Researcher
Injuries
Job posting information
Job type: Researcher
Salary range: $6,800 - $7,963 per month
Location: Remote eligible, USA
Date posted: August 30, 2023
HME has an excellent opportunity for a Researcher to join the BIRDS (Brain/Back pain and other MSKs, Injuries, Respiratory/Renal, Drugs/Diabetes, and Sensory) team. The BIRDS team makes estimates for the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, which is a systematic, scientific effort to quantify the comparative magnitude of health loss due to diseases, injuries, and risk factors by age, sex, and geography over time. It is the largest and most comprehensive effort to measure epidemiological levels and trends worldwide. This position will work on the Injuries portfolio and be a key part of our efforts to quantify the burden of different causes of injuries (such as falls) and their nature (such as fractures).
The Researcher is expected to become specialized in data pertaining to injuries and will consult with staff as needed. To create the array of indicators required, the position must have a strong command of a variety of research needs and analytic functions and will apply methods to standardize data sources. Using established modeling tools and through creation of novel code, researchers incorporate all relevant data to produce the most up-to-date and scientifically credible results through the development of sound methods and analytical approaches.
You will be integrally involved in producing, critiquing, improving, and disseminating results. You already have a command of epidemiology, statistics, disease modeling, or related interests, and we will help you develop an understanding of our core research and methodology. Our Researchers work with senior research leads and external collaborators and take part in the intellectual exchange about how to improve upon and disseminate the results. You are expected to interact successfully with a wide range of partners and to describe complex concepts and materials concisely. Overall, Researchers are critical members of agile, dynamic research teams. This position is contingent on project funding availability.
- Develop a core understanding of injuries estimation analytical strategies and methodologies and its nuances and intricacies.
- Extract data from various sources and databases. Format, transform, review, and assess data sources to determine their relevance and utility for ongoing analysis. Understand key data sources and variations in these across and within countries.
- Under the guidance of experienced scientist and/or faculty, carry out quantitative analyses and statistical modeling to produce results designated on a given timeline as part of collaborative research projects, vet results and formulate conclusions.
- Develop and execute improvements to the analytic strategies and accompanying code that increase the relevance, quality, and use of results by external stakeholders while also improving code performance, diagnostics, and predictability or run-times.
- Consult with external collaborators and key stakeholders to resolve differences in competing sets of estimates, jointly understand and explain analytic approaches, and review and respond to recommendations for analytic modifications, new data, and ways of representing the results.
- Apply computational and statistical tools and algorithms for the preprocessing, analysis, and visualization of source data.
- Document code and analytic approaches systematically so that analyses can be replicated by other team members.
- Lead discussion in research meetings about results and analyses to vet, improve, and finalize results.
- Contribute to creation of presentations, manuscripts, and funding proposals through content and tables and figures. Coauthor paper(s).
- Maintain scientific awareness and intellectual agility with data, methods, and analytic techniques.
- Other duties as assigned that fall within reasonable scope of research team.
Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, math, economics, quantitative social sciences, or related discipline plus 1 year of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Proven interest and some experience in the injuries research and methodological area, and the related data sources and scientific underpinnings.
- Strong analytic, critical thinking, and quantitative skills and ability to learn and understand complex information quickly.
- Ability to professionally and effectively communicate and work with other staff at all levels in order to achieve team goals for the analyses and related outputs.
- 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.
- Working proficiency in python or R, with a willingness to become familiar in the other.
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
- 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.
- Experience in epidemiological research.
- Interest and experience in methodological innovation and demonstrable initiative to conduct independent analyses.
- Experience working with external collaborators, researchers, and funders.
- Experience conducting literature reviews.
- 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.