Research Associate-Term

University of Toronto • Toronto, ON

5d • CA$53,520 - CA$100,350 • Onsite

About The Position

The Data Sciences Institute (DSI) at the University of Toronto is seeking a Research Associate (Limited Term) for an up to 5-year appointment to support VITAL, a new federally funded initiative. VITAL focuses on enabling secure, near real-time access to hospital data for research and innovation across more than 160 hospitals in Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec, serving over 20 million Canadians. This initiative aims to establish a foundation for Pan-Canadian data sharing for research and become a leading global health data resource. The DSI will develop methods for federated analysis of electronic health record (EHR) data within this national initiative. The Research Associate will lead the development, implementation, and management of these federated statistical analysis methods for EHR data, providing tailored tools for users of the federated data network. They will also collaborate with researchers on various biomedical applications utilizing the federated data network.

Requirements

• PhD in statistical sciences, computer sciences, applied mathematics or data sciences, biostatistics, biomedical informatics, or related specialty.
• A minimum of 4 years of experience in the analysis of EHR data (structured and unstructured) and collaborative biomedical research.
• Demonstrated expertise in federated statistical inference methods, ideally in the context of EHR.
• Proficiency with computing and reproducible research workflows.
• A strong publication record in methodological and applied statistics.
• Experience in scientific writing and communication.
• Demonstrated capacity to work in both independent and interdisciplinary research settings.
• Proficiency in SQL, Python, and R.
• Command of EHR data curation and standardization, including familiarity with ontologies such as the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) and the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) common data model.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal and project management skills to facilitate effective research collaborations and timely and professional deliverables.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate statistical analyses to clinical audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Natural language processing experience or knowledge.
• Medical image analysis experience or knowledge.
• Experience working with big data and building data and analytical pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and management of methods for federated statistical analysis of EHR data.
• Provide tailored tools for users of the federated data network.
• Work closely with researchers on various biomedical applications using the federated data network.
• Contribute, by way of academic expertise, to research projects directed by the VITAL Principal Investigators.
• Develop analytic plans, conduct analyses within a federated data network, and report results.
• Curate and standardize EHR data.
• Communicate statistical analyses to clinical audiences.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree