Researcher - Causes of Death, Shocks, Intermediate Causes and Antimicrobial Resistance
Salary Range: $6,800 - $7,963 per month
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent research center at the University of Washington. 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, 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.
The IHME has an excellent opportunity for a Researcher to join our Causes of Death, Shocks, Intermediate Causes and Antimicrobial resistance team. IHME researchers analyze and produce key estimates for their assigned research team and will assess all available 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. 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.
POSITION PURPOSE
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 the results 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.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop a core understanding of cause of death data and modeling, methodology and its components. Additionally, this researcher will develop a core understanding of the antimicrobial resistance project, in both data sources, processing and modeling.
- Under the guidance of experienced scientist and/or faculty, carry out quantitative analyses and statistical modeling for both fatal and non-fatal estimates to produce results designated on a given timeline as part of collaborative research projects.
- 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.
- Review, assess, and improve results and methods.
- 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. Co-author 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.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics, math, economics, quantitative social sciences or related discipline plus 1 year related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Proven interest and some experience in a given disease, risk, key indicator, methodological area, and the related data sources and scientific underpinnings.
- Strong analytic, critical thinking, and quantitative skills
- 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 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.
- Working ability with at least one statistical programming language (e.g. Python, R, Stata, SAS, SQL).
- 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 https://www.healthdata.org/about/careers/dei
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in applied mathematics, including statistical modeling methods.
- Track record of success in co-authorship on scientific papers, presenting results, and representing research at meetings.
- Knowledge of machine learning, data mining, and analytic techniques.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Appointment to this position is contingent upon obtaining satisfactory results from a criminal background check.
- Weekend and evening work sometimes required.
Further Information: See IHME’s website: www.healthdata.org
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 an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.