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Job Vacancies

All applications for our vacancies are made online through the University of Oxford jobs website and only in very exceptional circumstances can we receive applications via other means. 

If you have a disability or other compelling reason that prevents you submitting an application online please email the divisional HR team at divoff.jobs@medsci.ox.ac.uk for advice. 

Current Vacancies

Chair of the Medical Sciences Interdivisional Research Ethics Committee (MS IDREC)

The Chair of the Medical Sciences Interdivisional Research Ethics Committee (MS IDREC), an important subcommittee of the Central University Research Ethics Committee (CUREC), is a formally appointed position appointed by the Research and Innovation Committee (RIC) of Council. 

The Chair is expected to provide high-quality academic and ethical leadership to the review and oversight of scientific studies involving human participants, their biological samples and/or personal data. The studies are drawn from various departments under the Medical Sciences Division (MSD) and the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division.

The Chair is expected to serve for a 4-year term (and is re-eligible) and is responsible for the committee function in accordance with the Standing Orders. The committee currently consists of 14 full members including the acting Chair and 11 reviewer-only members; a new cadre of members willing to contribute to ethics reviews but who will not routinely be attending meetings or being assigned to review high-risk studies.  An allowance will be paid.

The chair should ensure that all study applications received by the committee undergo appropriate risk-proportionate review in accordance with the University Research Ethics Policy and national higher-education ethics review standards/norms. The role requires an experienced academic with a suitable biomedical background with interest in a variety of biomedical topics and related ethics. Being clinically qualified is desirable though not essential and appropriate clinical expertise will be represented across the wider committee membership.  The chair also is expected to recommend and/or confirm their vice-chair for approval by RIC.

The Chair will be supported by and work closely with members of the Research Governance, Ethics and Governance team (RGEA) who operate the secretariat for the CUREC sub-committees and provide support to researchers to apply to University Ethics, or amend ongoing projects, as well as supporting the other members of the committee to perform reviews via the online Ethics system: Worktribe. RGEA supports the management of day-to-day ethics operations, committee and administrative support, recognising their separate but complementary functions.

As Chair of the sub-committee, the MSIDREC chair is a member of CUREC and is expected to attend CUREC meetings in person and is owner of the MSIDREC annual report (composition of which is supported by RGEA). 

Expressions of interest should be accompanied by a CV, and sent to the secretary to CUREC.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Chair MSIDREC meetings (either online or in-person), ensuring that ethical issues are identified, explored and debated.
  • Check and approve agenda and minutes for meetings (drafted by secretariat/RGEA)
  • Promote the effective working and collegiality of the committee
  • Ensure any training requirements are identified and addressed amongst the committee
  • Allocate lead reviewers with appropriate regard for expertise and lack of Conflict of Interest
  • Work with RGEA and other stakeholders as required to ensure timely review of all applications under the MSIDREC oversight – in line with CUREC targets.
  • Ensure clear decisions are made during meetings and recorded appropriately.
  • Review responses and queries from applicants and arrange for amendments to be reviewed and approved on a risk-proportionate basis.
  • Provide chair's action/sign off as appropriate
  • Be available to the secretariat in case of escalation of matters relevant to the Chair's attention, including reported incidents (violations, breaches and non-compliances)
  • Support continuous improvement of committee operations with relevant stakeholders to ensure the review of research projects can be maintained at the standard required.
  • The Chair should select a Vice-Chair to support their duties and to deputise in their absence for appointment in accordance with standing orders.

Essential Criteria:

  • Senior academic with substantial experience in biomedical research involving human participants.
  • Excellent time-management skills and time to devote to the committee duties
  • Strong leadership and communication skills

Desirable Criteria:

  • Knowledge of, and experience with research ethics frameworks, national guidelines and best practices
  • Experience serving as Chair in other committees
  • Ability to consider research beyond own expertise and across multiple biomedical and/or clinical disciplines
  • Clinically qualified 

 

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