Research Scientist
Local and Small Area Estimation
Job posting information
Job type: Researcher
Salary range: $8,075 to $9,834 per month
Location: Remote eligible, USA
Date posted: August 10, 2023
IHME has an excellent opportunity for a Research Scientist on the Local and Small Area Estimation team focusing particularly on central methods development, troubleshooting models and creating and implementing trainings.
POSITION PURPOSE
We are looking for someone ready to advance in their career in global health research and has a strong command of geospatial analysis and small area estimation, as well as epidemiology, statistics, or disease modeling. As a Research Scientist on this team, you will be creating and enhancing central code and helping multiple research teams adopt new methods and code solutions. You will be integrally involved in critiquing, improving central code and resources.
Ideally you are someone who is capable of creating resources and trainings researchers can use to understand methods and code enhancements. 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.
- Exhibit command of geospatial analysis and small area estimation methods. 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 datasets to be used in epidemiological and statistical analyses.
- Develop and implement new computational and statistical methods. Create, test, and use relevant computer code in R or Python. Maintain, modify, and execute analytic machinery.
- Create and implement trainings related to methods development and code changes.
- Be able to centralize methods and code solutions to be adopted easily by multiple research teams.
- Provide support in grant writing for future geospatial modeling funding
- Draft presentations and manuscripts. Lead and co-author scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals.
- Maintain scientific awareness and intellectual agility with data, methods, and analytic techniques.
- May lead and/or mentor junior staff.
- 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.
- Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, geostatistics, math, economics, quantitative social sciences, or related discipline plus four years' related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Growing peer network where sought out as having solid command of 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 who 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 and Python)
- Excellent written and oral communication skills required, including track record of success in coauthorship 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 to 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: https://www.healthdata.org/about/careers/dei
- Master’s degree plus six years’ related experience, or PhD in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, math, economics, or 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.
- Weekend and evening work sometimes required.
- This position is open to anyone authorized to work in the US. The UW is not able to sponsor visas for staff positions.
- Office is located in Seattle, Washington. This position is eligible to work fully remote in the US; work schedule required to overlap 50% of IHME office hours, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
Application information
The application process 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 Work 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.
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent research center at the University of Washington (UW). Its mission is to deliver to the world timely, relevant, and scientifically valid evidence to improve health policy and practice. IHME carries out its mission through a range of projects within different research areas including the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD), Injuries, and Risk Factors; Future Health Scenarios; Cost Effectiveness and Efficiency; Resource Tracking; and Impact Evaluations. Our vision is to provide policymakers, donors, and researchers with the highest-quality quantitative evidence base so all people live long lives in full health.
IHME is committed to providing the evidence base necessary to help solve the world’s most important health problems. This requires creativity and innovation, which are cultivated by an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment that respects and appreciates differences, embraces collaboration, and invites the voices of all IHME team members.