Senior Lead Simulations and Data Modeller

Vacancy reference

VAC-0424

Department

Epidemiology and Data Science

Location

Oslo / London

Close date

19/12/2025

About CEPI

Launched in 2017, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is an international coalition of governments, academic, philanthropic, private, public, and intergovernmental institutions whose vision is to create a world in which epidemics and pandemics are no longer a threat to humanity. Our mission is to accelerate the development of vaccines and other biologic countermeasures against epidemic and pandemic threats so they can be accessible to all people in need. CEPI played a central role in the global response to COVID-19, creating the world's largest portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines – seven of which are approved for global or domestic use - and co-leading COVAX, the global initiative to support equitable access which supported the delivery of over 2bn vaccine doses globally. CEPI has contributed to a number of scientific breakthroughs in vaccine development against other infectious diseases, including the first ever licensed Chikungunya vaccine and the first Nipah and Lassa virus vaccines into Phase 1 trials.

As COVID-19 has demonstrated, emerging infectious diseases represent an existential threat to our way of life. COVID-19 is not the first pandemic of the 21st century, and unless we act now, we can be sure that it will not be the last. Unlike some of the other big threats that humanity faces, we have the tools to systematically reduce and even eliminate the risk of future pandemics. It is vital that we capitalise on the rare alignment of political will, practical experience, and technical and scientific progress emerging from the pandemic to prevent such devastation happening again. CEPI's five-year plan for – known as CEPI 2.0 - aims to dramatically reduce or even eliminate the future risk of pandemics and epidemics. Central to the plan is CEPI's goal to accelerate the time taken to develop safe, effective, globally accessible vaccines against new threats to just 100 days. Achieving this '100 Days Mission', which has been embraced by the G7 and G20, would give the world a fighting chance of containing a future outbreak before it can spread to become a global pandemic, potentially averting millions of deaths and trillions of dollars in economic damage.

CEPI is a not-for-profit association under Norwegian Law and has offices in Oslo (HQ), London, and Washington DC.

In CEPI we strive for diverse thinking, and we want a diverse pool of candidates for all our vacancies. We work for an inclusive working environment where each employee can contribute and grow.

More details about CEPI and our mission can be found on our website:

About the role

CEPI is seeking an Expert Senior Simulations and Data Modeller to join our team for a 12-month full-time fixed-term contract. The candidate must be able to independently scope and deliver complex computational technical work and contribute to high-level strategic and policy discussions. The role will be part of the Epidemiology and Data Sciences (E&DS) department within the R&D division. The E&DS department supports CEPI, its partners and stakeholders by bridging key epidemiological knowledge gaps to advance vaccine development, strengthen outbreak preparedness, and support achievement of CEPI's 100 Days Mission.

The key purpose of the role is to lead on infectious disease modelling and advanced analytics on CEPI's priority pathogens, to achieve the strategic goals of the E&DS department to further advance the development of CEPI's vaccine candidate portfolio, and to support CEPI's Preparedness and Emergency Response plans. The post-holder will work closely with CEPI's other Research & Development and Process Development & Manufacturing departments, the Preparedness and Response Division, cross-cutting Enabling Science teams, Operations as well as other internal and external partners, including WHO and vaccine developers.

We are looking for candidates with demonstrated experience in developing models and scenarios to optimise the use and impact of vaccines and have cultural awareness of collaborating with multiple partners, including in low-resource settings. The ideal candidate must also have strong technical expertise in infectious disease modelling, epidemiology and data science and demonstrated experience in advising governments, UN organisations and/or pharmaceutical companies. The candidate should have demonstrated experience in implementing and using cloud hosted platforms for scenario modelling, leading the development of strategies for data-driven analysis in the public health space and experience in analysing genome data and/or multidimensional omics data for biomarker discovery (e.g. correlates of protection).

The post-holder will report to the Head of Data Science and Advanced Analysis within the E&DS department.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced analytics, mathematical modelling and AI expertise to analyse transmission dynamics, vaccination strategies and impact on CEPI's priority pathogens and Disease X. This includes problem-solving, scenario development, reviewing and improving existing models, developing new analytical tools (in R and Python), generating figures and providing technical and strategic feedback on new modelling proposals.
• Design, oversee and manage externally commissioned modelling and AI research projects, by reviewing awardee models and reports, reports, preparing slide decks, providing administrative support as needed and ensuring critical objectives are met within agreed timelines. Furthermore, plan, organise, lead and travel to international meetings with stakeholders and awardees.
• Design and develop epidemiological, ecological, economic, behavioural and benefit/risk models to inform regulatory and public-health decision-making, and improve integration between epidemiological and supply-chain modelling through liaison with CEPI's Manufacturing and Supply Chain Network and collaborating on joint EDS-MSCN modelling efforts.
• Lead clinical trial simulations for CEPI-funded vaccines in advanced development and collaborate closely with Clinical Development on modelling for research preparedness
• Support the implementation of the E&DS strategic framework to achieve the objectives of the Data Science and Advanced Analysis pillar and support the CEPI 3.0 objectives and 100-day mission.
• Identify key knowledge gaps limiting vaccine development and propose and lead high-impact modelling and AI projects to address them.
• Maintain and expand global relationships with key modelling experts and groups, negotiating timelines and resource needs, to ensure timely delivery of agreed outputs.
• Build strong internal partnerships across R&D, Preparedness & Response, other CEPI divisions, and matrixed disease programme teams.
• Keep abreast of mathematical modelling and data science (including AI) developments within academia and industry, and among key opinion leaders.
• Develop and maintain outbreak response modelling platform and cloud simulation infrastructure
• Develop and deliver curriculum for CEPI Global South Data Science Fellows and act as mentor for the fellows
• Represent E&DS/ CEPI at internal and external meetings

Education, Experience and Competence

• Doctoral degree (PhD/DPhil) in a quantitative research area such as mathematical modelling, computational biology, or ecology.
• Minimum of 10 years professional experience working on simulations to support epidemiological studies and vaccine/medicines development particularly on neglected infectious diseases
• Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership for strategic projects with organisation-wide impact at a global level.
• Demonstrated experience working with UN organisations, government departments or pharmaceutical companies.
• Thorough understanding of mathematical, ecological and biostatistical models (including knowledge of Bayesian statistics and geospatial risk modelling)
• Good understanding of infectious diseases, in particular, CEPI's priority pathogens and various frameworks for transmission modelling (e.g. SEIR models, branching process models, stochastic individual-based models, agent-based models) and techniques to calibrate these models to real-world data.
• Hands-on experience with developing and maintaining cloud infrastructure for large-scale simulations and big data analysis, as well as, experience with working with IT/Digital Teams to develop and maintain such infrastructure.
• Experience in analysing and interpreting pathogen genomic data and/or omics data for biomarker or correlates/surrogates of protection analysis to inform the development of vaccines or other medical countermeasures and/or public health decision making.
• Self-starter with a flexible, positive, pro-active attitude including innovative working and decision-making abilities. Foster a collaborative and enjoyable work environment.
• Ability to quickly adapt to new situations and requests, flexibility to balance multiple and complex tasks, maintaining am open an agile mindset
• Have experience and effectively perform in a matrix environment.
• Problem-solving abilities with the ability to identify issues and seek advice as required.
• Strong interpersonal skills and able to work at pace and adaptively across multiple workstreams in a dynamic environment.
• High level of self-awareness and ability to collaborate with people cross-functionally and across different geographic regions, in multidisciplinary teams.
• Understanding of and sensitivity to international and global interactions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, to effectively convey complex modelling results in lay terms

Travel and Location Requirements

• This applicant must be based in London, UK or Oslo, Norway.
• Relocation assistance and work visa sponsorship are not available for this fixed-term position.
• This role will involve collaboration across various regions and will require travel to other countries as projects advance.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to work together with leading experts on solutions for global challenges
• Experience in the international effort on developing vaccines against emerging infectious diseases and accelerating vaccine development response to outbreaks
• A diverse and inclusive working environment

Background verification will be conducted to verify information provided in the CV and available documentation.