway.

This one-year position is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and is available from April/May 2018 to contract end date of March/April 2019.

The HealthSIM project focuses on the challenge to strengthen health systems by using computer science and analytics methods to enhance supply chain performance, and improve decision making in order to reduce disease morbidity and mortality, and ensure that the right medication arrives for the right person at the right time. The idea underpinning this research proposal is to design, implement and test a cloud-based public health supply chain simulator. In effect, this will create a virtual laboratory for public health officials in low and middle income countries, and in turn support learning, information sharing, and decision making within the health supply chain.

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Job Description:

The successful candidate will play a key role in the design and implementation of a virtual simulation laboratory to support supply chain planning. Activities will include: model building (using system dynamics), model testing and validation, user interface design, model implementation on a web-based platform, and systems evaluation with public health officials.

Duties:The successful candidate will be responsible for a range of project tasks, including:

  • Build and validate system dynamics models of vaccine supply chains and regional demographics.
  • Implement system dynamics models in a web-based platform, using a programming environment such as R
  • User interface design and validation with potential end-users
  • Preparation and submission of journal articles to high-impact publication outlets.

Essential Requirements:

  • Ph.D. in Computer Science / Simulation or related area, or B.Sc/MSc in Computer Science with a further 18-24 months experience as a software engineer.
  • Evidence of excellent programming and modelling skills, and familiarity with scripting languages such as R, RShiny, and JavaScript.
  • Demonstrable experience in system dynamics (or related area) modelling, with knowledge of modelling the dynamics of population growth, infectious disease spread and distributed supply chains.
  • Evidence of track record of peer-reviewed (scopus indexed) journal papers
  • Proven experience of working on real-world modelling applications, ideally in the area of public health.

Desirable Requirements:

  • Knowledge of public health systems
  • Knowledge of GIS systems and how to use mapping and visualisation in R.
  • Database and data analytics skills (e.g. dplyr, ggplot2, tidyr etc).

Employment permit restrictions apply for this category of post if appointed at the level of Research Assistant.

Salary range: €36,850 - €37,383 per annum – Postdoctoral Researcher level

€21,674 - €32,404 per annum - Research Assistant level

Start date: Position is available from April/May 2018.

Continuing Professional Development/Training:

Researchers at NUI Galway are encouraged to avail of a range of training and development opportunities designed to support their personal career development plans.

Further information on research and working at NUI Galway is available on Research at NUI Galway

For information on moving to Ireland please see

Further information about Information Technology and Insight are available at:

To Apply:

Applications to include a covering letter, CV,and the contact details of three referees should be sent, via e-mail (in PDF only) to

Please put reference number NUIG-028-18 in subject line of e-mail application.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5.00 pm Friday,9th March 2018.

All positions are recruited in line with Open, Transparent, Merit (OTM) and Competency based recruitment

National University of Ireland, Galway is an equal opportunities employer.