RESEARCH SCIENTIST
University of Washington
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RESEARCH SCIENTIST

University of Washington

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Details
Posted:
December 20, 2020
Location:
Seattle, Washington
Salary:
Open
Type:
Full Time

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 six 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 Neglected Tropical Diseases and Malaria team. We are looking for someone ready to advance in their career in global health research. As a Research Scientist you will be a leader in your research team by contributing to research design and 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.

The NTDs and Malaria team at IHME focuses on the production of high-quality, reliable disease burden estimates for 20 neglected tropical diseases for the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. In addition, we use state-of-the-art geospatial modeling techniques to estimate local patterns of disease burden for select NTDs and partner with collaborators to ensure that the GBD study reflects accurate trends in malaria burden. We collaborate closely with NTD program partners around the world, from global organizations to ministries of health. The Research Scientist identified for this position will lead GBD and geospatial modeling efforts for an array of NTDs, while developing innovative methods and coordinating the translation of results to support policy decisions in collaboration with our partners.

You will be integrally involved in producing, critiquing, improving, and disseminating results. You are someone that is capable of keeping your team on track to meet deadlines and research objectives. You have experience with the publication process, 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:
  • Exhibit command of Neglected Tropical Disease research at IHME, including the methodology and its components.
  • 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, quality check, and distribute complex data sets to be used in epidemiological and statistical analyses.
  • Develop and implement new computational and statistical methods. Create, test, and use relevant computer code (R, Python, C++). Maintain, modify, and execute analytic machinery that produces results.
  • 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; providing mentorship and professional development for employees.
  • Provide ideas and content for the development of internal trainings. Teach established trainings.
  • Contribute to research design.
  • 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:
  • 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 (expertise in R strongly preferred; experience with Python and/or C++ also beneficial).
  • 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.

    A commitment to working alongside others at IHME to illuminate the health impacts of systemic racism and to work within IHME to make our organization more diverse and inclusive. See IHME’s DEI statement here: http://www.healthdata.org/get-involved/careers/dei.

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

    DESIRED

  • PhD or MD in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, math, economics, quantitative social sciences plus two years’ experience preferred.
  • Expertise in the modeling of neglected tropical diseases or other infectious diseases.
  • Experience with geospatial modeling or other spatial analysis methods.
  • Experience working with large and complex data sets.
  • Experience mentoring and developing junior employees on soft and technical skills.
  • Experience with project management methods.
  • Peer-reviewed publication record.

    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.
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    Internal Number: 185575
    About University of Washington
    Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest public institutions in the west coast and one of the preeminent research universities in the world. The University of Washington is a multi-campus university comprised of three different campuses: Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell. The Seattle campus is made up of sixteen schools and colleges that serve students ranging from an undergraduate level to a doctoral level. The university is home to world-class libraries, arts, music, drama, and sports, as well as the highest quality medical care in Washington State and a world-class academic medical center. The teaching and research of the University’s many professional schools provide undergraduate and graduate students the education necessary toward achieving an excellence that will serve the state, the region, and the nation. As part of a large and diverse community, the University of Washington serves more students than any other institution in the Northwest.
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