Benefits:
As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.
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.
POSITION PURPOSE
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.
IHME has an excellent opportunity for a Researcher on the Brain, Back Pain and Other Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSKs), Injuries, Renal, Respiratory, Diabetes, Drugs, and Sensory (BIRDS) 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 1-2 non-communicable disease focus areas that make up the BIRDS portfolio.
The Researcher is expected to become specialized in data pertaining to the assigned topic areas 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 are someone that can keep on track to meet deadlines and research objectives. You have experience with the publication process, and at IHME, you will build out your portfolio of peer-reviewed papers. You thrive in a collaborative work environment and can work on multiple projects concurrently while meeting deadlines. You keep current of recent scientific, engineering, and technical advances and can translate these into your research.
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.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Develop a core understanding of assigned research area methodology and its components.
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.
Ability to 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.
Develop and implement new computational and statistical methods.
Create, test, and use relevant computer code. Maintain, modify, and execute analytic machinery that results.
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.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
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.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Proven interest and some experience in a given disease, risk, key indicator, methodological area, and the related data sources and scientific underpinnings that relate to the BIRDS non-communicable disease portfolio.
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 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 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
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Demonstrated interest in non-communicable diseases and their impact on population health.
Experience in epidemiological research.
Track record of success in co-authorship on scientific papers, presenting results, and representing research at meetings.
Interest and experience in methodological innovation and demonstrable initiative to conduct independent analyses.
Knowledge of machine learning, data mining, and analytic techniques.
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.
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.
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POSITION PURPOSE
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.
IHME has an excellent opportunity for a Researcher on the Brain, Back Pain and Other Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSKs), Injuries, Renal, Respiratory, Diabetes, Drugs, and Sensory (BIRDS) 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 1-2 non-communicable disease focus areas that make up the BIRDS portfolio.
The Researcher is expected to become specialized in data pertaining to the assigned topic areas 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 are someone that can keep on track to meet deadlines and research objectives. You have experience with the publication process, and at IHME, you will build out your portfolio of peer-reviewed papers. You thrive in a collaborative work environment and can work on multiple projects concurrently while meeting deadlines. You keep current of recent scientific, engineering, and technical advances and can translate these into your research.
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.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
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.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
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.
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.
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