Lead Implementation Program Evaluation Scientist

University of Wisconsin Madison•Madison, WI

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated Lead Implementation Program Evaluation Scientist III to join the Implementation IMPACT Lab (IMPlementation Science to Accelerate Community Translation) led by Dr. Shellie Ellis. The IMPACT Research Lab focuses on advancing the field of Implementation Science and improving evidence-based care delivery in rural and non-rural health settings through the integration of Implementation Science, Health Services Research, and community-based approaches to address rural health disparities. The Lead Implementation Program Evaluation Scientist III will take a primary role in executing externally funded implementation research conducted by the Lab and contributing to the advancement of the field of Implementation Science. As a primary project, this Scientist will contribute to the success of the Dissemination and Implementation Program Evaluation of THRIVE Digital Mental Health Initiative. The overall objective of this evaluation project is to evaluate dissemination and implementation outcomes, assess implementation barriers of integrating evidence-based mental health digital interventions into multiple rural settings, and test the optimization of implementation strategies used in the project, requiring rigorous and rapid evaluation of implementation processes, outcomes, and system-level adoption. The Scientist III will coordinate all evaluation activities for this initiative, including evaluation design, data collection, and analysis, while working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to support implementation science and program evaluation. The Scientist III will lead the development of an implementation logic model, working with representatives from each of the implementation partners (primary care, community mental health, community colleges, and community health workers) and implementation strategy experts (communications and digital mental health experts) to identify and specify program activities, anticipated outputs, and relevant process and impact outcomes. The Scientist III will coordinate with the faculty experts to select an overall evaluation design and facilitate the selection of appropriate measures to match the evaluation plan. He or she will manage the process to identify validated measures to ensure comparability to other similar digital mental health implementation efforts and work with the Statistician to create data collection systems and instruments. He or she will lead pilot testing and finalization of surveys, so they are ready for deployment. In addition, the Scientist III may support ongoing research in the Implementation IMPACT Lab, which currently includes TEAMSPORT, an NCI-funded project now in its fourth year focused on implementing pathologist-initiated genomic testing in rural communities to improve access to precision oncology care. This project has generated a substantial body of quantitative and qualitative data, with multiple manuscripts planned or currently in development. The Scientist III will provide senior-level implementation science expertise and oversight to ensure scientific rigor and timely dissemination. The Scientist III will also field consultation requests that come in through the lab, advising on implementation theories, methods, and strategies, and integrate and coordinate with other implementation science units across campus. The Scientist III will also provide scientific leadership and mentorship to other research team members, fostering methodological rigor, professional development, and consistency across evaluation efforts.

Requirements

Experience working in clinical research settings, with strong knowledge of scientific methods and research theory relevant to implementation science and healthcare delivery improvement (e.g. clinical practice guidelines, quality improvement metrics)
Demonstrated expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research design, data collection, and analysis.
Experience designing and conducting program evaluations, including use of logic models, systems design, and workflow/process assessments to identify gaps and improve outcomes.
Experience maintaining research confidentiality in compliance with IRB and regulatory standards.
Strong scientific writing skills with a track record of publications, presentations, and grant writing.
Proficiency with MS Office and reference management tools (e.g., EndNote).
Ph.D. in Implementation Science, Public Health, Health Administration, Human Factors Engineering, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, or a related clinical field, required.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with community-based practices or rural health systems.
Experience with data collection and analytics software tools such as REDCap or Qualtrics, Stata, SAS, or R; and Dedoose or Atlas.ti.
Experience designing effective audit & feedback dashboards.

Responsibilities

Prepares and/or presents research results for presentation to professional organizations and scholarly publications to help advance implementation science.
Collects and analyzes highly complex research data, conducts experiments and interviews, and documents results according to established policies and procedures.
Serves as an institutional subject matter expert and liaison with key internal and external stakeholders providing expert-level information and representing the interests of a specialized research area.
Identifies research problems and develops highly complex research methodologies and procedures.
Publishes and presents results to help advance research.
May supervise the day-to-day activities of a research unit and staff and resolve routine personnel issues.
Identifies, writes, or assists in developing grant opportunities, grant applications, and proposals to secure research funding.
Attends and assists with the facilitation of scholarly events and presentations in support of continued professional development and the dissemination of research information.
Conducts literature reviews, prepares reports and materials and, disseminates information to appropriate entities.
Monitors program budget and approves unit expenditures.
Consults others on appropriate implementation theory, methods and strategies.