RESEARCH SCIENTIST - CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

University of Washington Seattle, WA Full-time Research

Posted on July 30, 2019

Req #:	163931
Department:	INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH METRICS AND EVALUATION
Job Location:	South Lake Union
Posting Date:	05/28/2019
Closing Info:	Open Until Filled
Salary:	Salary is commensurate with experience and education
Shift:	First Shift
Notes:	Please note that this position has been re-posted. If you have already submitted your application, you need not submit it again, as it has already been received.

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for five consecutive years.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent research center at the University of Washington. Its mission is to monitor global health conditions and health systems, as well as to evaluate interventions, initiatives, and reforms. IHME carries out a range of projects within different research areas including: the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors; Future Health Scenarios; Costs and Cost Effectiveness; Local Burden of Disease; Resource Tracking; and Impact Evaluations. The aim is to provide policymakers, donors, and researchers with the highest-quality quantitative evidence base to make decisions that achieve better health.

IHME has an excellent opportunity for a Research Scientist to join our team. We are looking for someone ready to advance in their career in global health research. As a Research Scientist, you will be a lead on your research team by contributing to research design, training, and mentoring junior staff. IHME researchers analyze and produce key estimates for their assigned research team and will assess all available relevant quantitative data – including those on causes of death, epidemiology, and a range of determinants such as education and income – from surveys, vital registration, censuses, literature, registries, and administrative records.

As a Research Scientist, you will be integrally involved in producing, critiquing, improving, and disseminating results. You are capable of keeping your team on track to meet deadlines and research objectives. You already have a publication record, and at IHME, you will build out your portfolio with several peer-reviewed papers. You thrive in a collaborative work environment and are capable of working on multiple projects concurrently while meeting deadlines. You keep current of recent scientific, engineering and technical advances and are able to translate these into your research. This position is contingent on project funding availability.

Responsibilities

Develop command of one or more research areas at IHME, including the methodology and its components.

Contribute to research design, including exploring varied analytic approaches and coding techniques to improve on results (e.g. machine learning, using linkage data for analysis, etc).

Independently carry out quantitative analyses and participate in reciprocal research projects. Interpret and vet results from junior staff, formulate conclusions and inform team leaders.

Develop, assess quality, and distribute complex data sets to be used in epidemiological and statistical analyses.

Develop and implement diagnostics by which to assess both input data and results.

Manage and complete large-scale prospective reviews of the scientific literature.

Develop and implement new computational and statistical methods by translating complex analytic aims into efficient and effective code (R, Python, SQL or equivalent). Maintain, modify, and execute analytic machinery that results.

Communicate with external collaborators to understand the nature, key characteristics, and context of the data as well as engage in critiques of the estimation results.

Collaborate with and gather feedback on methods from senior faculty. Integrate feedback into updates to analytic approaches

Effectively communicate and work with other staff at all levels in order to achieve team goals for the analyses and related outputs.

Draft presentations, manuscripts, and contribute to funding proposals. Lead and co-author scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Maintain scientific awareness and intellectual agility with data, methods, and analytic techniques.

Oversee staff to include: hiring and training; leading workflow; priority setting; critiquing work and establishing quality standards; conducting regular performance assessments, providing mentorship and professional development for employees.

Provide ideas and content for the development of internal trainings. Teach established trainings.

Other duties as assigned that fall within reasonable scope of research team.

As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here.

REQUIREMENTS:

Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, math, economics, quantitative social sciences or related discipline plus four years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Requirements:

Growing peer network where sought out as having solid command with engineering/technical areas, a given disease, risk, key indicator, relevant methodological area, and the related data sources and scientific underpinnings.

Excellent analytic, critical thinking, and quantitative skills.

Results and detail-oriented individual that can initiate and complete tasks under tight deadlines and changing priorities both independently and in a team environment. Flexibility with hours and workload is key.

Experience devising and executing statistical modeling techniques.

Demonstrated ability to quickly recognize problems in results and identify root causes in data, methods, and code.

Ease in designing, executing, and troubleshooting code in one or more languages (e.g. R, Python, Stata, SAS, SQL).

Excellent written and oral communication skills required, including track record of success in co-authorship on multiple scientific papers, presenting results, and representing research at meetings.

Ability to work both independently and in collaboration with a team

A long-term interest in a research scientist position contributing to the overall mission of our research

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

DESIRED

MD or PhD in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, math, economics, quantitative social sciences plus two years’ experience preferred.

Experience with machine learning, data mining, and analytic techniques.

Experience mentoring and developing junior employees on soft and technical skills.

Experience with project management methods.

Peer-reviewed publication record.

Excellent attention to detail and ability to critically evaluate results

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Weekend and evening work sometimes required.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

The University of Washington is a leader in environmental stewardship & sustainability, and committed to becoming climate neutral.

The University of Washington is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 / 206-543-6452 (tty) or dso@uw.edu.