Researcher, Demographics Jobs

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.

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 to join the Demographics team.

POSITION PURPOSE
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.

The Demographics team is a vital team in the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors enterprise (GBD), a core research area for IHME. 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, the GBD is the largest and most comprehensive effort to date to measure epidemiological levels and trends worldwide. The GBD’s aim is to provide policymakers, donors, and researchers with the highest-quality quantitative evidence base to make decisions that achieve better health. The Demographics team provides the fertility, mortality and population estimates for the rest of the GBD. The Researcher will be working in parallel on the Local and Small Area Estimation (LSAE) project to produce more granular under-5 mortality estimations to be used at the local policymaker and donor level.

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 Population, Fertility and Mortality modeling methodology and its components.

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.

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. 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 Demographic indicator modelling.

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 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 ability with at least one statistical programming language (e.g., R, Python, 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

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.

Experience extracting and analyzing vital registration data and demographic indicator data from major survey series such as the DHS.

Experience with complex software environments that use containers, packages and singularity images for modelling purposes.

Ability to manage continuous integrations using Jenkins and Github actions.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

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.

Application Process: 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.